ESP:

English for Specific

Purposes
Presented by
Carolina Montero, Angela Rella, Mariana Torres and Evelyn Zambrano

What is
ESP?

Approach rather than a product

- ESP is an approach to language teaching in which all
decisions as to content and method are based on the
learners reasons for learning. Hutchinson and
Waters (1987)

The core of ESP relies on

the learners purpose of
learning English.

English for Specific Purposes

vs.
General English

ESP

GE

LEA
RNE
RS

Working
adults

High
school
studen
ts

AIMS

To meet
the
needs of
the
learner

CON
CER
NS
OF
THE
TEA

To design
To
courses design
accordin course
g to the
s
learners targeti
needs
ng

To
improv
e
Englis
h skills

E
G

ES
P

Brief history

Three main reasons ESP came to

life
The necessities of the new world: Two key historical periods
The end of World War II, The Oil Crisis.

Great revolution in linguistics: main focus on how a learner

can acquire a language.

The learners needs: ESP has less to do with linguistics and

everything to do with psychology.

Features of
ESP

Absolute
characteristics

According to Dudley Evans (1997)

These can be described as language teaching

designed to fulfil the needs of the learner. They can be
summarised as:
ESP is fed by the grounding methodology and the activity it
suggests.
These activities cover grammar, lexis, register, study skills,
discourse and genre.

How much should English

teachers know to have a
successful ESP program?

Basic
knowledge?

Intermediat
e
knowledge?

Advanced
knowledge?

Variable
characteristics

ESP is designed for intermediate or

advanced students and adults learners.

ESP is designed for specific disciplines.

In ESP courses there is the assumption that some basic

knowledge of the language system is acquired.

Types of
ESP

ESP vs. ESL

ESP
ESP
students are
usually
adults with
knowledge
of English.

Concentrate
s more on
Language in
Context.

ESL
ESL
students
can be of all
ages.

Concentrate
s on
Grammar
and
Language
Structures.

ESP
Emphasis on
the most
needed
skills.

ESL
All four
languages
skills are
stressed
equally.

Tell me what you need English for, and I will

tell you the English that you need.
Guiding principle of ESP.

TEACHING ESP

Teacher or Practitioner?
Teaching ESP involves more than just teaching.
The ESP Practitioner plays many roles:

Teacher

Course
designer
and
material
provider

Collaborato
r

Researcher

Evaluator

ESP
Practitioner

The objective of the ESP Practitioner is to

aid students learning for sure.
The teacher is not the chief knower of the
material.
The teacher is a consultant.
More like a partner.
Their main role is to be able to develop
real, authentic communication based

Main tasks provided by the teacher

Organization

Main goals
Program
Find
material
work

Learning Environment

Communication skills
Developing confidence
Listening

Objectives

Provide information
Divide objectives

Evaluation form

Main source
Trial and error
Constructive criticism

Main skills or tasks developed by

the student
Interest in
learning

Comprehensio
n
Relevance
Motivation

Content
Knowledge

Awareness
Basic
knowledge
Improvement

Learning
strategies

Developed skills
Endless learning
Exploiting
competences

Any questions or
feedback?