An evaluation of ESP teaching methodologies at Udmurt State University in Russia

Byrne, Damian (2001) An evaluation of ESP teaching methodologies at Udmurt State University in Russia. Doctoral thesis, University of Northumbria at Newcastle.

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Abstract

This thesis comprises a study of English Language teaching methodologies in the Faculty of Languages for Specific Purposes at The Udmurt State University in Russia. Findings
are drawn from a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods which provide both a longitudinal and cross-sectional perspective.
Existing information gathered for a taxonomic survey and supported by naturalistic observations demonstrates that UdSU has a small corpus of ESP teaching materials with a limited value. Only two teachers have been research active in creating UdSU variants of the Milashevich Method and the Intensive Method. However, both variants contain weaknesses and require further methodological development.
Insights drawn from an analytical investigation into UdSUs four strands of assessment reveal that there is a lack of consistency in the application of and therefore a methodological weakness in the Faculty's assessment criteria. Data gathered from existing material and interviews, show that UdSU requires further development in the area of syllabus design. At present, it continues to work within restricting institutional constraints.
Elicitation techniques involving questionnaires and interviews support the qualitative findings of the taxonomic survey that teaching methodologies are limited in range and low in cognitive value. The teachers' preferred teaching strategies correlate strongly with their students' preferred learning tasks. While the students are positively motivated by contact with Target Language speakers and the general usefulness of the TL, they are less positive about the difficulty of the TL and the learning experiences of the TL classroom.
In the conclusion, I show that UdSUs ESP teaching methodologies are of limited quality. They have served a purpose in the given isolated environment of Central Russia. However, contact with the West has exposed fundamental flaws in the Faculty's approach to ESP teaching. In the foreseeable future, it will continue to experience difficulties in implementing change.

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