Foundation of English for Specific Purposes (ESP)

ESP is an approach to language teaching in which all decisions as to content and method are based on the learners for teaching.

Curriculum is set of plans and regulations about the aims, content, and material of lessons and the method employed as the guidelines for the implementation of learning activities to achieve given education objectives.

Syllabus is a guidance for writing lesson plan includes identity of subject matters, or thematic subject matters, standards of competence (SK), basic competence (KD), learning materials, learning activities, indicator of achievement of competencies, assessment, allocation of time, and learning resources.

Lesson plan is a teacher's detailed description of the course of instruction for one class. A daily lesson plan is develop by a teacher to guide class instruction.

Character building id education of value, education of moral, and education that aims to develop the students' ability to decide a good-bad decisions, maintain which is good and implemented it in their life.

The Aims of National Education
(Based on Statue No.20 of 2003, Article 3)
The National Education functions to develop the capability, character, and civilization of the nation for enhancing its intellectual capacity, and is aimed at developing learners' potentials so that they become persons imbued with human value who are faithful and pious to one and only God; who possess morals and noble character; who are healthy, knowledgeable, competent, creative, independent, and as citizens, are democratic and responsible.

Questions

1.      There are three main reason common the emergence of all ESP. mention them clearly!

2.      Why was ESP introduced in your country or teaching in institution? What kind of ESP are taught?

3.    All language teaching should be based on learner’s need. In theory, there’s no difference between ESP and general English teaching. In practice, however, there’s a great deal of difference. How far would you agree with this statement? What is the difference, either in theory or in practice? Do you think there are?

4.       Explain clearly in details the factors affecting ESP course design!

5.    ESP is an approach lo language teaching in which all decision as to content and method are based on the learner’s reason for learning. What do you think of this? Describe your argument clearly!

Answers

1.      Three main reasons common to the emergence of all ESP:

1)    The demands of a Brave New World.

The end of the Second World War in 1945 heralded an age of enormous and unprecedented expansion in scientific, technical, and economic activity on an International scale. This expansion created a world unified and dominated by two forces (technology and commerce) which in their relentless progress soon generated a demand for an International language. For various reason, most notably the economic power of the United States in the post-war world. This role fell to English.

2)    A revolution in linguistics.

At the same time as the demand was growing for English courses tailored to specific needs, influential new ideas began to emerge in the study of language. Traditionally the aim of linguistics had been to describe the rules of English usage that is the Grammar. However, the new studies shifted attention away from defining the formal features of language usage to discovering the ways in which language is actually used in real communication.

3)    Focus on the learner.

New developments in educational psychology also contributed to the rise of ESP, by emphasizing the central importance of learners and their attitudes to learning (e.g. Rodgers, 1969). Learners were seen to have different needs and interests, which would have an important influence on their motivation to learn and therefore on the effectiveness of their learning.

2.   Because ESP is so important, the growth of ESP was brought about by a combination of three important factors;

1)    The expansion of demand for English to suit particular needs,

2)    Developments in the fields of linguistics, and

3)    Educational psychology.

All the three factors seemed to point towards the need for increased specialization in language learning.

Kinds of ESP that taught in our country are:

1.       English for Science and Technology (EST)

a.       English for Academic Purposes (EAP): English for Medical Studies

b.      English for Occupational Purposes (EOP): English for Technicians

2.       English for Business and Economics (EBE)

a.       English for Economics

b.      English for Secretaries

3.       English for Social Sciences (ESS)

a.       English for Psychology

b.      English for Teaching

3.   I think there are some differences between ESP and general English teaching. ESP must be seen as an approach not as a product. ESP is not a particular kind of language or methodology, nor does it consist of a particular type of teaching material. It is an approach to language learning, which is based on learner needs. The foundation of all ESP is the simple question: “Why does this learner need to learn foreign language?” from this question will flow a whole host of further questions, some of which will relate to the learner themselves, some to the nature of the language the learners will need to operate, some to the given learning context. But, this whole analysis derives from an initial identified need on the part of the learner to learn language.

4.

Factors affecting course design are:

·         Why does student need to learn?

·         Who is going to be involved in the process? This will need to cover not just the student, but all the people who may have some effect on the process; teachers, sponsors, inspectors, etc.

·         Where is the learning to take place? What potential does the place provide? What limitations does it impose?

·         When is the learning take place? How much time is available? How it will be distributed?

·         What does the student need to learn? What aspect of language will be needed and how they will be described? What level of proficiency must be achieved? What topic areas will need to be covered?

·         How the learning will be achieved? What learning theory with underlie the course? What kind of methodology will be employed?

5.    I agree about that. ESP (English for Specific Purposes) is a How to teach English language to learner, but based on the learner’s need. An ESP program is therefore built on an assessment of purposes and needs and the functions for which English is required. I mean is what the learners want to learn, what the purpose they learn English for, etc. ESP is an approach to learn English more specific, not for common English. ESP students are usually have some acquaintance with English and are learning the language in order to communicate a set of professional skills and to perform particular job-related functions.