Journal of English Language Teaching

English for Specific Purposes: An Imperative Need in our Curriculum

Dr. K. Jagan Mohan Rao

Asst. Professor of English, Shaqra University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: ESP, Content-Based Instruction, Task-Based ELT, Employability, Industry- Ready Professionals

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Abstract

This paper delineates the emerging importance of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in the modern competitive world of teaching and learning. The existing principles and practices need a major change owing to the increasing needs of students and their areas of specialisation. It also discusses the origin of ESP and the practical approach to achieving success in the classroom, leading to employability of learners. It includes various learning strategies, roles, and responsibilities of the teacher and learner during the learning process. If the curriculum has to be more useful and goal-oriented, for the benefit of future and working professionals, and make them more effective and efficient in their fields of choice, we need to give serious thought to ESP. Though our universities are doing their best to make students employable and market-ready professionals, surveys reveal that only 13% of graduates are employable. The rest are unable to get through the recruitment process due to the lack of language skills required in the workplace. ESP is communicative and learner-centric in nature, where teacher and learner are equally engaged towards achieving mutual objectives. To succeed in teaching ESP, one has to employ contentbased instruction and task-based language teaching effectively.

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