The Effect of Extensive Reading on Vocabulary Knowledge of First Level University Students

The objective of the research was to analyze how extensive reading or reading for pleasure can improve the development of vocabulary in a sample of 48 first-level university students of the Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica in the city of Ambato. It was an experimental, bibliographic, descriptive, field and correlational research. To determine the correlation between the two study variables, a deep and thorough investigative analysis of books, journals and research was carried out. An intervention plan was applied through the use of a handbook of 19 vocabulary activities and to measure the knowledge of the vocabulary in the students, an observation card was used in order to measure attitudes and behavior towards extensive reading. A questionnaire of twelve questions related to word knowledge and the word form with its meaning was used as well. The research contains the sociodemographic statistical analysis of the participants and an analysis of the results of the evaluation of reading knowledge and vocabulary to know the descriptive aspects. Furthermore, the descriptive analysis of the vocabulary knowledge assessment from a global point of view and the aspects of word knowledge was carried out; to finally perform the analysis of the presence and degree of correlation between extensive reading and vocabulary knowledge, using the Pearson coefficient. Thus, it allowed to determine that, the existence of the correlation between the two variables investigated. That is to say, the results indicated that the use of extensive reading influences the development of students' vocabulary by raising interest and improving vocabulary

Needs Analysis: Case Study for Curricular Innovation in an ESP Course

El presente artículo científico exploró las percepciones de los estudiantes de un curso de inglés con fines específicos (ESP) en la carrera de medicina en la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. Además, esta investigación tuvo como objetivo principal realizar un análisis de necesidades para estudiantes de la carrera de Medicina con el fin de identificar sus necesidades y carencias en concordancia con su aprendizaje de inglés para sus futuras vidas profesionales. Con este fin, se administraron cuestionarios a setenta y seis estudiantes de la carrera de Medicina con el fin de obtener información relevante sobre las percepciones de los estudiantes sobre ESP para identificar y proponer una solución para las necesidades, deseos (rendimiento) y carencias (causas) de su curso de inglés. Por lo tanto, el análisis de necesidades se realizó con las percepciones obtenidas de los participantes cuyas respuestas estaban relacionadas con la implementación del enfoque ESP en su curso. Los principales hallazgos de esta investigación están relacionados con los principios básicos de ESP, que son las necesidades futuras del idioma inglés, el contenido ESP, las habilidades lingüísticas ESP y el uso de ESP para la vida profesional futura de los estudiantes. El análisis de las percepciones de los estudiantes a través de la implementación del análisis de necesidades es el principal punto de referencia para la aplicación de un curso ESP y la implementación de un sílabo e innovar el plan de estudios de carrera. The present scientific article explored the students' perceptions of an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) English course in the Medicine career at Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. Besides, this research had as its main objective to perform a Needs Analysis for students of the Medicine career in order to identify their needs, wants and lacks in concordance with their English learning for their future professional lives. To this end, questionnaires were administered to seventy six students of the Medicine career in order to obtain relevant information about the student´s perceptions about ESP to identify and propose a solution for the needs, wants (performance) and lacks (causes) of their English course. Thus, the Needs Analysis was conducted with the perceptions obtained from the participants which responses were related to the implementation of the ESP approach in their course. The main findings of this research are related to the basic principles of ESP, which are the future needs of the English language, ESP content, ESP language skills and the use of ESP for student’s future professional lives. The analysis of student perceptions through the Needs Analysis application is the main reference point for the implementation of an ESP course for future syllabus implementation and innovations of the career curriculum

Curriculum Effects On University Students’ English Language Achievement

The objective of this research is to identify, analyze and determine the curricular effects in the linguistic achievement to implement a curricular redesign and improve the English language teaching-learning to students and teachers of the Escuela Superior Politécnica of Chimborazo Language Center. The research used the communicative method, using several comprehensive techniques based on language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. It was considered the critical-proactive paradigm to look for solutions in an environment of description and understanding of the educational, social and cultural process. Surveys were applied to measure the learning achievement of the language, as an independent variable, applied to one hundred and fifty students and the curricular effect as a dependent variable directed to fifty five teachers of the Language Center, as well as, interviews to four directors of the Language Center. At the level of the students, it was concluded that the level of English is still basic, therefore, a new instrument is needed that proposes: methodology, techniques and updated contents to reach a competitive level. Most teachers indicate that the curriculum established by the Center must be updated in order to make better teaching possible