Enhancing Motivation and Developing Positive Attitudes in an ESP Context

Abstract

ESP has been enriched by many theoretical inputs, but ESP itself does not have any universally accepted theory. From primary to tertiary, second/ foreign language English teaching/ learning depends on the motivation and attitude toward the target language. The present article outlines the theoretical foundation of an English for Specific Purpose (ESP) writing course, which was designed, implemented and assessed to enhance the proficiency of English writing skills of engineering students in six colleges under MAKAUT in West Bengal. India tops the world in terms of the number of engineering students and colleges. To meet engineering students' academic and workplace writing needs, the most important requirement is a writing course. Implementing the ESP course required multi-dimensional theoretical considerations drawn from areas like ESP, needs analysis, theories of language and language learning, syllabus design, motivation and attitude, and writing as a language skill. In this study, the theoretical underpinnings applied in classroom teaching related to enhancing motivation and improving attitude are discussed. The difference in the mean, median and mode scores with regards to pre and post writing tests and highly positive student feedback on materials, methodology, techniques, and sub components of writing skill indicated a significant improvement and established the efficacy of such an eclectic approach, which can be used in subsequent ESP course designs.