Teachers’ Practices on Teaching English for Specific Purposes in Technical Education in Nepal
Main Article Content
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore practices in teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in technical education in Nepal. In spite of expanding demand for vocational and profession related language teaching, very limited researches have been carried out to study the answer of "How are the teachers of teaching English practicing English curriculum in the classrooms of technical education affiliated by Council of Technical Education and Vocational Education in Nepal.'' The study uses qualitative phenomenological research design. It attempts to find out the lived experiences of teachers teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in technical education in Hetauda Nepal. The data were collected using purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were a data collection tool to study lived experiences of the teachers' practices. Document analysis was used to study the practices of English curriculum, syllabus, textbooks and examination. The data were analyzed and interpreted using thematic analysis as guided by Needs Analysis Theory (NAT). The finding of the study showed several challenges in ESP teaching in Nepal such as limited field specific contents in English syllabus, maximum depend on traditional teaching methods, inadequate teachers' training and teaching resources. The participants of the study reported that they are attempting to integrate communicative methods, field specific vocabulary and contextual teaching materials to minimize the gap between course content and learners' needs. The study recommends for the curriculum reforms, practice based training and development of authentic teaching materials connected with context of vocational education. This study has added the emphasis on teaching ESP culture which can benefit the teachers, course designer and students.
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
References
- Sapkota A. Technology and English Language Education Trends in Higher Education in Nepal. The Handbook of English Language Education in Nepal. Published online January 13, 2025: 219-231. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003508540-22
- Taş T, Aslan A. Influence of the wider educational context on the English language teaching practicum. TESOL Journal. 2024, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.868
- Neupane RK, Timilsina J. CTEVT Toward Skills Enhancement in Nepal. DEPAN. 2024, 6(1): 12-19. https://doi.org/10.3126/depan.v6i1.75481
- Jendli A, Albarakati M. Exploring Motivational Dynamics: The Role of Oral Activities in Improving Arab Students’ Learning of English. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research. 2024, 23(3): 131-149. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.3.7
- Asma L, Fatma D. An investigation of teachers' perceptions and practices of developing pragmatic competence in English as a foreign language classroom. Kasdi Merbah Ouargla University, 2024.
- Nickerson C. English for Specific Purposes and English as a Lingua Franca. The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes. Published online April 17, 2025: 505-524. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119985068.ch26
- Rahmawati HN, Mar’an DA. Teachers’ Teaching Strategies in ESP: A Descriptive Study at Malahayati University. Journal Corner of Education, Linguistics, and Literature. 2024, 4(001): 11-22. https://doi.org/10.54012/jcell.v4i001.357
- Douglas D. ESP and Assessment. The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes. Published online April 17, 2025: 185-204. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119985068.ch10
- Nazeer I, Ahmad T, Baseerat I, et al. The role of ESP in enhancing English language skills for English teachers. Asian Innovative Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. 2023, 7(3): 1-15.
- Jande LV, Ibrahim NM. Challenges of Teaching ESP: A Review. LSP International Journal. 2021, 8(2): 1-8. https://doi.org/10.11113/lspi.v8.16334
- Shrestha PN, Gautam GR. English language teaching, learning and assessment in Nepal: policies and practices in the school education system. London: British Council, 2022.
- Shrestha S, Shrestha A, Shah JN, et al. Competency Based Post Graduate Residency Program at Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council. 2021, 19(1): 189-195. https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v19i1.3263
- Phillips HN, Condy J. Pedagogical dilemma in teacher education: Bridging the theory practice gap. South African Journal of Higher Education. 2023, 37(2). https://doi.org/10.20853/37-2-4610
- Thao TQ, Nhân PT. English Language Teachers’ Perceptions of the Factors Affecting Their English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Teaching. TNU Journal of Science and Technology. 2022, 227(06): 20-26. https://doi.org/10.34238/tnu-jst.5739
- Hyland K, Jiang F (Kevin). Delivering relevance: The emergence of ESP as a discipline. English for Specific Purposes. 2021, 64: 13-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2021.06.002
- Hyland K. English for Specific Purposes: What Is It and Where Is It Taking Us? ESP Today. 2022, 10(2): 202-220. https://doi.org/10.18485/esptoday.2022.10.2.1
- Basturkmen H. ESP Teacher Development. The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes. Published online April 17, 2025: 225-241. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119985068.ch12
- Šliogerienė J, Darginavičienė I, Suchanova J, et al. Problem-based learning in developing students’ communicative skills and creativity in teaching English for specific purposes. Creativity Studies. 2025, 18(1): 30-42. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2025.22343
- Daulay E. A Study on English Specific Purpose for English Department. Vision. 2021, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.30829/vis.v17i1.1023
- Anthony L. The teacher as student in ESP course design. In: Proceedings of the 2007 International Symposium on ESP & Its Applications in Nursing and Medical English Education; 2007.
- Basturkmen H. Current trends in ESP research in the Asia Pacific region. World Englishes. 2022, 41(4): 512-522. https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12601
- Khalil DrL, Kholofelo Semono-Eke B. Appropriate Teaching Methods for General English and English for Specific Purposes from Teachers’ Perspectives. SSRN Electronic Journal. Published online 2020. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3582321
- Bozic Lenard D, Lenard I. Examining Pedagogical Content Knowledge of ESP Teachers. Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes. Published online January 28, 2019: 353. https://doi.org/10.22190/jtesap1803353b
- Whitehead GEK, Ramos IDD, Coates A. `Developing Effective Teacher Talk': A Critical Self-Examination of an ESP Course Designed for Korean In-Service Teachers. The Journal of AsiaTEFL. 2019, 16(1): 178-199. https://doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2019.16.1.12.178
- Kazemi A, Ashrafi M. In-service training programs for Iranian EFL teachers revisited. International Journal of Asian Social Science. 2014, 4(10): 1062-1076.
- Masyhud M, Khoiriyah K. Developing ESP Materials for Tourism Industry in Malang. Professional Journal of English Education. 2021, 4(3): 446. https://doi.org/10.22460/project.v4i3.p446-456
- Hutchinson T, Waters A. English for Specific Purposes. Published online January 29, 1987. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511733031
- Triastuti A. Voicing the challenges of ESP teaching: Lessons from ESP in non-English departments. Studies in English Language and Education, 2021. https://doi.org/10.24815/SIELE.V8I1.17301
- Enesi M, Vrapi F, Trifoni A. Challenges of Teaching and Learning English Language for ESP Courses. Journal of Educational and Social Research. 2021, 11(4): 213. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2021-0090
- Azimova UO. Web of Scientists and Scholars: Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. 2023, 1(8): 17–24. https://webofjournals.com/index.php/12/article/view/263
- Fehaima A. The leading methodology for researching ideal methods in an ESP classroom. Global Journal of Foreign Language Teaching. 2022, 12(3): 124-131. https://doi.org/10.18844/gjflt.v12i3.6383
- Thi To Hoa N, Thi Tuyet Mai P. Difficulties in Teaching English for Specific Purposes: Empirical Study at Vietnam Universities. Higher Education Studies. 2016, 6(2): 154. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v6n2p154
- Shrestha P. ELT, ESP & EAP in Nepal: Whose interests are served? 2008.
- Jora MB. ELT in Nepal: Exploring the Paradigm Shift. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications (IJSRP). 2019, 9(1): p8597. https://doi.org/10.29322/ijsrp.9.01.2019.p8597
- Sari FP, Wirza Y. Needs Analysis of English for Specific Purposes in Vocational High School Level. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Conference on Applied Linguistics (CONAPLIN 2020). Published online 2021. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.210427.029
- Leavy P. Research design: quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and community-based participatory research approaches. New York: Guilford Publications, 2022.
- Adams A, Cox AL. Questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus groups. Research Methods for Human-Computer Interaction. Published online August 21, 2008: 17-34. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511814570.003
- Seidman I. Interviewing as qualitative research: a guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. New York: Teachers College Press, 2006.
- Morgan H. Conducting a Qualitative Document Analysis. The Qualitative Report. Published online 2022. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2022.5044
- Hekmatshoar Tabari B, Rahimy R. Tailored vs. Standard Curriculum and General English Achievement: A Study of Teachers’ Views. Latin American Journal of Content & Language Integrated Learning. 2021, 14(1): 123-149. https://doi.org/10.5294/laclil.2021.14.1.5
- Borszeki J. Activities that have worked well in teaching ESP, 2014.
- Mao F, Zhou J. A needs analysis of ESP courses in colleges of art and design: Consensus and divergence. Derakhshan A, ed. PLOS ONE. 2024, 19(6): e0305210. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305210
- Ali SU. ESP Teacher Education Model in Indonesian Context. EDUKASI. 2016, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.33387/j.edu.v13i2.54
- Fitria TN. Teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to the Students in English Language Teaching (ELT). JET ADI BUANA. 2020, 5(01): 55-66. https://doi.org/10.36456/jet.v5.n01.2020.2276
- Akbari Z. Academic English needs of Iranian paramedical students and practitioners: An ESP context. International Journal of Language Learning and Applied Linguistics World. 2014, 5(2): 274-286.


