English for Specific Purposes

This blog is a part of our ELT-1 class activity,

The references has been taken from the research paper of Tony Dudley-Evans: English for Specific purposes

 
                                              

           ESP (English for Specific purpose) is a special branch which includes variety of fields. In ESP speakers of other language can learn English as per their specific needs. ESP includes EAP (English for Academic Purposes), EOP (English for Occupational Purposes) and General English.

         

          First of all in his research paper Tony Dudley-Evans introduced the concept and use of ESP in learning and teaching English. The branch of ESP is working as a separate branch of English language teaching and all other terms like TESOL (Teaching English to the speakers of Other Language) are connected with it which helps non native speakers to deal with English.

Definition of ESP

   

   A key feature of ESP is needs analysis, because the first thing teacher should know is all about

“What do students need to do with English?”

         

         Because there are not only one kind of English in world, there are different register and sub-registers like there is different English for Doctors, engineers, lawyers, and teachers and all have their different specific purposes to use English, some are just using for communication and other use English for the occupational purpose.

       

          ESP is for adult learners because for this course the learner should be at list eligible for some extent, but in some cases beginners can also have advantage of this teaching method. The teaching methodology and interaction are different from general English classes. The materials of ESP are also specific in their subject matter and designed as per the topic.

      

         The most important part of ESP after needs analysis is Target audience. The specific needs and specific audience are an important part of ESP teaching.

       Tony Dudley-Evans has taken idea from George Blue that EGPA (English for general academic purposes) are designed for pre-study groups and ESAP (English for specific Academic purposes) is designed to meet specific needs of learners and both the terms are part of ESP. The same distinction is between EGBP (English for General Business Purposes) and ESBP (English for Specific Business Purposes). EVP (English for Vocational purposes) is a term teaching English for specific trades and vocations.

      

           If we try to look ESP beyond needs analysis it is a very large term which includes different type of analyses, such as:

®   Target situations analysis

®  Learning situation analysis

®  Present situations analysis

®  Means analysis

®  Text analysis

         Early works of ESP were based upon ‘moves’ which includes different grammar pattern and social discourse of communities, and materials are based upon this. CARS (Creating a Research Paper) technique was also introduced, in which the research paper includes the originality and need of research paper.

      

          As the main branch of ELT, ESP known as materials-led field, it focuses majorly upon needs analysis but also includes various analyses. It tries to give an environment in which learner can learn properly. ESP teachers are not just interpreter but they develops awareness in ESP students that how they can assert their rights.