LANGUAGE SKILLS IN ESP TEXTBOOKS AND STUDENTS’ NEEDS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE SKILL PRIORITIES IN MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL FIELDS

Abstract

This study examines the perceptions of language skills in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) textbooks among students from medical and technical fields, based on a needs analysis. Focusing on data from evaluation scales and student feedback, the study highlights the perceived importance of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills for academic and professional success. The findings reveal significant differences between the two fields, with medical students prioritizing speaking and writing for patient communication and documentation, while technical students emphasize reading and vocabulary knowledge for understanding manuals and research papers. Both groups identified listening as the most underrepresented skill in ESP textbooks, emphasizing a critical gap in addressing real-world demands. The paper provides recommendations for tailoring ESP materials to better meet the linguistic needs of these specialized disciplines, emphasizing the integration of field-specific tasks and multimodal resources. These insights contribute to the ongoing development of more effective ESP textbooks which better meet learners’ needs.