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ABSTRACT
Teaching process in India to some extent still depends upon conventional objectives of
passing the examination and getting jobs according to the academic achievements in the
form of grades and percentage. Students focus more on syllabus contents and get less
time to concentrate on expanding their knowledge outside syllabus. Same thing happens
in case of English learning also. Students concentrate more on learning answers to the
questions provided to them by their teachers and grammar exercises done in the class.
The obvious result is though they score very high in their subject but when it comes to
using the knowledge they are complete failure. They lack appropriate words to convey
their message in their work place. My paper deals with same issue and also with the
importance of English for specific Purposes in present scenario.
Article Outline
ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES: ITS MEANING AND IMPORTANCE IN PRESENT INDIAN
SCENARIO
Dr Archana Shrivastava
ESP World, Issue 1 (22), Volume 8, 2009, http://www.esp-world.info 2
ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES: ITS MEANING AND IMPORTANCE IN PRESENT INDIAN
SCENARIO
Dr Archana Shrivastava
ESP World, Issue 1 (22), Volume 8, 2009, http://www.esp-world.info 3
content and method are based on on the kind of language and vocabulary
learners reason for learning.” they will be frequently using at their
Though the demarcation line between work place. Aviation industry is one
General English and ESP is very thin, it such example.
does exist. When asked about the
differences Hutchinson et. al. (1987:53) As we see that the ESP is new concept in
aptly remarks “in theory nothing, in India the role of ESP teachers will also
practical a great deal.” Teachers teaching come as a challenge. Their role as a
General English concentrate more on the teacher will expand from teaching to a
language in general. They aim at giving course designer, researcher, evaluators,
the learners a course that may satisfy etc. They will have to aim at giving a
their urge to know and understand language that can be learnt for
certain language but when it comes to immediate use. They should aim at
ESP, teachers give more importance to developing programmes that could help
needs analysis, material writers think them en culturing the learners into the
very carefully about the goals of the professional community. While drafting
learners. Based on my personal the projects for the learners they should
observation though India still depends intend at making them work
on conventional approach of independently in small groups. The
examination oriented teaching the project should involve exercises such as
scenario is slowly changing. While interviewing, talking to the people in the
analyzing the syllabus prescribed at field, gathering information on the
various technical colleges I have internet, through books, Journals, etc. In
observed that teachers now days are present context his role as a researcher
getting aware of need analysis. The becomes most important. He has to
syllabus especially in technical institutes produce original and separate teaching
is designed in such a way that it to some material for separate fields. It is for this
extent matches the goal of the learners. extremely vivid role that ESP teachers
While teaching communication skills in would play Swales (1985) prefers to use
an engineering college for few years I the term “ESP Practitioners” instead of
observed that the syllabus concentrates “ESP Teachers”.
even when it is dealing with written
communication on writing tenders, Though in India and at various Asian
quotations, reports, etc which of course countries ESP is still in its infancy but its
will be frequently required by them in future is bright. To make it flourish we
their work place. Teaching Business need to make the entire community
Communication at one of the reputed know what ESP actually represents. We
Business Schools of India I again felt have to come up openly with the
that institute wants us to give different differences ESP holds to General
kind of training in communication to English. The training centers should also
different areas opted by students. This come up with different curriculum to
proves that though not much but to some different learners. With all these efforts
extent ESP is influencing English ESP will definitely grow.
teaching in India. Various corporate
sectors also provide training to their References
newly recruited employees concentrating
ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES: ITS MEANING AND IMPORTANCE IN PRESENT INDIAN
SCENARIO
Dr Archana Shrivastava
ESP World, Issue 1 (22), Volume 8, 2009, http://www.esp-world.info 4
ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES: ITS MEANING AND IMPORTANCE IN PRESENT INDIAN
SCENARIO
Dr Archana Shrivastava