Tentative Evaluation Of Currently Used Maritime English Teaching Materials In China And Proposals For Improvement

Maritime English is a sub-set of English for the exchange of information andtransfer of knowledge to be used as a working language in the international maritime world. The teaching of Maritime English can be affected by many factors such as course syllabus, teaching materials, teaching facilities, teaching methodologies, teachers, students etc. Among these factors, teaching materials are found to have the most defects by many teachers and learners of Maritime English in China. The theoretical framework referenced in this thesis mainly derive from the theory of needs analysis in ESP (English for Specific Purposes) study proposed by Tom Hutchinson & Alan Waters, and material evaluation criteria by McDonough & Christopher Shaw. First of all, we have a needs analysis on a course of Maritime English. Next, we propose specific evaluation criteria for Maritime English teaching materials, which are based on some general evaluation criteria for all ESP courses. Then, four Maritime English textbooks currently used in China's maritime colleges are evaluated in a matching way with reference to the results of needs analysis. This research aims at providing suggestions for and solutions to the selection and production of Maritime English teaching materials with the expectation to make some contributions to the development of Maritime English teaching in China.