English for Specific Purposes: Characteristic Features and Curriculum Planning Steps

Abstract

Summary. Knowledge of a foreign language opens new prospects of mobility and collaboration for professionals in the modern world. Education authorities recognize the increased role that foreign languages, especially English, play in the professional development of future specialists and try to introduce this subject at tertiary level. Such courses are aimed at preparing students to effectively communicate in English in their work settings. However, many university students do not have work experience in their field of specialization, or they do not know what language skills they might need in their future work. Thus, the choice of course content and teaching methods depends on the instructor who seldom has clearly defined national guidelines to rely on. The study focuses on characteristics of English for Specific Purposes (ESP). The research outlines the approaches to ESP curriculum development and planning. The paper outlines the prerequisites and methods of analysing learners' expectations and goals. The study determines what components of course content help to align aims, form, and conditions of educational activities with the students' future professional roles. The research sets to analyze ESP students' goals and expectations employing qualitative and quantitative techniques.

Exploring Students’ Expectations of the University Course

“…In the group of professional expectations 4% were reported, although the formulation of this expectations were rather vague: to use new knowledge in the future (4%), to become a better teacher (10%). These findings are in line with the study by Belyaeva (2015), stating that "instructors should bear in mind that learners often do not clearly perceive their future professional roles" (p. 87).…”

English for Tourism Untuk Pedagang Di Kawasan Pantai Bandulu Untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Komunikasi Jual Beli

“…Garis besar dari ESP adalah upaya untuk memberikan pembekalan bahasa Inggris kepada para pemelajar (Risan, Mahyuddin, G., 2020) yang sesuai dengan kebutuhannya dalam melanjutkan profesi di komunitas tertentu (Hamidah & Yanuarmawan, 2019) sehingga praktisi ESP perlu untuk membangun goal, tujuan, dan materi pembelajaran sendiri (Belyaeva, 2015). Agar tujuan ESP tercapai, praktisi harus memiliki kemampuan untuk membangun silabus yang sesuai dan memiliki keterampilan pedagogi yang baik.…”

A Proposed Infographics-Based ESP Course for Enhancing Graduate Nursing Major Students’ critical Reading Skills and Motivation

“…The course should start as General English for improving learners' listening comprehension, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Then, the focus can shift towards Discipline Specific English for Academic Purposes to enhance discourse, vocabulary, and register specific to the specialization of study (Belyaeva, 2015). Vanicheva, Kah and Ponidelkoa (2015) concluded that focusing on improving the language of ESP students led to training their memory and enhancing their ability to voice ideas, processes and concepts through applying learnt vocabulary for a specific purpose.…”