Mid-Year

Preliminary Exam

Claro, Gemayma M.
BSE English 3

1. Explain, “ESP caters the needs of English Learners.” (15pts)

The main point of view is that English for Specific Purposes’ absolute characteristic is really
to meet the particular needs of English Learners, needless to say, they are the learners that focusing on
the specific features and quality of the said language. It can be seen that the target of ESP could
justified what English learners have to learn for the mastery on the matter.
Prior to this, there are types of needs to be cater which are the target needs and the learning
needs. Comparing the two, the target needs is pertaining on what to do to be able to learn
communication and other literacy skills using the English language knowing the necessities for
obtaining the proficiency level, lacks for filling in what things need to focus on, and wants which is the
personal desires that is likely to obtain by the learner. However, the learning needs shows how or the
way to step up from the first level to the final. Recently, the term specific in ESP is about the need and
interest of the learner which originally means of having a progress in the vocabulary of the given field.
Nevertheless, ESP is the functioning approach in which learners are able to master English language
after its objective is applied.

2. Explain, “ESP is restricted.” (10pts)

As being said, the approach is for specific purposes which means in a certain field like a
tourist guide has special vocabulary regarding the job and it is totally different in the other field such as
being manager in a business. Thus, it strictly limited in every situation. Another example is about
terminologies that needed for business which is not applicable for the medical profession. However, the
professions mentioned is under the scope of learning in ESP but its learning width could not be
generally applied.

3. Explain, “ESP and General English.”(10pts)

ESP and General English are correlated approaches in which they are the main branches for
English for for Foreign Language wherein their common goal is having the result of enough potential
regarding with communication skills to face the modern world.
To put stress about their difference, the ESP course focus on the benefits in using the
language rather than a subject, in that reason, ESP is a goal-oriented approach that is should based on
the learner’s requirement that is inspired in the related job or field. Whereas, General English is
teaching the context of the subject. It is to give information about the grmmar and other features of the
English which it considers the broad usage of the language rather than a specific field in order to build
a great pillar of knowledge in the English Language. That being said, it is designed to cover all the
skills. That aside, regardless of their difference their existence is from the roots of learning and
communication progress.

4. Is Grammar salient in teaching ESP? (15pts)

Absolutely, as identified that grammar is a building block of learning a language, in that

reason, grammar is definitely important in teaching ESP to be able to have accurate and proper
communication skills to surely used in a certain field. In becoming an effective speaker in the chosen
profession, grammar have essential role throughout the journey especially in the beginning of learning
because it introduce how the language should properly use. Achieving the desired level in language
skills gives more confidence which the learners can express the positive attitude because of the positive
influence of explicit grammar in teaching the proper utterances and sentences to be done in a particular
topic.
Mid-Year
Preliminary Exam

5. Should ESP practitioners be aware of many terminologies?(15pts)

No, it is not necessary for the ESP practitioners to have a lot and wide vocabulary of
terminologies. Specifically, in what particular field should practitioner be aware to many
terminologies?. There are lot of fields under ESP course. For that reason, what matter is that ESP
practitioner is able to possess the positive attitude towards the ESP content and have a basic knowledge
about the fundamental principle of the subject area as well as the awareness of how much he probably
already know.
The approach may refer to teaching in a particular area but it does not mean to have a rich
vocabulary because the scope of terminologies regarding to the particular fields is not static. Some
terminologies might change the meaning and purpose in unexpected time. Therefore, ESP practitioners
are responsible in being aware on those changes and most importantly to have enough background
knowledge about the context of the matter before entering the learning area. Another point is that ESP
is not only teaching about terminologies about medical studies but also in technical, economics,
psychology, etc. If a practitioner has a rich knowledge about the terminologies in the area of medicine
then that is a good foundation but considering the other areas he should have still the basic knowledge
on their contents. The main point is, learning is a continuous process, even teachers receive subjects
that are not match with their specialize subjects but still they teach those subjects successfully through
studying the subject’s content thoroughly before they teach it to their students.