INVESTIGATING EMPLOYING INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ESP LEARNING: A CASE OF IRANIAN EFL STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES

Abstract

Although employing technology in language learning has been widely examined, there remains a scarcity of research investigating employing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for learning English specifically aimed at learning English for Specific Purposes (ESP). This paper examined students’ attitudes toward benefits and barriers in employing ICT for learning ESP. The sample of the study consisted of 100 students, in Iran, in Esfahan, who passed their ESP course. An adaptive survey questionnaire, which was consisted of 40 items related to 6 parts, was designed for the purpose of the study. The parts of the questionnaire were involved attitudes of employing ICT for ESP, enriching ESP course, skills in using ICT, obstacles to using ICT in ESP, teacher education, and social and cultural rules. Results of the study indicated that most of the students had positive attitudes toward employing ICT for ESP learning. These findings can be used to employ ICT tools in ESP curriculum and to support Iranian ESP textbooks through utilizing ICT.