This document provides an introduction to English for Specific Purposes (ESP). It defines ESP as focusing on meeting the specific language needs of particular groups of learners, and divides it into English for Academic Purposes and English for Occupational Purposes. ESP has become increasingly important with the rise of vocational training worldwide and the use of English as a global language of communication. Courses should be designed based on learners' needs and use authentic materials from their field of study or work to teach relevant vocabulary, discourse and skills.

1. Introduction to ESP
course
Instructor: Ibrohim Soatov

2. What is ESP?
• The aim of the ESP is to determine the needs of a
specific group of learners;
• ESP is often divided
into English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and
English for Occupational Purposes (EOP);
• Further sub-divisions of EOP are sometimes made
into business English, professional English
(e.g. English for doctors, lawyers) and vocational
English (e.g. English for tourism, nursing,
aviation, bricklaying)

3. Why ESP is important?
• ESP has become increasingly important as:
1. There has been an increase in vocational
training and learning throughout the world;
2. With the spread of globalization has come the
increasing use of English as the language of
international communication. More and more
people are using English in a growing number of
occupational contexts;
3. Students are starting to learn and therefore
master general English at a younger age, and so
move on to ESP at an earlier age;

4. Characteristic of ESP
• According to Dudley-Evans (2001) the absolute
characteristics of ESP are:
1. ESP is designed to meet the specific needs of
the learners;
2. ESP makes use of the underlying
methodology and activities of the specialism it
serves;
3. It is centered not only on the language
(grammar, lexis, register), but also the skills,
discourses and genres appropriate to those
activities;

5. The role of ESP
• “ESP is generally used to refer to the teaching of
English for a clearly utilitarian purpose.” Mackay and
Mountford (1978: 2);
Generally, the Students study English “not because
they are interested in the English Language or
English culture as such, but because they need
English for study or work purposes” (Robinson,1991:
2);
ESP, “language is learnt not for its own sake or for
the sake of gaining a general education, but to smooth
the path to entry or greater linguistic efficiency in
academic, professional or workplace environments”
Basturkmen (2006: 18);

6. ESP teaching material
• Harding (2007) stresses that the general skills that a
general English teacher uses e.g. being
communicative, using authentic materials and
analyzing English in a practical way are also
applicable to ESP. He also suggests that teachers
should:

7.  Think about what is needed and don't just follow an off-the-
shelf course or course book;
 Understand the nature of their students' subject area.
Work out their language needs in relation to their specialism;
 Use contexts, texts, situations from their subject area;
 Use authentic materials;
 Make the tasks as authentic as possible;
 Motivate the students with variety, relevance and fun;
 Take the classroom into the real world and bring the real world
into the classroom;

8. Acronyms in ESP:
CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning)
EAP (English for Academic Purposes)
EBP (English for Business Purposes)
ESAP (English for Specific Academic Purposes)
EGAP (English for General Academic Purposes)
EMP (English for Medical Purposes)
EOP (English for Occupational Purposes)
EPP (English for Professional Purposes)
EST (English for Science and Technology)
EVP (English for Vocational Purposes)

9. Thank you for your attention!