ESP FOR ART STUDENTS: TESTING VISUAL AND LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE

Abstract

This study investigates the comprehension and use of the elements and principles of design by art students during the 2022–2023 and 2024–2025 spring midterm tests. Using The ABCs of Art: The Elements and Principles of Design booklet by M. C. Gillis as a core teaching tool, the research analyzes common errors in vocabulary, spelling, and conceptual understanding across four specializations. Particular attention is given to difficulties with artistic terminology, visual representation in drawing tasks, and oral exams where students interpret works by renowned painters. In the 2022–2023 academic year, the booklet was used in eight classes, and the average score (out of a maximum of 20 points) on the second midterm test for 38 students was 16.44; no student achieved the maximum score. In the 2024– 2025 academic year, the average score was 13.68 for 29 students, but the number of students who achieved the maximum score increased to five. Recurring issues included misunderstandings of distorted proportions, spatial relationships, and the meaning of quantifiers such as a couple of. The findings highlight the booklet’s effectiveness within an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) context, supporting faster learning and the development of both linguistic and artistic skills. To conclude, we believe this study will contribute to improving pedagogical approaches in art education.