This document discusses the origins and birth of English for Specific Purposes (ESP). It traces how ESP emerged from the post-war growth of technology and commerce, which generated demand for an international language. As English became the dominant language in these fields, new learners sought to acquire English skills for specific professional reasons. Events like the 1970s Oil Crisis further commercialized English learning. ESP then developed to meet the precise language needs of various occupations and professions by designing content and teaching methods based on learners' goals.

1. By:
Ruel Montefolka
Ariel John Quiachon
Origin

2. What is ESP?
Is an approach to
language teaching in
which all decisions as to
content and methods
are based on the
learners reason for
learning.

4. As with most developments
in human activity ESP was not
planned and coherent movement
but rather a phenomenon that
grew out of a number of converging
trends.

5. The Birth of ESP Hutchinson and Waters
(1987) show a long-term retrospective view
on causes resulting in the birth of E.S.P.,
when they present nearly the same factors,
which, in turn, suggest a cause effect
relationship the enormous and
unprecedented expansion in scientific,
technical and economic activity on an
international scale.

7. a. Two forces were dominating the new post-war
world – technology and commerce, whose
relentless progress soon generated a demand for
an international language and, due to the
economic power of the U.S. it was English which
was granted this role.

8. b. The emerging of a new mass of people wanting
to learn English – the key to international
currencies of technology and commerce. This
mass of people joined together particularly new
generations of learners who knew specifically
what they were to learn and why.

9. c. The Oil Crises of the early 1970s involved a
massive flow of funds and western expertise into
the oil-rich countries. Therefore, English suddenly
turned into ‘big business’ and, on the other hand,
commercial pressures began to exert an influence
in the acquisition of this language. Time and
money constraints created a need for cost
effective courses with accurately specific goals.

10. d. The need for several countries to update their knowledge.
Therefore, E.S.P. came into being and gradually developed
into a multilayered language approach primarily based on
learners’ specific needs required by their professions or
occupations. The domain labeled E.S.P. was proven to
have a universal dimension through the concept of
language for specific purposes and a language-specific
perspective through the insights explored into various
European languages.

11. References
1. Mohammad Kaosar Ahmed Associate Professor
Department of English Language and Literature
International Islamic University Chittagong
2. http://www.esp-
world.info/Articles_42/Documents/Ahmed.pdf
3. www.google.com/images
Time and Date Retrieved
6/20/16
02:50pm