ESP
English for Specific Purposes
What is it?
Author: Analia Gargiulo
DEFINITION
Robinson (1980) has defined it as ‘The teaching of English to learners who have specific goals and purposes’. These goals might be professional, academic, scientific, etc.
ESP cannot be confined to any specific field, discipline or profession. It has a broader area of action that depends exclusively on students’ needs.
CHARACTERISTICS (Strevens’ 1988)• It is designed to meet specified needs of the learner. • It is related in content (themes and topics) to particular
disciplines, occupations and activities. • It is centred on the language appropriate to those activities in
syntax, lexis, discourse, semantics, etc., and analysis of this discourse.
• It is opposite to General English. • It can be restricted to the language skills to be learned (for
example, reading)
TYPES OF ESP
Scope (some examples)
Coursebooks (examples)
What is the teacher’s role?
Bibliography• https://www.teflcourse.net/images/infographics/What-is-English-for-S
pecific-Purposes.jpg
• http://www.laurenceanthony.net/abstracts/ESParticle.html
• http://www.academia.edu/8519119/English_for_Specific_Purposes_Its_Definition_Characteristics_Scope_and_Purpose