Chinese University Students Studying In An ESP Program In Britain:Benefits And Challenges

Nowadays,it is a new era of great development and great changes.The development of economic globalization has also improved the internationalization of education,which promoted the exchange and sharing of educational resources among countries.In this era,colleges and universities pay more and more attention to the cultivation of international talents,and constantly make diversified study abroad(SA)programs.Study abroad experience can provide students with the educational opportunities that are different from their own culture,allowing students to learn the language,culture,and life of other countries firsthand,helping learners to better master the target language and target language culture.As an immersive environment for language learning and teaching,SA deserves the focus of academic attention.The research on SA abroad covers language gains,factors affecting overseas learning experiences,and the development of cross-cultural communicative competence.Domestic related research mostly focused on the study of the exchange student system or the study of cross-cultural communicative competence and adaptability in long-term SA programs.Recently,there have also been some empirical research on students’ language ability and the development of cross-cultural competence of short-term SA experiences.Although it has obtained certain achievements,it is still in its infancy,and there is much room for expansion in the depth and breadth of SA research.English for Specific Purposes(ESP)is a significant development direction of college English teaching reform.In recent years,a series of research results on ESP have emerged,including teaching methods,textbook development,teacher training,teaching evaluation,etc.Most of these studies are combined with the discussion of ESP practice in the domestic teaching environment,few studies have focused on ESP learning in the context of overseas learning,but this is the important content and development direction of SA.This study focuses on a short-term study abroad ESP program carried out by a domestic university in cooperation with a British university,and explores the effect and experience of Chinese university students in ESP learning in an overseas learning environment from the perspective of learners.In addition,based on the learning effect and self-experience of students,this study puts forward some suggestions on the future implementation of such international exchange programs and ESP teaching for Chinese university students.It is hoped that it can provide new research directions and perspectives for SA and ESP research in the domestic academic community,and can provide reference for relevant departments of domestic colleges and universities to design student study abroad programs as well.The study adopts the method of case study,through the analysis of interview data and textual data,it explores the benefits and challenges of 32 students majoring chemistry from a university in China studying in an ESP program in Britain by understanding the changes in professional English learning under the course arrangement of this ESP program.The interview questions centered on Chinese university students’ English learning for specific purposes in Britain,involving curriculum arrangements,professional English learning,experimental skills,and cross-cultural communication.In addition,text materials such as coursework and reflection logs of students during their SA experience are also collected.The study analyzes the benefits and challenges of 32 Chinese university students in an ESP program in Britain based on Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory.Data analysis shows that the benefits of Chinese college students participating in this program are mainly reflected in language and cultural development as well as development of multiple identities.Their professional English vocabulary accumulation significantly promoted.Listening ability was improved.Cross-cultural communication competence was enhanced.The ability of reading professional English literature was strengthened.Writing of SCI papers and experimental report became more normative.The reserve of experimental skills and professional knowledge has also increased.In addition,the students also strengthened the identity as language user and researcher.The Chinese university students mainly encountered the following challenges in the process of studying in Britain: poor language communication,cross-cultural communication barriers,unsuitable diet and rest,and inappropriate arrangement of some courses.In conclusion,this study analyzes the benefits and challenges of Chinese university students studying in an ESP program in Britain,and explores the effects of students’ ESP learning,as well as some possible problems in an overseas environment.As there are few domestic researches on short-term SA of Chinese university students,and research on overseas ESP learning is even rarer,the real experience of Chinese students studying in an overseas ESP program revealed by this study will help promote domestic research on study abroad and English for specific purposes.It can also provide first-hand reference data and feedback information for relevant departments of colleges and universities,which will help colleges and universities to further improve students’ study abroad,adjust curriculum arrangements of SA programs,and provide reference for the setting and teaching of English for specific purposes in domestic colleges and universities.This study suggests that colleges and universities can offer cultural training courses that introduce the target country before students go abroad to help students better integrate into the overseas learning environment.What’s more,colleges and universities should consider the actual needs of students in different majors when designing study abroad programs and carry out international education activities in a targeted manner.