English For Specific

Purposes

Sujitra Pathumlungkar
Supervisory Unit

Types of ESP
English as a restricted language: English for
waiters, English for air controller
English for Academic and Occupational
Purposes (EAP, EOP)
English with specific topics
David Carter(1983)

Absolute Characteristic of ESP

desinged to meet specific needs of the learner;

related in content (i.e. in themes and topics) to

particular disciplines,occupations and activities;
serves;

centred on language appropriate to those activities in

syntax, lexis, register, discourse and genres etc. and
analysis of didcourse;

In contrast with General English.

Dudley-Evans (1997)

Variable Characteristics

related to or designed for specific disciplines;

use in specific teaching situations, a different
methodology from that of general English;
designed for adult learners, secondary school level or
professional work situation;
Generally designed for intermediate or advance
students;
Assume some basic knowledge of language system,
but it can be used with beginners.

Features Common to ESP courses

Authentic material;
Purpose-related orientation simulation of
communicative tasks;
Self-direction learners must have certain
degree of freedom to decide what, when, and
how they study, teaching them about learning
strategies.

Key Issues in ESP

Curriculum Design
Abilities required for communication;
Content language acquisition versus general
language acquisition;
Material development

Abilities Required for Communication

in Occupational Setting

To use the particular jargon characteristic;

To use a more generalised set of academic
skills, i.e. responding to memoranda,
conducting research,
To use the language of everyday informal
talk to communicate effectively

Content Language Acquisition versus

General Language Acquisition

Content knowledge
General and Academic
Language Skills

ESL instructor
Content instructor
Jointly facilitated

Team-taught activities

8 hours of Integrated Language Learning (ESL instructor)

6 hours Food Preservation Lectures (content instructor)
4 hours of Workplace Communication (jointly facilitated)
3 hours of Home Economics terminology (content instructor)
2 hours of Package Design (arts instructor)
2 hours of Applied Computer Skills (ESL instructor)

Material Development

ESP is an approach and not a subject to be

taught, curricular materials will unavoidably
be pieced together.
Authentic materials
ESP / ESL materials
Teacher-generated materials