English for Specific Purposes – Tom Hutchinson and Alan Waters

The origins of ESP: There are three factors to the growth of ESP.

1. Historical reason: WWII created a context for commerce and technology which generated a demand for an
international language, English. There was a need for courses for specific needs. For example: Businessman and
women who wanted to sell their products or mechanics who had to read instruction manuals in English.

2. Developments in linguistics: after English became an international language, the aim was in the ways in which
language is actually used in real communication, the language we speak and write varies from one context to
another which is related to the development of English courses for specific groups of learners. (Traditionally
the aim of linguistics had been to describe the rules of English usage, the grammar)

3. Educational psychology: The Focus is on the learners’ needs and interests which influences on their motivation
to learn, the effectiveness of their learning, and the development of courses in which the needs and interests
of the learners are central.