English for Specific Purposes vs. General English Common fears of teaching English

1. [ESP]- English for
Specific Purposes
Roginette F. Eusala

2. ESP
Teaching of a specific genre of mostly technical English for students
with specific goals, careers or field of study.
People study English for Specific Purposes so they can:
•perform better in globalized economy
•progress in an English-speaking company
•talk and manage international teams
•succeed in complex, multilingual environments
Examples include:
English for Academic purposes
English for business & Management,
or hotel & Catering English

3. ESP vs. EGP
English is not taught as a separate
subject, instead its integrated into
the subject matter area important
to the learner.
Language is taught in context,
grammar and language structure
are not stressed.

4. ESP vs. General English
Differences between ESP and GE
(Dudley-Evans):
- meet specific needs
- it serves a particular discipline
-intermediate/advanced level
( authentic materials are easily feasible)

5. Major Differences? Not Really

6. Learner’s purpose for Learning
Subjects may vary:
health accounting, computer, science, tourism,
business management, armed forces etc.
ESL All four language skills
ESP Skills taught according to the needs
of the students
E.g.
Spoken Skills for students studying tourism

7. ESP combines subject matter and English
language teaching
Application of new learning in
academic/professional field
New learning is meaningful therefore acquired more easily
M
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A
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8. Students will acquire
English while working
with material relevant to
their educational or
professional studies or
pursuits.
Learners studying in
English context tend to
be more successful
Focusing on linguistic input or
isolated language structures may
decrease motivation to learn the
target language.

9. Language is presented in

10. Adults have to work harder than
children in order to lean new
language, but the learning skills
they bring to the task permit
them to learn faster and more
efficiently

11. In the past, ESP
courses were
designed by
intermediate or
advanced adult
learners.
Nowadays, many
students learn
vocational English at
an earlier age and at
a lower level of
proficiency.

12. Teaching ESP
Common Fears
When do I start? (Whatever
English should my students be
at?)
What do I teach?
(I’m not familiar with the subjects)
How do I teach? Where do I find
materials?

13. When do I start?
in any ESP
courses the students
should be atleast level
A1, if not higher
depending on the
purpose of leaning i.e.
academic vocational
purpose.

14. What do I Teach?
It is a good idea to choose a subject area of interest to you
•Preparation is important
•Get a subject dictionary
•Research the subject in any way you can, e.g. visit the
library, use the internet etc.
•Read the Teacher's book

15. How do I teach?
Where do I find materials?
Choice A
Use an ESP coursebook
Choice B
Design your own material

16. GE Teacher facing ESP
- No training for ESP teaching 
frustration, a feeling of inadequacy
- Possessing the knowledge to generate
communication with ESP learners
- Becoming consultants, negotiators with
students  additional roles

17. Why do teachers struggle with ESP?
- No need to learn specialist subject area
- Need to understand basic principles, have a
positive attitude towards ESP content
- Need to “become interested students of a subject
matter”
- Need to use particular jargon, use more
generalized set of academic skills, know everyday
small talk (general communication skills)
 a common fund of knowledge

18. Roles of an ESP Teacher
Teaching
ESP
Teaching
ESP
Use authentic
material
Make the task as
authentic as possible
Motivate the
students with variety
relevance and fun
Take the classroom
in the real world and
bring the real world
in the classroom

19. Main Branches of ESP
ESP
EOP
EAP
English for
Academic
Purposes
English for
Occupation
al Purposes

22. Example