Perceptions of Fostering Creative Thinking Skills in ESP Classrooms in Ukraine and Portugal

Authors

  • Nataliia Saienko National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” Postal address of the university: 37, Prosp.Peremohy, Solomyanskyi district, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03056 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8898-5198
  • Yuliia Olizko National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” Postal address of the university: 37, Prosp.Peremohy, Solomyanskyi district, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03056 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3473-9324
  • Ana Cunha Lusófona University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v11i4.20129

Keywords:

Keywords−English for Specific Purposes, creativity, problem-based learning (PBL), project-based learning, engineers, students, BA students

Abstract


Abstract−The purpose of the study was to investigate BA (bachelors of art) and (bachelors of science) students’ and ESP (English for Specific Purposes) teachers’ perceptions of creative thinking skills in the ESP classroom and study the current international approaches of fostering them at the ESP lesson. Participants in the research include 51 BA students from Portugal and 56 students from Ukraine as well as 30 Ukrainian and 16 Portuguese ESP teachers. Questionnaires were used for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. This research has confirmed the lack of fostering creative thinking skills in ESP classrooms in Portugal and Ukraine. The findings showed that the majority of ESP teachers in both countries would like to spend more time on fostering creative skills than they actually did. As the results identified teachers from Portugal and Ukraine often experienced problem-based learning, but in Portugal there was also a greater use of role playing as a part of creative approach, and in Ukraine there was a greater use of project-based learning. Creative skills Ukrainian and Portuguese students consider to be important for them were trying new experiments, searching for new ways to solve the problem, creating new associations and interdisciplinary links, choosing new information sources. Professional situations which according to the students’ answers demanded from them creative thinking skills were defined in the article too. Creative ESP tasks students in Ukraine, Portugal and other countries had in their classroom were stated as well.

Author Biographies

Nataliia Saienko, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” Postal address of the university: 37, Prosp.Peremohy, Solomyanskyi district, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03056

Nataliia Saienko is a Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Linguistics, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, E-mail: saenko106@gmail.com Her research interests relate to Psycholinguistics. ORCID 0000-0001-8898-5198

Yuliia Olizko, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” Postal address of the university: 37, Prosp.Peremohy, Solomyanskyi district, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03056

Yuliia Olizko is an Assistant Professor, The Department of English for Engineering № 1, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, E-mail: juliukrainekyiv@gmail.com She is interested in art and ESP integration in a foreign language classroom. ORCID 0000-0003-3473-9324

Ana Cunha, Lusófona University

Ana Cunha is an Assistant Professor at Lusófona University, Portugal. She coordinates the Translation and Languages Department and coordinates European projects related to Language teaching. She is interested in ESP integration in a foreign language classroom. E-mail: ana.cunha@ulusofona.pt

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Published

2021-07-09

How to Cite

Saienko, N., Olizko, Y., & Cunha, A. (2021). Perceptions of Fostering Creative Thinking Skills in ESP Classrooms in Ukraine and Portugal. International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 11(4), pp. 23–41. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v11i4.20129

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Papers