May 2009 Volume 5 Issue 1
Article 5.
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Article Title
Assessing the Perceptions and Difficulties of Students at COT, VNU in Making ESP Presentations

Author
Tong Thi My Lien
University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi City, Vietnam

Bio Data
Tong Thi My Lien graduated in June, 2006 from the honor program at the English Department of the College of Foreign Languages at Vietnam National University, which is now called University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University. At present, Tong Thi My Lien is working there as a lecturer of English and is also taking a post-graduate course.

Abstract
Making a presentation, especially in English, sometimes becomes a demanding task for a large number of English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. Thus, the study was conducted as an attempt to examine the perceptions of students at College Of Technology, Vietnam National University (COT, VNU) towards making English for Specific Purposes (ESP) presentations, and find out possible difficulties that those students might encounter in making ESP presentations. It was carried out with 100 second-year students and two teachers of English at the Department of Information Technology (DIT) at COT, VNU. The data were collected during a period of two weeks by a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including the use of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The findings of the study revealed students’ mixed attitudes towards making ESP presentations and their clear perceptions of achievements through making ESP presentations. Their most significant problems in making ESP presentations included searching for relevant materials, selecting presentation forms, memorizing presentation contents, and lacking presentation skills.

Key words: ESP, presentations, difficulties, perceptions