Enhancing vocational identity among health science students: the role of reflective essays on Analects verses in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses

This study explores how reflective essays based on the Analects of Confucius contribute to the development of vocational identity among 68 Chilean health sciences students enrolled in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses—40 in physical therapy and 28 in pharmaceutical chemistry. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the intervention included pre- and post-questionnaires on vocational identity, qualitative analysis of students’ essays, and structured interviews. Quantitative findings revealed significant gains in vocational clarity and commitment. Qualitative analysis further showed that reflective engagement with Confucian principles encouraged greater ethical awareness and reinforced students’ sense of professional purpose. The study concludes that structured reflective essays can support the formation of ethically grounded and purpose-driven professional identities in ESP contexts.