This document discusses English for Specific Purposes (ESP). It defines ESP as an approach to language teaching where the content and aims of the course are based on the specific needs of the learners. The document traces the evolution of ESP from the 1960s and discusses some of the main researchers in the field, including Hutchinson and Waters. It outlines different theories of learning through ESP, such as behaviorism and mentalism, as well as approaches to ESP courses like language-centered, skills-centered, and learning-centered. Finally, it provides an example ESP lesson plan for electrical engineering students focused on vocabulary and graphic organizers.

1. English for Specific
Purposes
Evelyn Rojas

2. Outline
• Definition of ESP
• Evolution
• Main researchers
• Theories of learning through ESP
• Approaches to ESP courses
• ESP sample lesson

3. ESP DEFINITION
The rolerole of English in a language course or programme of
instruction in which the content and aims of thecontent and aims of the
course are fixed by the specific needs of acourse are fixed by the specific needs of a
particular group of learnersparticular group of learners. For example courses in
English for academic purposes, English for science
and technology, and English for Nursing.
•Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics (Fourth edition 2010):

4. EVOLUTION
• 1960’s awareness that General English
courses did not meet learner or employers
wants.
• Evolved from three fields:
a) Education
b) Linguistics
c) Psychology

5. • ESP is a subdivision of a wider field, Language
for Specific Purposes:
• “…the area of inquiry and practice in the
development of language programs for people
who need a language to meet a predictable
range of communicative needs.” Swales, 1992:
300

6. ESP
EAP
EBP
EOP
EMP
EAP
Burton M, 2009

7. Main researchers

8. HUTCHINSON AND WATERS ,
1987
a)a) the demands of a brave new worldthe demands of a brave new world:: WW II,
growth in commerce, technology exchange, and
economics: need of a common language of
exchange.
b)b) a revolution in linguisticsa revolution in linguistics: how the language was
being used for communication.
c)c) a focus on the learner:a focus on the learner: development in
educational psychology- the importance of
learners` needs, interests and objectives towards
the learning of the English language.

10. • Behaviorism: drills
The material was stretched. When it was 50 cm
long, the stretching was stopped.
The material was stretched until it was 50 cm long.
(from Basic English for Science by Peter
Donovan, OUP, I978)
Theories of learning through
ESP

11. • Mentalism: Chomsky: The generalisation idea :
unworkable, could not explain how from a finite range of experience,
the human mind was able to cope with an infinite range of possible
situations. His conclusion :thinking
MUSTBERULE-GOVERNED:MUSTBERULE-GOVERNED:
• Cognitive code: learner: active processor
of information. Teaching technique:
problem-solving task.
•

12. • LANGUAGE-CENTERED
Approaches to ESP courses

13. • SKILLS-CENTERED
• Latin America- texts not available in the
mother tongue.
• ESP courses to teach sts read in English
Approaches to ESP courses

14. • LEARNING-CENTERED
• Principle: learning is determined by the
learner.
• Concern is to maximize learning
Approaches to ESP courses

15. ESP sample lesson based on Hutchinson
and Waters
• Learning-centered approach
• Electrical engineering students
a)SLA is a developmental process.
b)Language Learning is an active process.
c)Language Learning is a decission making
process

16. Vocabulary

17. Graphic organizers

18. References
•
•
• Belcher, Diane D. (2004). Trends in teaching English for specific purposes. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics,
24, 165-186.
• Brunton, M.(2009). An account of ESP – with possible future directions. English for Specific Purposes Issue 3
(24), Volume 8. Retrieved June 20, 2013, from http://www.esp-world.info/Articles_24/An%20account%20of
%20ESP.pdf
• Gatehouse, K. (2001, October). Key Issues in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Curriculum Development. The
Internet TESL Journal, Vol. VII, No. 10. Retrieved June, 24, 2013, from
http://iteslj.org/Articles/Gatehouse-ESP.html
• Hutchinson, T. & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes: A learning-centered
• approach. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
• Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, Fourth edition published in Great Britain in
2010.
• Paltridge, B., & Startfield, S. (Eds). (2013). The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes.UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Shrivastava, A. (2009). English for specific purposes: its meaning and importance in Present Indian scenario.
ESP World, Issue 1 (22), Volume 8. Retrieved June 20, 2013, from http://www.esp-
world.info/Articles_38/ESP_in_India_Ravindra_Tasildar.pdf
• Swales, John. (1992). Language for specific purposes. In W. Bright (Ed.), International encyclopedia of linguistics
(Vol. 2, p. 300). New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press.