English for Specific Purposes
Wrld

The Linguistic needs of Textile Engineering students: A case study of National Textile University

Ansa Sattar

Ansa.appliedlinguistics@gmail.com

National Textile University, Faisalabad

Saira Zahid

Sara.linguistics@gmail.com

Government College University, Faisalabad

Muhammad Asim Mahmood

masimrai@gmail.com

Government College University, Faisalabad

Muhammad Abrar Tahir

Abrar_thr@yahoo.com

National Textile University, Faisalabad

Nasir Ali

Nasir_saim@yahoo.com

National Textile University, Faisalabad

Abstract

This study explores the academic needs of undergraduate students of Garment Manufacturing and Yarn Manufacturing at National Textile University, Faisalabad. A questionnaire has been designed to determine students’ linguistic needs. The teachers are also asked about the students’ needs. The questionnaire obtains the teachers and the students’ preferences for learning language in different contexts, for teaching methods and materials. The results show that students want to learn English language for academic and business purposes. They prefer to learn English focusing on communication strategies rather than grammar or translation methods and want to improve their listening and speaking skills. But the teachers are in favor of teaching methods which concentrate on grammar rules and they focus on the improvement of speaking and writing skills. The findings of this research also depict the students’ will to acquire Pakistani accent, their need of English usage outside the country, their preference to learn English for face to face communication and also for participating in business meetings. This study provides an insight of English language learners’ needs and also of teachers’ preferences to the syllabus designers and ESP practitioners and helps them in developing language courses and materials for the students of Garment Manufacturing  (G. M.) and of Yarn Manufacturing (Y. M.).

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