English for specific purposes (ESP) is a subset of English as a second or foreign language. It usually refers to teaching the

English language English is a West Germanic language that developed in early medieval England and has since become a English as a lingua franca, global lingua franca. The namesake of the language is the Angles (tribe), Angles, one of the Germanic peoples th ...

to university students or people already in employment, with reference to the particular vocabulary and skills they need. As with any language taught for specific purposes, a given course of ESP will focus on one occupation or profession, such as Technical English, Scientific English, English for medical professionals, English for waiters, English for tourism, etc. Despite the seemingly limited focus, a course of ESP can have a wide-ranging impact, as is the case with Environmental English. English for academic purposes, taught to students before or during their degrees, is one sort of ESP, as is

Business English Business English is a part of English for specific purposes and can be considered a specialism within English language learning and teaching or a variant of international English. Many non-native English speakers study the subject with the goal of ...

. Aviation English is taught to pilots, air traffic controllers and

civil aviation Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military and non-state aviation, which can be both private and commercial. Most countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and ...

cadets to enable clear radio communications.

Definition

Absolute characteristics

# ESP is defined to meet psychological needs of the learners and how they will respond to temptations (

Maslow's hierarchy of needs Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a conceptualisation of the needs (or goals) that motivate human behaviour, which was proposed by the American psychologist Abraham Maslow. According to Maslow's original formulation, there are five sets of basic n ...

). # ESP makes use of underlying methodology and activities of the discipline it serves. # ESP is centered on the language appropriate to these activities in terms of

grammar In linguistics, grammar is the set of rules for how a natural language is structured, as demonstrated by its speakers or writers. Grammar rules may concern the use of clauses, phrases, and words. The term may also refer to the study of such rul ...

, lexis, register, study skills, discourse and

genre Genre () is any style or form of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other fo ...

Variable characteristics

Strevens' (1988) ESP may be, but is not necessarily: # Restricted as to the language skills to be learned (e.g. reading only); # Not taught according to any pre-ordained methodology (pp. 1–2) Dudley-Evans & St John (1998) # ESP may be related to or designed for specific disciplines;(Dabong, 2019) # 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; # ESP is generally designed for intermediate or advanced students; # Most ESP courses assume some basic knowledge of the language system, but it can be used with beginners (pp. 4–5)

Teaching

ESP is taught in many

universities A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

of the world. Many professional associations of teachers of English (e.g., TESOL and IATEFL) have ESP sections. Much attention is devoted to ESP course design. ESP teaching has much in common with

English as a foreign or second language English as a second or foreign language refers to the use of English by individuals whose native language is different, commonly among students learning to speak and write English. Variably known as English as a foreign language (EFL), Engli ...

and English for academic purposes (EAP). Quickly developing

can be considered as part of a larger concept of English for specific purposes. ESP is different from standard English teaching in the fact that the one doing the teaching not only has to be proficient in standard English, but they also must be knowledgeable in a technical field. When doctors of foreign countries learn English, they need to learn the names of their tools, naming conventions, and methodologies of their profession before one can ethically perform surgery. ESP courses for medicine would be relevant for any medical profession, just as how learning electrical engineering would be beneficial to a foreign engineer. Some ESP scholars recommend a "two layer" ESP course: the first covering all generic knowledge in the specific field of study, and then a second layer that would focus on the specifics of the specialization of the individual.

References

Notes

Hutchinson, T. & A. Francisco. 1987. English for Specific Purposes: A learning-centered approach
Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press was the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted a letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it was the oldest university press in the world. Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessme ...

.
Eric.ed.gov
Dudley-Evans, Tony. An Overview of ESP in the 1990s. In: The Japan Conference on English for Specific Purposes Proceedings (Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima, Japan, November 8, 1997)
Amazon.co.uk
Dudley-Evans, Tony (1998). Developments in English for Specific Purposes: A multi-disciplinary approach. Cambridge University Press.
''Ideas and Options in English for Specific Purposes''
2006 {{ISBN, 978-0-8058-4418-4 Developmentalpsychologyarena.com, Helen Basturkmen. Ideas and Options in English for Specific Purposes. Published by: Routledge, 2005
Eric.ed.gov
The Apitong 3rd floor on English for Specific Purposes Proceedings (Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima, November 8, 1997) Orr, Thomas, Ed.

External links

Organizations

Tesol.org
TESOL's ESP Interest Section and the ESP discussion list
Espsig.iatefl.org
IATEFL ESP Special Interest Group

IATEFL ESP SIG Website
IESPTA -
International ESP Teachers' Association (it is the only association for ESP Teachers)

Articles

Hewings, M. 2002. A history of ESP through 'English for Specific Purposes'.

Kristen Gatehouse. Key Issues in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Curriculum Development. The Internet TESL Journal.

Laurence Anthony. English for Specific Purposes: What does it mean? Why is it different?

Journals

Asian ESP Journal

Elsevier.com, English for Specific Purposes An International Research Journal

Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes

Magazines

ESP Professional
-It is the only magazine for ESP Teachers worldwide.

Official Site

English Learning Official Site
English-language education