Naslov
'Shortcuts' to optimizing reading comprehension in ESP texts

Autori
Kovačič, Andreja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, ostalo

Skup
13th HUPE - IATEFL - TESOL Conference

Mjesto i datum
Dubrovnik, Hrvatska, 21.04.2005. - 24.04.2005

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Domaća recenzija

Ključne riječi
ESP text

Sažetak
Understanding an ESP text goes beyond mere understanding of technical terms. Due to a fairly specific structure of such texts, students, though familiar with respective terminology, may still find it difficult to understand a text dealing with an ESP subject. First the issue of assessing the students' reading comprehension is addressed. A close insight into potential difficulties is gained by assigning a written translation. This was done repeatedly on a sample of 200 first-year students of English for Information Technology. Upon checking the translation done individually in class, various problem areas presenting obstacles to comprehension on lexical, syntactic and discourse level were identified. Since most of them are of a recurring type, several categories were established, including: recognizing parts of speech and their functions ; non-finite verb forms ; complex noun phrases ; sentence markers ; reference and ambiguity. For these problem areas to be overcome, the approach to understanding ESP texts should be (re)considered, both on the part of teachers ('How do I teach that?') and students, who tend to demonstrate a lack of interest in dealing with ESP texts closely ('Why do we have to dwell on such details?'). In an answer to the first question, it is proposed that focus in teaching grammar and vocabulary be put on the problem areas mentioned. Examples of exercises are given which support such a focused approach in practice. Regarding the second question, several hints, some of them extra-linguistic, are suggested intended to improve the students' motivation and thus enhance their reading skills.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Informacijske i komunikacijske znanosti, Interdisciplinarne društvene znanosti, Interdisciplinarne humanističke znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA