DIDACTIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING FOREIGN LANGUAGE READING COMPETENCE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN ESP- BASED EDUCATION

Abstract

This article investigates the didactic opportunities for developing foreign language reading competence among chemical engineering students through an integrated ESP (English for Specific Purposes)-based instructional model. The internationalization of science and technology has intensified the need to develop this competence. A quasi-experimental design involving 60 undergraduate students in experimental and control groups was employed. The instructional intervention incorporated linguistic, cognitive, strategic, and professional components of reading instruction. The results demonstrated significant improvements in reading comprehension, the use of metacognitive strategies, and the interpretation of technical texts among students in the experimental group. The findings confirm that integrating language learning with cognitive and professional contexts enhances the effectiveness of ESP-based reading instruction. Furthermore, the article highlights effective practical approaches to developing professional reading competence in technical higher education institutions.