Proposing a Model for ESP Classrooms: Design Thinking through Affect Theory

Anila V.S. presented on 'Proposing a Model for ESP Classrooms: Design Thinking through Affect Theory' at the 7th online Future of English Language Teaching Conference.

See the video recording below:

Abstract

This study examines the possibilities of using Design Thinking as a tool to inculcate 21st-Century skills, along with the required language skills that an ESP course demands. Conducted as a classroom research, the study uses Affect Theory as its theoretical foundation. Design thinking, with its steps like information gathering, problem analysis, idea generation, synthesis through modeling, and critical evaluation, create an affective space in classrooms for developing desired skills in learners. Participants of the study were sixty B.Tech. learners who took their ESP course for three months at the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, over MS Teams Platform. This study is found on two research questions - How effective is Design Thinking in an ESP Classroom, and what are the implications of using a similar framework in an online/offline/hybrid teaching context? The methodology of the study included classroom teaching observations, teacher and learner interviews, and a critical review of relevant literature. The results indicated a remarkable increase in the learners’ higher-order thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and collaboration, along with specific linguistic skills such as fluency and vocabulary. Implications include assimilating more linguistic skills so that the speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills of the learners get developed. Rubrics for assessing learners’ 21st-century skills and language skills also need to be developed when the Design Thinking format is implemented in the English classroom.

Keywords: ESP Classrooms, Affect Theory, Design Thinking, 21st-Century Skills

About the presenter

Ms. Anila V. S. is a Ph.D. Scholar at the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. She has completed her Bachelors in English from Baselius College, Kottayam, Kerala and Masters in English from St. Berchmans College, Changanacherry, Kerala. Currently, she is working in the area of English Language Education.