Evaluation of a Bespoke Work-related English Language Course for Newcomers in Northern Ireland

Conference: The European Conference on Education (ECE2022)
Title: Evaluation of a Bespoke Work-related English Language Course for Newcomers in Northern Ireland
Stream: Foreign Languages Education & Applied Linguistics (including ESL/TESL/TEFL)
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Authors:
Declan Flanagan, Health and Social Care Trust - Belfast, United Kingdom

Abstract:

Given the dearth of research on ESOL course development in the current ESOL landscape (policy, funding, provision) in Northern Ireland, this presentation discusses the design, development, and evaluation of a bespoke work-related ESOL course in Northern Ireland. This course was delivered in an adult community education setting between January and April 2019, emphasising English for General Purposes (EGP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) used in City & Guilds Level 1 Certificate in Access in Building Services Engineering. Focusing on learners’ and subject tutors’ perceptions, I report on the extent to which both EGP and ESP course materials effectively motivated and prepared learners for the practical phase of this course. Findings suggest that the learners and subject tutors found the materials engaging, relevant and appropriate for the real-world context of training and employment. I propose that the emergence of bespoke work-related language courses reflects the need to restructure the entire ESOL landscape in Northern Ireland and highlights their importance in this geopolitical context and elsewhere.

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