“Sharing and Improving our ESP Practices”

March 28th Module 1: Introduction to ESP

Profesorado Superior de Lenguas VivasPrograma Nacional de Formación Docente

Module 1: Introduction to ESPKWL ChartMyths and Facts about ESPEGP vs. ESP TasksEGP and ESP differencesESP DefinitionsESP BranchesESP AcronymsTo do List

KWL CHARTWHAT I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO

KNOWWHAT I LEARNT

Students only learn technical terms or isolated words

The context

I know how to prepare a normal lesson with some ESP vocabulary input

Some skills are left aside

Strategies to support my students to develop the competences they need to work with ESP

To have tools to build up the syllabus .

How to motivate students

To develop ESP materials

Myths and Facts about ESP

1. Every language course is really an English for Specific Purposes(ESP) training program.

2. EOP (English for Occupational Purposes)is simply memorizing technical vocabulary.

3.Just use any specialized textbook and you will have a great EOP program.

4. Anyone who teaches can develop and teach an EOP training program.

5.The focus of every ESP course should be on developing reading, writing and translating skills.

6. Needs Analysis is an integral part of any ESP course.

7. ESP teachers should become specialists on the technical and scientific fields they are teaching.

1. Every language course is really an English for Specific Purposes(ESP) training program

Every well-designed language course takes into consideration the needs of learning objectives and appropriate materials, methodology, and evaluation procedures. However because learners in an ESP situation have more specific and definable needs, ESP programs need to be focused than general English courses . English for occupational purposes EOP programs, in particular need to be built on knowledge of the workplace because participants have clear , often urgent work-related needs and goals.

2. EOP is simply memorizing technical vocabulary

EOP involves much more than memorizing long lists of technical terminology. It is not learning about a task, but learning how to do the task in the target language. This requires consideration of all areas of communicative competence, and is far more complex than just lists of technical vocabulary.

3. Use just any specialized textbook and you will have a great EOP program

An EOP does not start with the text and let that drive the course. EOP is based on needs assessment that specifies exactly what the learner has to do in the target language and employs actual workplace texts and tasks to teach it. Published materials or parts thereof may or may not be appropriate, depending on the results of the needs assessment. EOP programs by definition are not off-the-shelf.

4. Anyone who teaches can develop and teach an EOP training program

EOP is a training specialty. To develop and teach a workplace program that effectively meets the needs of ESP learners, the teacher should be grounded in the theory and practice language learning and teaching and learning styles.

5. The focus of every ESP course should be on developing reading, writing and translating skills.

As ESP professionals, we must be prepared to find out how language is used in real world situations and teach that language. Knowledge of discourse and genre analysis is crucial for us.

6. Needs Analysis is an integral part of any ESP course.

ESP is a needs based discipline, which involves all stakeholders (people interested on the development of ESP courses: learners, workplace supervisors, head departments, core subjects teachers, etc)

7. ESP teachers should become specialists on the technical and scientific fields they are teaching.

An area of difficulty for teachers lies in the gap between the learners’ knowledge of the special subject and the teacher’s ignorance of it. The teacher needs to look for content specialists for help in designing appropriate materials and their implementation.

Adapted from Friedenberg, J. et al. (2003). Effective Practices in Workplace Language Teaching.

EGP or ESP Tasks?

EGP ESP

•To initiate conversation with a stranger

•To negotiate a merger

•To make a doctor’s appointment

To exchange letters with a friend•To order food at a restaurant

•To engage in courtroom debate

•To report a crime to the police

To announce an aircraft’s position to the control tower

•To read a local newspaper

•To understand pesticide application instructions•To fill out a credit card application

•To complete a grant proposal

•To comprehend a TV news program

•To read technical specifications

•To address an envelope

•To explain how to operate a crane

To shop via the Internet

•To make a stock trade on the trading floor

•To make a stock trade on the trading floor

•To write a medical prescription

From: “Introduction”. Thomas Orr. Pp 1-2. in English for Specific Purposes. Ed.Thomas Orr. Alexandria, VA: TESOL, 2002. Print.

EGP(English for General

Purposes)

• The focus is often on education

• As the future English needs of the student’s are impossible to predict, course content is more difficult to select.

• It is more usefully considered as providing a broad foundation on language skills which are equally stressed.

ESP(English for Specific

Purposes)

• The focus is on training

• As the English is intended to be used in specific vocational contexts, selection of appropriate content is easier (but note not “easy” in itself).

• It is needs analysis that determines which language skills are most needed by the students, and the syllabus is designed accordingly.

Mohoseni Far, M. (2008). On the Relationship between ESP and EGP: A general Perspective

What is ESP?

“Specific-purpose English includes not only knowledge of a specific part of the English language but also competency in the skills required to use this language, as well as sufficient understanding of the contexts within which it is situated.” (Orr, 2002)

What is ESP?

“ESP is English instruction based on actual and immediate needs of learners who have to successfully perform real-life tasks unrelated to merely passing an English class or exam. ESP is needs based and task oriented.” (Smoak, 2003)

What is ESP?

“ESP consists of English language teaching which is:

designed to meet specified needs of the learner;related in content (i.e. in its themes and topics)

to particular disciplines, occupations and activities;

centered on the language appropriate to those activities in syntax, lexis, discourse, semantics, etc.,

and analysis of this discourse; in contrast with General English.” (Strevens, 1988)

ESP Branches

ENGLISH FOR

SPECIFIC PURPOSES

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES (EAP)

ENGLISH FOR OCCUPATIONAL

PURPOSES (EOP)

To do list

Read the required bibliography from Module 1

Post your task in the forum and respond substantively to at least one of your colleagues

Select your ESP target learners Keep on working hard!

KWL CHARTWHAT I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO

KNOWWHAT I LEARNT

Students only learn technical terms or isolated words

The context

I know how to prepare a normal lesson with some ESP vocabulary input

Some skills are left aside

Strategies to support my students to develop the competences they need to work with ESP

Get tools to build up the syllabus .

How to motivate students

Develop ESP materials

THANK YOU!

“ESP is a challenge for all who teach it, and it offers virtually unlimited opportunities for professional growth” (Smoak, 2003)