Introduction to ESP
Module 1
What is ESP?
English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
Hutchinson & Waters (1987, p.19) define
ESP as an approach to language teaching
in which all decisions as to content and
method are based on the learners’
reason in learning.
English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
Robinson (1991, p.1) viewed
ESP as an enterprise involving
education, training, and
practice and drawing upon
three major realisms of
knowledge namely language,
pedagogy, and
students’/participants’
specialist area of interest.
English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
Richards & Rodger (2001, p.107) saw ESP as
a movement that seeks to serve the language
needs of learners who need English in order
to carry out specific roles (e.g. student,
engineer, nurse) and who need to acquire
content and real-world skills through the
medium of it rather than master the language
for its own shake
What is common
among the
definitions given?
The History
of ESP
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).
The
Demands of
the Brave
New World
Hutchinson and Waters (1987) note that two key
historical periods breathed life into ESP:
End of the Second World War
The Oil Crisis of the early 1970s
End of the Second World War
The end of the Second World War brought
with it an " ... age of enormous and
unprecedented expansion in scientific,
technical and economic activity on an
international scale · for various reasons, most
notably the economic power of the United
States in the post-war world, the role [of
international language] fell to English"
The Oil Crisis of the early 1970s
The Oil Crisis of the early 1970s resulted
in Western money and knowledge flowing
into the oil-rich countries. The language of
this knowledge became English.
The general effect of all this development was to
exert pressure on the language teaching
profession to deliver the required goods.
Whereas English had previously decided its own
destiny, it now became subject to the wishes, needs
and demands of people other than language teachers
(Hutchinson & Waters, 1987).
The general effect of all this development was to
exert pressure on the language teaching
profession to deliver the required goods.
Whereas English had previously decided its own
destiny, it now became subject to the wishes, needs
and demands of people other than language teachers
(Hutchinson & Waters, 1987).
A
Revolution
in
Linguistics
A Revolution in Linguistics
Some linguists, being aware of the world changes,
began to focus their studies on the ways in which
language is used in real situations.
It was necessary to reorganize the teaching and
learning methodologies and make the specific
features of each situation the basis of learner's
courses
A Revolution in Linguistics
The English used by doctors, linguists or
officers is not based on the same
terminological terms consequently, the
teaching and learning process was directed
on the basis of the use of specific corpora
for each field.
Focus on
the
Learner
A Revolution in Linguistics
In the same period learner's motivation towards
acquiring a foreign language was the subject study
of the educational psychologists.
The idea was based on the statement of “tell me
what you need English for and I will tell you the
English you need”.
A Revolution in Linguistics
It was a natural expansion of this philosophy to plan
special courses for each range of specific learners.
Strevens (1977:152) notes: “...the existence of a major
tide in the educational thought, in all counties and
affecting all subjects. The movement referred to is the
global trend towards learner-centered education”.
Conclusion
Like the world, language study
and concepts of education
fundamentally changed.
The birth of teaching English
for Specific Purposes is
considered as the direct result
of the world evolution.
Comprehension Check!
Get a clean sheet of paper
Criteria:
Content – 4
Depth of Explanation - 4
Mechanics – 2
Total – 10 pts.
Answer the ff. questions:
1.In your own words, what is ESP?
2.Give at least one historical event that helped in the
emergence of ESP. Provide an explanation of its
development.
3.What is the importance of studying ESP?
1. If you are done, take a picture of your work.
2. Open Google Classroom for this subject and click the
classwork tab.
3. Attach your file in the Written Quiz 1 tab (labeled with the
date today)
4. Don’t forget to click the TURN IN button.
- End -
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