• Domain of two forces, technology and commerce. • Expansion in the scientific,
technical and economic field due to activity on an international scale. • Unified
world. • Economic power of the United States, hence the need to implement
English. • English became the international language of technology and
commerce. • Businessmen and women learning English to sell their products and
others to read instructions.
2. Development: accelerated by the 1970 oil crises.
• Commercial pressures began to play a role. • Massive flow of western
origin in oil-rich countries. • Necessity of learning English for business
interaction between English-speaking countries. • English gained
strength and became big business. • English became a subject of desire
for learning by people of different languages as it gradually became an
international language.
3. Revolution in linguistics: late 1960s and early 1970s.
• Further expansion of research into the nature of particular varieties of
English, for example descriptions of scientific and technical English written
by Ewer and Latorre (1969). • Need for the implementation of courses.
• Study of English grammar in a traditional way. • Development of courses
for specific groups of students. (1985)
4. L2 Based on needs.
• Development of a teaching-learning process based
on the specific needs and aspirations of students.
• Students and their attitudes towards learning an L2,
since they have different needs and interests, which
influence their motivation and effectiveness in this
process (Rodgers, 1969).
Last years: XXI century
ESP today is recognized worldwide as the model for
teaching English for specific purposes, this model has
its essence in the development of a teaching-learning
process based on the specific needs and aspirations of
students.
ESP Features:
• Designed to meet the specific needs of the
student. • Methodologies and activities focused on
the discipline of training reference. • Focused on
language (grammar, lexicon, register), skills, speech
and genres appropriate to the target training.
The variable characteristics
are:
• ESP can be related to or designed for specific
disciplines. • ESP can use, in specific teaching situations, a
methodology different from that of the English. • ESP
designed for adult students, either in a tertiary level
institution or in a professional employment situation,
also used for high school students. • ESP is generally
designed for intermediate or advanced students. • ESP
can also be used with beginners.
Main types of ESP:
(English for Specific
Purposes)
English for science and technology
• English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
• English for Medicine (EAP) • English
for Occupational Purposes (EOP)
• English for Technicians (EOP)
English for business
and economics
• English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
• English for Business (ESBP) • English
for Occupational Purposes (EOP)
• English for Secretaries (EOP)
English for
Social Sciences
• English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
• English for Psychology (EOP)
• English for Occupational Purposes
(EOP) • English for Teaching (EAP)