 Introduction

 Meaning of ESP
 Types of ESP
 Characteristics of ESP courses
 The word ‘SPECIAL’ in ESP
 Conclusion
 English has become the internationally
accepted language of almost all the fields of
knowledge.
 Depending on their specific needs and
requirements, new learners who knew
specifically why they need English are created.
 In some cases people with inadequate
proficiency in English need to be taught to
handle specific jobs.
 To fulfill the needs of these new learners new
specific courses were designed and
introduced.
 ESP is one of these specific courses.
 From early 1960’s, ESP has emerged as
one of the major areas of EFL
teaching today.
 Various universities across the globe
are offering a number of ESP courses
nowadays.
 Examples: English for Chemists, English
for Educationists, English for
Advertisements, English for Media, etc.
 ESP means English for specific purposes.
 ESP is defined in the terms of its absolute
and variable characteristics by Tony
Dudley Evens.
 Absolute Characteristics:
› Meets specific needs of learners.
› Makes use of underlying methodology and
activities of the discipline it serves.
› Is centered on the language appropriate to
these activities in terms of grammar, lexis,
syntax, study skills, discourse, and genre.
 Variable Characteristics:
› May be related to or designed for specific
disciplines.
› May use, in particular situations, different
methodologies from general English.
› Is likely to be designed for adult learners,
either at an institute or at a work place.
› Is generally designed for intermediate and
advanced students.
› Most of the ESP courses assume some basic
knowledge of the language systems.
 ESP is an approach to teaching.
 ESP is an attitude of mind.
 ESP is concerned with turning learners
into users.
 Hutchinson et al. (1987:19) state,
› ESP is an approach to language teaching in
which all decisions as to content and
method are based on the learner’s reason of
learning.
 David Carter
(1983)
identifies three
types of ESP:

English as a
English for English with
restricted
Academic and
language, e.g.
Occupational
specific
of a pilot, or a topics.
Purposes.
waiter.

Uniquely
Only used for English for
English for concerned with
specific contexts.
Academic anticipated future
Knowing this type Occupational English needs, e.g.
of English may not Purposes
Purposes Scientists requiring
help to (EAP), e.g.
communicate (EOP), e.g. English for
English for postgraduate
effectively outside English for
the specific medical studies or
Technicians. attending
context. studies. conferences.
 Carter (1983) discusses three
characteristics of ESP courses.
› Authentic material
 Study material must be authentic.
› Purpose-related orientation
 Orientation lessons must be according to the
needs of the learners.
› Self-direction
 Learners must have a degree of freedom to
decide what, when and how they will study.
 The word SPECIAL refers to:
› Purpose for which learners learn
language; not the nature of
language.
› Restricted repertoire of words
and expressions selected from
the whole language.
 ESP-English for specific purposes has
emerged as a significant field in Applied
Linguistics. It is mostly concerned with the
learners’ needs for a specific field of
academics or occupation. Restricted
skills of words and expressions, purpose of
learning the language are the areas to
be considered in ESP.
Thank you