However, apart from limited-scale s

However, apart from limited-scale surveys [14, 15]
carried out through research by one of the present authors,
little has been done to ascertain the English-language
needs of computer scientists and computer engineers when
they enter their workplaces and perform professional tasks
requiring English use. To address this gap, we devised a
comprehensive survey by email of all the graduates of our
university – a public institution in Japan offering solely
computer science and computer engineering degrees – for
whom email contact information was available. The
purpose was to apply the findings about workplace tasks
to inform decisions about curriculum and instructional
materials so that students graduating from the university
are equipped with skills that allow them not only to pass
their classes and graduate but also to perform with
excellence in their future workplaces.
In the remainder of this paper, the survey methods will
be described, results presented and analyzed, and then
conclusions drawn concerning curriculum bias and
balance that may be applied not only to the situation in
Japan but also to any ESP situation in the English
language training of engineers and computer scientists
anywhere in the world. The article will end with some
suggestions for ensuring a balance in ESP curriculum
between addressing academic needs and future
professional needs of students.