Intercultural Communication

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

The references has been taken from the research paper of Claire Kramsch: Intercultural Communication

             In this research paper Claire Kramsch has presenteded the way of intercultural communication and the importance of understanding the culture of each other. Intercultural communication is very important as far as social, political and economical progress is concern.

              In ELT intercultural communication is very important because if you want to learn any language you should aware with the culture of that region, state and country because the roots of that language is deeply connected with the culture of that place.

             In 1980s the term ‘Intercultural communication’ became the prominent term in TESOL. Lado’s Linguistics across Cultures (1957) was first attempt to link language and culture in an educationally relevant way, and in The Silent Language (1959) Hall showed the complex ways in which

‘Culture is communication and communication is culture’

The principals of Intercultural communication developed by Hall and his colleagues in the Foreign Service were used by the Peace Corps, founded in the early 1960s.

             Majorly in Europe, the field of intercultural communication developed because of their needs of increasing political and business relations and industrialization. Intercultural communication is connected with linguistics, behavioural sciences, especially psychology and social psychology.

             East-West Centre in Honolulu, Intercultural Communication Institute in Portland, University of Hawaii and the University of Minnesota are the famous institutes who have intercultural communication as a part of their study. There are journals also related to intercultural communication, such as International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Journal of Cross cultural Psychology and Journal of Cross-cultural and Inter-language Communications.

                Intercultural communication is a specific branch of ELT with a good scope of research. The term SIETAR (society and intercultural education training and research) is a very important term for Intercultural communication. TESOL publication has a special interest group in intercultural communication, and it is no all about accurate information but it is about historical contexts and present culture. The field of intercultural communication makes people aware with their ‘Intercultural rights’. TOEFL (Test of English as a foreign language) is also an important part of development in Intercultural communication.

            There is also a negative aspect of looking towards Intercultural communication that English language is trying to prove its superiority to the world, but the truth is different, as a global language English is compulsory and important language of world and that is the reason of the importance of intercultural communication.

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.