ASSESSING SOFT SKILLS IN ESP: EVALUATING COMMUNICATION AND TEAMWORK IN PHD ENGLISH COURSES

This study investigates the integration of soft skills, specifically communication and teamwork, in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses designed for PhD students. Soft skills are increasingly recognized as critical for success in both academic and professional contexts, yet many ESP courses continue to focus solely on technical language and discipline-specific terminology. As a result, PhD students often lack the necessary skills for effective collaboration and professional interactions. The research addresses two central questions: (1) To what extent are communication and teamwork skills incorporated into PhD-level ESP courses? and (2) What teaching methods are most effective in fostering the development of these skills? The study hypothesizes that current ESP courses inadequately emphasize soft skills development. It further suggests that implementing targeted teaching strategies and assessments will enhance students' proficiency in communication and teamwork, ultimately fostering better collaboration, research dissemination, and networking. Adopting an exploratory qualitative methodology, the study collects data through interviews with a sample of 10 PhD students from diverse academic disciplines enrolled in ESP courses at the University Center of Barika. The findings indicate that communication and teamwork are insufficiently addressed in the current ESP curriculum, leaving students feeling unprepared for the interpersonal demands of academic and professional environments. Students highlighted the need for more interactive activities, such as group projects, role-playing, and peer feedback, to strengthen these skills. The results underscore the importance of revising ESP curricula to include tailored instructional methods, ensuring PhD students are equipped with the essential soft skills for their careers.