Designing an ESP Course for Iranian Students of Architecture: A Skill-Based Approach

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to design an ESP course targeted at Iranian students of Architecture. To do this, a needs analysis questionnaire was administered to elicit information about the skills they required in their profession. Based on the information obtained through the needs analysis questionnaire, specific learning goals and objectives were identified. A PET test was also administered to specify the learners' level of language proficiency. Since the results gathered by the needs analysis questionnaire showed that reading and writing are the skills mostly used in both their course of study and place of work, a course was designed to address the objectives of reading comprehension and writing. Based on the identified goal and objective statements, the researcher adopted a skill-based syllabus to enable students to acquire the necessary knowledge and ability to act successfully in their course of study and work place. Based on the selected syllabus framework, a pre- intermediate sample course was designed aiming to provide the opportunity to cover the required reading, vocabulary, writing, and grammar skills.