Section 1

*What province are you from? …………………………………

* How long have you been learning English? .................
* What is your average mark of Reading-Writing Subject in the first year?
□ Under 5 □5-6.5
□ 6.5-8 □ >8
*How much time do you spend on learning ESP at home?
□ 15m □1h
□30m □ More

Section 2: Here are some of difficulties you may encounter when reading ESP.
For each of the items below, please put a tick on the appropriate number that reflects your
opinions on a four-point scale.

Never (1) Sometimes (2) Often (3) Always(4)

Question 1: Difficulties in the ESP vocabulary

1 2 3 4

1. I find it difficult to understand the meaning of ESP □ □ □ □

terminology in the texts

2. There are some words that I’ve never seen or heard. □ □ □ □

3. My vocabulary is too limited to understand the texts □ □ □ □

4. I find it difficult to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words or □ □ □ □

phrases.

5. The usage/ meaning of familiar words in ESP is really □ □ □ □

different from what I have learnt.

6. Others (Please indicate here)

………………………………….……………….................

Question 2: Difficulties in Grammar

 7. The sentences are too long. □ □ □ □

8. Complex grammatical structures interfered with my reading □ □ □ □

comprehension.

9. I find it difficult to determine the pronouns/objects in □ □ □ □

sentences.

10. Others (Please indicate here)

………………………………….……………….................

Question 3: Difficulties related to Lack of Background Knowledge

1 2 3 4

11. I find it difficult to understand reading texts when the topic □ □ □ □

is unfamiliar.

12. I do not have enough professional knowledge about the □ □ □ □

topics.

13. My limited background knowledge of the topics makes me □ □ □ □

misunderstanding the content of the reading texts.

14. Others (Please indicate here)

………………………………….……………….................

Question 4: Others difficulties (motivation, timing, material)

 1 2 3 4

MOTIVATION

15. I stop reading when I do not understand the texts. □ □ □ □

16. I find it difficult to find out the excitement on ESP lessons. □ □ □ □

17. I cannot understand the teachers’ instructions on ESP □ □ □ □

lessons.

18. Teachers do not give me interesting attitude to encourage my □ □ □ □

reading.

19. Reading ESP is difficult and boring. □ □ □ □

20. I do not find the ESP useful to me. □ □ □ □

21. I do not want to reread and find the exact meaning of texts □ □ □ □
when it becomes difficult.

22. Others (Please indicate here)

…………………………………...........................................

TIMING

23. I do not spend much time on reading ESP. □ □ □ □

24. My reading speed is slow. □ □ □ □

25. I focus too much on unknown word, look up it in the □ □ □ □

dictionary when reading ESP texts.

26. Others (Please indicate here) □ □ □ □

…………………………………...........................................

MATERIALS
27. I find it hard to find reliable resources of ESP documents. □ □ □ □
28. The illustrations of a text are strange to understand. □ □ □ □
29. I prefer watching a video of an ESP topic to reading a text. □ □ □ □
30. I find it hard to find reliable resources of ESP documents. □ □ □ □
31. Others (Please indicate here)
…………………………………...........................................
II. Interview
1. Do you think your students comprehend most of the specialized knowledge?
2. What problems do you think students encounter when they read comprehension ESP?
3. In your opinion, what are the most common difficulties in reading comprehension for
ESP encountered by English-majored students?
4. Do you have any advice/suggestions for students on improving reading ESP skills?