Definitio

n
⦿According to Strevens (1977) “ESP
concerns the emergence of a number of
activities, movements and subjects that
are carried out predominantly (though)
not exclusively in English across the
world)”
⦿It looks at the purpose for which the
student needs to learn English, i.e. for
occupational or for study purposes.
⦿ESP is a term that refers to
teaching or studying English for
a particular career (like law,
medicine) or for business in
general.
⦿Hutchinson and Waters (1992)
emphasize ESP to be an approach
and not a product which means
language learning not language use
is highlighted.
⦿They draw attention to a learning
centred approach “in which all
decisions as to content and method
are based on the learner´s reason for
learning”.
⦿Coffey (1985) observes that ESP is
“a quick and economical use of the
English language to pursue a course
of academic study (EAP) or
effectiveness in paid employment
(EOP)”.
⦿Lorenzo (2005) reminds us
that ESP “concentrates more
on language in context than
on teaching grammar and
language structures”.
⦿Carter (1983) believes that
self-direction is important in
the sense that an ESP course
is concerned with turning
learners into users of the
language.
The variable characteristics are that courses
may:

1. be restricted in the skills to be

learned;
2. not be taught according to a
particular methodology.
 The absolutecharacteristics
of ESP courses are:

1. designed to meet the specific needs

of the learner;
2. related in content to particular
disciplines or occupations;
3. centred on language specific to those
disciplines or occupations.
⦿Robinson (1991) also suggests two
absolute criteria for defining ESP
courses.
1. The first is that ESP programmes are
normally goal-oriented.
2. The second is that they derive from a
needs analysis. The needs analysis
will state as accurately as possible
what the learners will have to do when
speaking the language.
Robinson (1991) also suggests two
absolute criteria for defining ESP
courses.
1. The first is that ESP programs
are normally goal-oriented.
2. The second is that they derive
from a needs analysis. The
needs analysis will state as
accurately as possible what the
learners will have to do when
speaking the language.
Absolute Characteristics

• ESP is defined to meet specific needs of the

learners.
• ESP makes use of underlying methodology
and activities of the discipline it serves.
• ESP is centred on the language appropriate to
these activities in terms of grammar, lexis,
register, study skills, discourse and genre.
Variable Characteristics
• ESP may be related to or designed for specific
disciplines.
• ESP may use, in specific teaching situations, a
different methodology from that of General
English.
• ESP is likely to be designed for adult learners,
either at a tertiary level institution or in a
professional work situation. It could, however,
be for learners at secondary school level.
Variable Characteristics
• ESP is generally designed for intermediate
or advanced students.
• Most ESP courses assume some basic
knowledge of the language systems.
1. authentic materials,
2. purpose related orientation, and
3. self-direction
1. ESP is more relevant than the
general English.
⦿ESP as a register analysis
⦿ESP as a rhetorical and discourse
approach
⦿ESP as a communicative
approach
⦿ESP as a target situation analysis
⦿Defined by Michael Halliday as an attempt to
analyze the linguistic foundations of language we
use in given situations, and the ways in which the
language we speak or write varies according to the
type of situation.
⦿ This has been a strong research area in linguistics
for several decades. Many people are now working
with examples of genuine texts in the hope of
establishing the linguistic features which
characterize them. Text linguistics, discourse
analysis, pragmatics and register and genre all
depend on communicative events which have
taken place.
⦿Rhetorical – art or skill or speaking or
writing formally and effectively especially
as a way to persuade or influence people.
⦿Discourse – formal and orderly and
usually extended expression of thought on
a subject
⦿Who is your target learner?
⦿What do you know about your
target learner’s goals?
⦿ESP is a generic term used to indicate an
approach practiced in teaching and
learning of content-oriented English for any
very specific purpose.