Promoting Authenticity in the ESP Classroom through Digital Learning Resources.

This study investigates the integration of digital learning resources to address the authenticity gap in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction within the Computer Sciences Department at Setif 1 University, Algeria. Despite the growing recognition of authenticity as a pivotal factor in effe...

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Published in:Academicus no. 34; pp. 178 - 205
Main Authors: Boudinar, Somia, Debaghine, Mohamed Lamine
Format: Article
Published: Academicus 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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          Boudinar, Somia
          Debaghine, Mohamed Lamine
        affil:
          Assistant Professor, DEPENEL Laboratory, Setif 2 University, Algeria.
          Setif 2 University, Algeria.
      su:
        Internet in education
        Teacher training
        Higher education
        Classrooms
        Foreign language education
        Statistical accuracy
        Computer science
        Algeria
      sug:
        subj:
          Algeria
          Internet in education
          Teacher training
          Higher education
          Classrooms
          Foreign language education
          Statistical accuracy
          Computer science
      keyword:
        authenticity gap
        computer science education
        digital learning resources
        English for Specific Purposes
        higher education
        mixed-methods research
        thematic analysis
      ab: This study investigates the integration of digital learning resources to address the authenticity gap in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction within the Computer Sciences Department at Setif 1 University, Algeria. Despite the growing recognition of authenticity as a pivotal factor in effective language learning, ESP classrooms in the Algerian higher education context continue to rely heavily on static, textbook-based materials that fail to replicate the linguistic demands of real-world professional environments. Employing a mixed-methods research design, this study combines quantitative data collected from a 20-item Likert-scale questionnaire administered to 45 Master 2 students across five sections with qualitative data gathered from semi-structured interviews with 5 ESP practitioners. Quantitative findings reveal that students perceive digital resources as moderately effective in enhancing authenticity, with an overall mean of 3.82 (SD = 0.74). Section-level analysis indicates that perceptions of the impact of digital resources on authenticity had the highest mean (M = 4.15), while challenges and limitations had the lowest (M = 3.31). Thematic analysis of teacher interviews uncovers four overarching themes: (1) the transformative potential of digital resources for authenticity, (2) infrastructural and pedagogical constraints, (3) the role of discipline-specificity in resource selection, and (4) professional development needs. The study concludes that while digital resources offer significant promise in bridging the authenticity gap, their effective integration requires systematic institutional support, targeted teacher training, and curriculum redesign informed by an analysis of authentic communicative needs.
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