TEACHING ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES THROUGH A LEARNER-CENTERED LENS: FOCUS ON CHEMISTRY STUDENTS
Keywords:
ESP, learner-centered approach, chemistry, vocabulary development, motivation, authentic materials, language acquisitionAbstract
This study investigates the effectiveness of a learner-centered approach in teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to chemistry students at the Tashkent Chemistry Technological Institute. The research involved two groups of first-year students who were instructed using specially selected chemistry-related texts and activities designed to develop vocabulary and reading comprehension. A mixed-method research design was employed, incorporating observations, questionnaires, and pre/post-testing. Results indicate that learners performed significantly better after the implementation of learner-centered strategies. The findings suggest that integrating authentic materials and involving students in the decision-making process enhances motivation, autonomy, and subject-specific language acquisition.
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