Encountered Challenges and Student-Oriented Teaching Strategies of ESP Lecturers in Public Albanian Universities

Abstract

Meticulous lesson planning by lecturers demonstrates their professionalism and passion, essential for fostering dynamic teacher-student interactions. Additionally, being an effective teacher entails assuming various roles throughout the teaching process, resulting in engaged, active, enthusiastic, and participative students who actively contribute to the learning experience. Teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) encompasses a wide range of skills. Therefore, it is essential for teachers to thoroughly analyse each activity in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their students. This knowledge enables teachers to assist students in meeting their individual needs, while also fostering self-confidence and self-esteem. To gain further insights into the challenges faced during the teaching process and the strategies employed to overcome them, a study was conducted with ESP lecturers from two universities in Albania: Polytechnic University of Tirana (PUT) and University of Tirana (UT). This two-stage study involved the administration of a questionnaire and subsequent interviews, with the aim of collecting data on the encountered challenges and the strategies used to develop a high-quality teaching methodology. These strategies included collaborating with lecturers from other relevant disciplines, compiling ESP dictionaries, utilizing ESP textbooks that exclusively cover topics related to the field of study, unifying credit systems, and implementing various approaches to enhance students' acquisition of ESP vocabulary.

Received: 12 May 2024 / Accepted: 25 August 2024 / Published: 05 September 2024