OVERVIEW OF ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES: FOCUS ON OCCUPATIONAL AND ACADEMIC PURPOSES
Description
English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is a branch of English language teaching
that addresses the specific linguistic needs of learners in various professional and
academic contexts. This article provides an overview of ESP, particularly focusing
on its applications in occupational and academic settings. It examines the principles
underpinning ESP, the methodologies employed, and the significance of tailored
language instruction, supported by relevant literature. English for Specific Purposes
(ESP) refers to instruction aimed at helping learners with their study or research in
the specific form of English they require. It has developed over the past 50 years
through extensive research and classroom experience, becoming a significant force
in university and workplace education across various regions of the globe. The
fundamental concept of ESP is that learners’ needs vary greatly depending on their
future academic or career aspirations, which is why it has gained such prominence
in universities worldwide in recent times. There is an increasing recognition that
students must adopt new roles and interact with information in different manners
when they transition to university and eventually to the workforce. They discover
that they need to engage with unfamiliar writing styles and that communication
practices differ across the disciplines they study. In this paper, I outline some of the
key concepts and practices that have influenced modern ESP and examine the
primary impacts it is having on language education.
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Additional details
Dates
- Issued
-
2025-03-15
References
- 1.Belcher, D. (2006). English for Specific Purposes: Teaching to the New Rhetorics. English for Specific Purposes, 25(1), 1-10. 2.Dudley-Evans, T., & St John, M. J. (1998). Developments in English for Specific Purposes: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach. Cambridge University Press. 3.Ellis, R. (2003). Task-based Language Learning and Teaching. Oxford University Press. 4.Flowerdew, L., & Peacock, M. (2001). Research Perspectives on English for Academic Purposes. Cambridge University Press. 5.Gilmore, A. (2007). Authentic Materials and Authenticity in Foreign Language Learning. Language Teaching, 40(2), 97-118. 6.Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for Specific Purposes: A Learning-Centred Approach. Cambridge University Press. 7.Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (1999). Learning Together and Alone: Cooperative, Competitive, and Individualistic Learning. Allyn and Bacon. 8.Jordan, R. R. (1997). English for Academic Purposes: A Guide and Resource Book for Teachers. Cambridge University Press. 9.Snow, M. A. (2001). Academic Language and the Challenge of English Language Learners. Educational Leadership, 59(2), 1-12