What is ESP and how does it differ from teaching general English course
What is ESP and how does it differ from teaching general English course
What is ESP? ESP is English for Specific Purpose and can also be referred to as Business English. A great deal about the origins of ESP could be written. Notably, there are three reasons common to the emergence of all ESP: the demands of a Brave New World, a revolution in linguistics, and focus on the learner (Hutchinson & Waters, 1987). ESP arose as a term in the 1960’s as it became increasingly aware that general English courses frequently did not meet learner or employers wants. As far back as 1977 Strevens (1977) set out to encapsulate the term and what it meant. Robinson (1980) wrote a thorough review of theoretical positions and what ESP meant at that time. Coffey (1985) updated Streven’s work and saw ESP as a major part of communicative language teaching in general. Today it is still a prominent part of EFL teaching (Anthony, 1997b). Johns & Dudley-Evans (2001, 115) state that, ‘the demand for English for specific purposes… continues to increase and expand throughout the world.’
When teaching ESP (English for Specific Purposes) or Business English, the teacher simply continues teaching all the English that they already know how to, but incorporate vocabulary,examples, topics and contexts that are relevant to the students particular needs. The term “specific” in ESP refers to the specific purpose for learning English. This may include EAP(English for Academic Purposes), which prepares students at tertiary level for further academic studies where English is used as the medium of instruction. Students approach the study of English through a field that is already known and relevant to them. This means that they are able to use what they learn in the ESP classroom right away in their work and studies.
The most important difference lies in the learners and their purposes for learning English. ESP students are usually adults who already have some acquaintance with English and are
What is ESP? ESP is English for Specific Purpose and can also be referred to as Business English. A great deal about the origins of ESP could be written. Notably, there are three reasons common to the emergence of all ESP: the demands of a Brave New World, a revolution in linguistics, and focus on the learner (Hutchinson & Waters, 1987). ESP arose as a term in the 1960’s as it became increasingly aware that general English courses frequently did not meet learner or employers wants. As far back as 1977 Strevens (1977) set out to encapsulate the term and what it meant. Robinson (1980) wrote a thorough review of theoretical positions and what ESP meant at that time. Coffey (1985) updated Streven’s work and saw ESP as a major part of communicative language teaching in general. Today it is still a prominent part of EFL teaching (Anthony, 1997b). Johns & Dudley-Evans (2001, 115) state that, ‘the demand for English for specific purposes… continues to increase and expand throughout the world.’
When teaching ESP (English for Specific Purposes) or Business English, the teacher simply continues teaching all the English that they already know how to, but incorporate vocabulary,examples, topics and contexts that are relevant to the students particular needs. The term “specific” in ESP refers to the specific purpose for learning English. This may include EAP(English for Academic Purposes), which prepares students at tertiary level for further academic studies where English is used as the medium of instruction. Students approach the study of English through a field that is already known and relevant to them. This means that they are able to use what they learn in the ESP classroom right away in their work and studies.
The most important difference lies in the learners and their purposes for learning English. ESP students are usually adults who already have some acquaintance with English and are
References: Geyser, J. 2006. English to the World: Teaching Methodology Made Easy. Malaysia: August Publishing. (Chapter 15, pages 259 – 264) From a Journal Carter, D. (1983): Some Propositions about ESP, The ESP Journal, 2,131-137. Chitravelu, N. (1980).English for special purposes project. In ELT Documents 107, The British Council. Coffey, B. (1985). ESP: English for specific purposes. In V. Kinsella, (Ed.), Cambridge Language Surveys 3 Dudley-Evans, T., & St. John, M. J. (1998). Developments in English for specific purposes: A multi-disciplinary approach Edwards, N. (2000). Language for business: Effective needs assessment, syllabus design and materials preparation in a practical ESP case study Hutchinson, T. & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes: A learning-centered approach Johns, A. & Dudley-Evans, T. (2001). English for specific purposes: International in scope, specific in purpose McCarten, J. (2007). Teaching vocabulary: Lessons from the corpus, lessons for the classroom Mackay, R. & Mountford, A. (Eds.) (1978): English for Specific Purposes: A Case Study Approach. London: Longman. Robinson, P. (1980). ESP: The current position. Oxford, Pergamon. Strevens, P Anthony, L. (1997a). Defining English for specific purposes and the role of the ESP practitioner. Retrieved February 3, 2014 from http://www.antlab.sci.waseda.ac.jp/abstracts/Aizukiyo97.pdf Anthony, L. (1997b). ESP: What does it mean? Why is it different? On Cue. Retrieved February 5, 2014 from http://www.antlab.sci.waseda.ac.jp/abstracts/ESParticle.html Brunton, M catering industry. ESP World. 1(22), Vol 8. Retrieved February 5, 2014 from http://www.esp-world.info/Articles_22/esp%20essay%20for%20publication.htm