esp sep 2011

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) 

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) 

It is a separate activity within English Language Teaching (ELT).

British teachers are the pioneers of ESP.

Difficult to implement ESP in the contemporary world.

Advanced situations in different fields helped to improve ESP.

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) 

ESP movement developed due to general development in the world economy in 1950s and 1960s.

Growth of science and technology also contributed for ESP.

English as an international language, increased economy power in oil rich countries and studies in foreign countries helped for ESP movement.

One should be equipped with a “present, practise and produce” approach for content and language integrated learning.

Difference between General English (GE) and English for Specific

Purposes (ESP)

GE: “Vanaja teaches English” ESP: “Vanaja teaches British poetry” ESP is an approach, not a product ESP is meant for career oppurtunity GE is for “no obvious purpose” ESP is for specific purpose

ESP - Definition “ESP is the language for getting the

things done throughout the world”-Dudley – Evans and St JohnSpecialists in ESP

ESP is coal face of international language. i.e, “applied ELT”

- Jennifer Jenkins The well known

Linguist

ESP as a multi-disciplinary activities

The need and willingness to engage with other disciplinary through teaching.

The need and willingness to draw the insights of researchers in their disciplines.

The need to work how the spoken and written texts are useful to students in terms of their validity.

To understand how the business is organized through the text books from management training and HRD management.

In ESP work, we have to be sensitive to cultural differences both in academic and professional world.

Characteristics of ESP: Designed to meet specified needs of the

learner. Related to content to particular disciplines,

occupations and activities etc. Centered on language activities in syntax,

lexis, discourse, semantics, and analysis of the discourse.

In contrast with ‘General English’. May be restricted to the learning skills to be

learned. May not be taught according to pre-ordained

methodology.

Seven key Roles of the ESP practitioner:

Clearly explain the objectives. Teacher or language consultant should

understand the nature of students’ subject or vocation.

Course designer and material provider. Researcher – Think the needs of

students. Collaborator by using texts, contexts,

and situations. Evaluator.

Characteristics of the ESP learner: Learner is learning English in order to achieve

something specific beyond language itself. Learner will involve skills that are very

different from learning a language skills. ESP learner may learn English slowly because

his aim is to pursue a vocation and a purpose which is not based on language.

ESP learner may study English at the same time as studying his/her subject or doing a full-time job to the ESP class.

ESP learner may not have similar level of English. So, teacher must expect mixed levels and allow to improve differentiation.

Classification of ESP:

Now a days, many learners are hungry for material and advise that will help them with their specific course or with particular skills related to their course

1. English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

2. English for Business Purposes (EBP)

1. English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

EAP refers to any English teaching that relates to a study purpose.

Students whose first language is not English may need help with both the languages of academic disciplines and specific study skills required for the course.

EAP is one movement with in ESP.

EAP: English for Academic Purposes

EST (English for Science and Technology) 1) Project reports preparation.

EMP (English for medical Purposes) 1) Written medical communication 2) Paper and slide preparation.

ELP (English for legal purposes) 1) Academic legal writing 2) Judicial writing 3) Legislative writing

EAP: English for Academic Purposes:

EAP is badly in need in the situations where the students are from rural areas who may have had rather less exposure to English and may have been less well taught at school or college level and now are studying may be encountering in a large scale for the first time at the beginning of an academic course.

They are unlikely to have studied specific tasks or purposes for the study of university level.

Teachers’ trends in English for Academic Purpose (EAP):

Register Analysis Discourse Analysis Study Skills Analysis Learning Needs Analysis

2. English for Business Purposes (EBP)

a) EOP (English for Occupational Purposes)

b) EVP (English for vocational Purposes)

Characteristics of Business English: Users of Business English:

Most of English – medium communications in business are non-native speaker (NNS).

It is said that non-English managers can understand English better than a native speakers’ English.

EBP is an umbrella term. Definition of Business English:

“Communication with the public and communication with in (intra) company or between (inter) companies” – Pickett Linguist

General English

Communication with public

Business English

Communication among businesses

Specialised language of particular businesses

(such as insurance pharmaceuticals)

Trends of Teachers’ of Business English: For Business English Teachers,

personality, knowledge, and experience are important.

Mostly English teachers have not worked in business and they can not speak such language but acquiring is not a problem as from reading and talking to people, attending courses and seminars one can acquire.

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) VersusEnglish for Business Purposes (EBP)

EAP operates within a world were the fundamental concern is individual where as in EBP the purpose is with the world.

EAP interaction will be limited but in EBP, it will be in the world.

In EAP situations NNS has to adapt to both language and culture but in EBP situations, NNS may use the language but does not adapt the culture.

EAP teachers studied in academic environment but EBP teachers does not have direct experience with their learners.

References Developments in English for

ESP: A multi-disciplinary approach. Tony

Dudley Evans, Maggie Jo St. John, Cambridge language, Teaching library, CUP, Cambridge, 1998.

English for Specific Purpose – Keith Harding Oxford, 2010 (resource Alan Mally).

Dr. M.A. Waheed Associate Professor of English. Academic Counsellor, DrBRAOU and

IGNOU, Hyderabad. Visiting faculty, School of Management

Studies, JNTU, Hyderabad. External research examiner, MANUU,

Hyderabad and BAMU, Aurangabad.

Thank you

Q & A