Do you have any view on teaching ESAP? On what you base on them?

English has been internationally and widely used in academic research and increasingly
becoming a language needed as a media to pursue the specific subject studies especially by the
students from ELF countries. In order to fulfill those needs, ESAP (English for Academic
Purpose) courses are provided in ESL field. ESAP courses are designed to break down the
language barrier that most students from foreign countries (non-English-speaking countries) has
experienced before they get to learn a certain genre. In this article, I will address my opinion on
teaching ESAP based on its requirements.
Language instructors are aware of the disciplines, the choice of materials and activities when it
comes to teaching ESAP courses. Organizing disciplines by grouping the students according to
the subject areas (eg: social science, physical sciences, natural sciences, etc.) that the future
studies will take place is what to concern first. At this point, teachers need to bear in mind the
fact that learners from ESAP programs have specific goals. They study English as a tool to meet
with their academic needs. For this reason, in my point of view, ESAP instructors are expected
to recognize the specific-subject needs of learners.
When it comes to deciding on the course material, knowing the language level and subject
content level of students is what instructors are to be ware. Based on the appropriacy of the
level of subject mastery that the learners hold and their level of knowledge in English will all be
considered before grouping those who share the same or approximately same level target
language and subject requirements. I believe that it is important for the teachers to pick the
effective and suitable materials and exercises, relevant to the competency of the target students.
After unifying students, the next step an ESAP teacher have to regard is of what activities will
be applied in the course. In my aspect, choosing the topic of the task generally (eg: pollution,
traffic, etc.) will keep the students motivated as most learners come from different subject areas.
The theme used must also be relevant to the target language that will be covered. The effective
language to be used in the context will be directed by the instructors. The activities are to cover
both syntax and lexis that will be applied in the further specific subjects. Teachers’ role here is a
language facilitator rather than a subject content provider.
To sum up, teaching ESAP requires much of teachers’ effort to meet with the students’ target
language, as well as, subject specific needs.