مشخصات پژوهش

This study examined the challenges, perception and expectation of students and instructors involving ESP course which is seen to be significant in determining the effectiveness of the ESP programs in Iran setting. It was conducted with 180 students as participants who were requested to answer two kinds of questionnaires. Along with these questionnaires, six ESP instructors attended in semi structures interviews on the challenges of the course and on their attitudes and expectations of the course. Additionally, the ESP courses at this university were observed to see how the process of ESP classes is. After obtaining the data from the observation, questionnaires and interviews, they were analyzed to get results. The findings indicate some challenges and expectations which should be regarded designing the ESP course to improve its quality in Iranian Universities. They include the low language proficiency of students, inexperienced instructors, lack of communicative activities, lack of use of productive and receptive language skills, overcrowded classes and outdated materials in ESP program. As current instruction is limited to training special vocabulary and reading via translating texts to Persian language, the ESP course doesn’t reflect any active participation and motivation of the ESP students and so it turns to be an ineffective course.