Lecturer’s Perception on the Students’ Need of ESP at Non-English Study Program

Abstract

Teaching English at the tertiary level presents its own challenges for English teachers. As one of the compulsory courses, English is one of the courses in both English and non-English study programs, such as the one at the University of Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU). Particularly for non-English study programs, learning English is regulated based on the specificity of the English learners or students. Lecturers have the responsibility to determine the material according to the needs of their students. English learning which is focused on the need of the learners/students commonly known as English for Specific Purpose (ESP). By using a qualitative approach and descriptive method, this study aims to describe lecturer’s perception on the students’ need of ESP at non-English study program. Sources of data in this study were 7 (seven) English teachers from non-English study programs at UMSU. By using a qualitative descriptive method, the data were collected by using questionnaires and interview. The results showed that according to the lecturer’s perception, the students' needs have inequality in learning English based on differences in their respective fields of knowledge. The students’ average ability in English, the skills needed by the students, and the students’ learning objectives are factors used to describe the students’ need of ESP course. Based on the students’ English ability, the average ability of students is at the middle / lower level, speaking and listening skills are skills that need to be learned, and their learning objectives are divided into two criteria, short-term goals related to current needs such as academic/educational needs and long-term goals related to their world of work later.