English for Specific Purposes

English for Specific Purposes

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut by Jan D. Hortas

Recent world events have underscored the need to increase understanding and to improve communication among all citizens. An international exchange of ideas is essential in areas ranging from the environment—global warming and the thinning ozone layer-to medical research-genetic engineering and equitable distribution of modern drug therapies-to the political challenges of a global economy.

To meet these communication needs, more and more individuals have highly specific academic and professional reasons for seeking to improve their language skills: for these students, usually adults, courses that fall under the heading English for Special Purposes (ESP) hold particular appeal.

ESP programs focus on developing communicative competence in a specific field, such as aviation, business or technology.

Some courses prepare students for various academic programs: English for Science and Technology, and Pre-MBA English. Yale University offers a seminar for Graduate Teaching Assistants that emphasizes training in public speaking skills and uses videos to improve teaching and lecturing styles.

Others prepare students for work in fields such as law, medicine, engineering, tourism or graphic design. Many courses now focus on the Internet, how to use its vast web of information for academic or professional purposes, and what ethics and conventions govern use of that information.

How is ESP different from general English language courses?

The words and sentences learned, the subject matter discussed, all relate to a particular field or discipline, for example, a lawyer writing a brief, or a diplomat preparing a policy paper. The courses make use of vocabulary and tasks related to the field such as negotiation skills and effective techniques for oral presentations.
ESP programs use printed and audio-visual materials that are specially designed to meet the needs of a specific group of learners, usually adults. Typical ESP textbooks are English for Corporate Communications and English for Information Systems.
Tuition for an ESP course may be somewhat higher than that of a general English language course. (The specialized teaching, requiring professionals, the broad range of supporting activities and facilities explain this higher cost.) In general, the course will conform to the length of a school's regular English language programs (semester length, 4-, 6-, or 8-week summer sessions) although a highly specialized course lasting only two or three weeks might be designed to meet the needs of a specific group.
Apart from differences in ESP programs' duration and cost, these courses have a common purpose: to increase students' skill and confidence in using English.

	English for Academic Purposes
	English for Academic Purposes programs prepare students for academic studies in universities in the United States. Students learn skills such as writing academic papers, taking lecture notes, and studying for exams. In addition, these programs often provide courses on preparation for tests like TOEFL and the GRE.

Who should enroll in ESP programs?

Generally, older, more advanced students should consider ESP instead of a more general English language course. Students should note, however, that most courses assume a strong English language background. Many require that applicants be at a High Intermediate or Advanced level of skill.

Learning by Example

Harvard University makes use of the case studies approach which it pioneered. Students read about actual situations in the business world and discuss them in class.

At Yale, leaders of the Business Seminar make frequent use of computers and offer field trips to small businesses and the New York Stock Exchange.

Program lengths vary: at the University of Pennsylvania, special two-week courses for managers provide extensive practice in negotiation strategies using business simulations.

Certificate programs are popular and practical courses of study for many students. Business for International Professionals is an intensive 10-week certificate program at the downtown Seattle campus of the University of Washington, focusing on global business and improving business English. This program consists of lectures from experts in the fields of the global business environment; intercultural communications; global marketing and trade operations; management of global distribution systems; global business law, finance, accounting, and taxation; and global and Internet business strategies. There is also a global simulation project, which structured to help build English language negotiation skills.

Custom-designed Programs

English and Culture Programs

English and Culture Programs prepare students to learn English and understand American culture.

This is a general type of English program, in which students may have various reasons for wanting to learn English. Perhaps they are planning on going to an American university, maybe they are interested in a job that requires that they speak English or they may want to learn English for personal reasons.

Often universities, usually through an Intensive English Language Institute, will arrange short- or long-term ESP programs for groups. Universities such as San Diego State University in California underscore that tailor-made programs can be arranged. If a university does not offer the specific instruction you seek, inquire about the possibility of developing such a program.

As air travel and the Internet continue to bring us closer together, erasing the distance of time and space, communication through a common language becomes a pressing need. These English for Specific Purposes courses present unique ways to fill that need.

Jan D. Hortas is Director of the English Language Institute at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut

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