Universal Journal of Educational Research Vol. 8(9), pp. 4224 - 4233
DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.080949
Reprint (PDF) (320Kb)

Social Aspect of Student's Language Learning Style in Differentiated ESP Instruction

Sofiya Nikolaeva ¹, Oksana Synekop ^2,*
1 Department of Foreign Languages Methodology Teaching and Information and Communication Technologies, Kyiv National Linguistic University, Kyiv, Ukraine
² Department of English for Engineering, Faculty of Linguistics, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, Ukraine

ABSTRACT

The study aims to investigate the possibility of using the Belbin Self-Perception Inventory (SPI) for the actualization of the social aspect of the language learning style in the differentiated English for specific purposes (ESP) learning of information technology (IT) students so as to determine the students' and teachers' attitudes to the use of Belbin's roles in the differentiated ESP instruction. To achieve the outlined aim, a mixed research design was employed which involved 180 university IT students and 10 teachers. For data collection we used the Belbin's SPI, students' self-assessment survey and ESP teachers' survey. The results showed that the students' team and functional roles were evident in each group, irrespective of the number of students in it. Communicative roles were found to be an integral part of functional, team, and social roles. Various interaction patterns were defined for students' functional roles. The findings suggested that in the context of social relations and the roles, the subject of a conversation, communicative behavior, professional knowledge, experience, and language potential of the interlocutors are different and reflect the specifics of the situation. To improve the students' communicative skills, three stages of role learning were suggested. The optimal group size for the differentiated ESP instruction was defined. The Belbin's roles were found suitable for groups of students with different English language proficiency levels. This study showed that the use of Belbin's approach to actualization of the social aspect of the language learning style in the differentiated ESP instruction can be effectively used in teaching IT students at university.

KEYWORDS
Differentiated ESP Instruction, Social Aspect, Language Learning Style, IT Students

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Sofiya Nikolaeva , Oksana Synekop , "Social Aspect of Student's Language Learning Style in Differentiated ESP Instruction," Universal Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 8, No. 9, pp. 4224 - 4233, 2020. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.080949.

(b). APA Format:
Sofiya Nikolaeva , Oksana Synekop (2020). Social Aspect of Student's Language Learning Style in Differentiated ESP Instruction. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(9), 4224 - 4233. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.080949.