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Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 17. Number 1, March 2026 Pp.161-174
Department of English Language for Higher Education,
International College of Sustainability Studies,
Srinakharinwirot University,
Bangkok, Thailand
This study investigates the lexical coverage and vocabulary demands of an engineering English textbook used at a Thai public university, with the main aim of determining whether the vocabulary aligns with learners’ expected language proficiency levels as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The significance of the study lies in addressing the increasing need for English for Specific Purposes materials that not only meet students’ disciplinary requirements but also match their actual language capabilities. The study used a collection of texts to look at how often words appear, where they are used, and how they are grouped in three textbooks. It also compared the words to well-known word lists. The results show that over 83% of the words are common everyday words. About 8% are academic words, and around 8% are engineering words. The textbook includes a good mix of general, academic, and engineering vocabulary. However, the overall vocabulary level is mostly B2 to C1, which is higher than the students’ expected B1 level. Even though the content is strongly related to engineering, the language may be too difficult for B1 students to learn new words easily. Based on the results, the study recommends instructional scaffolding, pre-teaching of technical terms, and adaptation of teaching strategies to bridge proficiency gaps and enhance learning outcomes in ESP settings.
Nuamsamrarn, S. (2026). Analyzing Vocabulary in an ESP Engineering Textbook: A Corpus-Based Linguistic Approach. Arab World English Journal, 17(1): 161-174
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Saowalux Nuamsamrarn is a full-time lecturer at the Department of English Language for Higher Education, International College of Sustainability Studies, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand. She holds a Ph.D. in Teaching and Technology. Her areas of interest are English language teaching, Technology Assisted Language Teaching, and Applied Linguistics.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5606-5654