Abstract
The present study is an attempt to inquire concise and
clearly expressed into the relationship between English for Specific Purposes
(ESP) and General English (GE). English Language Teaching has three parts,
there are English as a Mother Tongue (EMT), English as a Foreign Language (EFL)
and English as a Second Language (ESL). From English as a Foreign Language (EFL),
we can conclude that it has two parts, like English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
and General English (GE). What is general English? What is ESP? What are the
characteristics of ESP? Who use general English and specific English? It will
be discussed in this paper. General English has link with specific English,
especially for specific purpose, that is how English used to approach or
teaching English for specific purpose. How do we teach people from different
background and profession? It will also be answered in this paper.
Key Words: English
for Specific Purposes, General English, English Language Teaching
A. Introduction
Language is
the most important thing in the world, that is to communicate with others.
Nowadays, language focuses on specific professional area. ESP (English for
Specific Purposes) has been referred to as "applied ELT (English Language
Teaching)" as the content and aims of any course are determined by the
needs of a specific group of learners. ESP is often divided into (English for Academic Purposes) and EOP
(English for Occupational Purposes). Further sub-divisions of EOP are sometimes
made into business English, professional English and vocational English. For
example English for doctors, teaching, secretary, psychology, lawyers, tourism
and nursing, architecture, accountant, medical scientist, civil engineering, technician,etc,
so their learning focuses on learners need. Teaching and learning ESP includes
much more than the teaching of English through specific material and content.
Moreover,
teaching ESP combines development of linguistic skills together with expertness
of specific information. Additionally, assignment should be associated both
with the specialty and the skills mentioned.
B. Discussion
1.
Definition of English for Specific
Purposes (ESP) and General English (GE)
a.
The
definition of ESP
English for
specific purposes is recognizable activity within the broader professional
framework of English Language Teaching (ELT), with implication for the design
of syllabuses and materials as well as its present and then evaluation. On the
other hand, ESP is the way how to teach English with approximation method for
specific purpose. It is not focus on the kinds of language. It means that ESP brings into line what field
the learners need. For example, English for doctors, lawyers, tourism and
nursing, architecture, accountant, medical scientist, civil engineering, etc.
Therefore, English will be taught differently among one field with others.
As for a
broader definition of ESP, Hutchinson and Waters (1987) theorize, "ESP is
an approach to language teaching in which all decisions as to content and
method are based on the learner's reason for learning" (p. 19). Anthony
(1997) notes that, it is not clear where ESP courses end and general English
courses begin; numerous non-specialist ESL instructors use an ESP approach in
that their syllabi are based on analysis of learner needs and their own
personal specialist knowledge of using English for real communication.
b.
The
definition of General English
English for
General Purpose refers to context such as the school where needs can not readily
be specified. It is more usefully considered as providing abroad foundation
rather a detailed and selective specification of goals like ESP.
General English courses are designed
for student who want to improve their ability to communicate in English in social
and work situations.general English allows us to improve our English, giving us
a practical understanding of the language and how use it. We will focus on four
skills : speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
On the other hand, general language
teaching covers the teaching of the fundamentals of grammar, of expression as
well as of phonetics and provides a stronger or weaker basis for possible later
language studies. In any case the language teacher both at a secondary and at a
higher school is in charge of the correct use of the language by its learners.
2.
Characteristic
of English for Specific Purposes
Dudley-Evans,
T. & St. John, M.J. (cf. 1998) states that ESP has two perspectives:
Absolute Characteristics and Variable Characteristics. According to the
absolute characteristics we can conclude that are:
§
ESP meets the learner’ s specific needs;
§
ESP makes use of the underlying
methodology and activities of the disciplines it serves;
§
ESP is centred on the language
(grammar, lexis, and register), skills, discourse, and genres appropriate for
these activities
The variable characteristics as
follows:
§
ESP may be related or designed for
specific disciplines;
§
ESP may use, in specific teaching
situations, a different methodology;
§
ESP is likely to be designed for
adult learners;
§
ESP is generally designed for
intermediate and advanced learners.
On the other hand, Anthony (1997) states that there
has been considerable recent debate about what ESP means despite the fact that
it is an approach which has been widely used over the last three decades. At a
1997 Japan Conference on ESP, Dudley-Evans offered a modified definition. The
revised definition he and St. John postulate is as follows: Absolute
Characteristics
§
ESP is defined to meet specific
needs of the learner;
§
ESP makes use of the underlying
methodology and activities of the discipline it serves;
§
ESP is centered on the language
(grammar, lexis, register), skills, discourse and genres appropriate to these
activities.
Variable
Characteristics
§
ESP may be related to or designed
for specific disciplines;
§
ESP may use, in specific teaching
situations, a different methodology from that of general English;
§
ESP is likely to be designed for
adult learners, either at a tertiary level institution or in a professional
work situation. It could, however, be for learners at secondary school level;
§
ESP is generally designed for
intermediate or advanced students;
§
Most ESP courses assume some basic
knowledge of the language system, but it can be used with beginners (1998, pp.
4-5).
The absolute characteristic that 'ESP is in contrast
with General English' have been removed by Dudley-Evans and St. John and added
more variable characteristics. They assert that ESP is not necessarily related
to a specific discipline. Furthermore, ESP is likely to be used with adult
learners although it could be used with young adults in a secondary school
setting.
3.
Kinds of
English for Specific Purpose
4.
The
Differences between English for Specific Purpose and General English
Recently in
the magazine English Teaching Professional (Rosenberg 2004: 36)
General
English
Free-time
activity
More freedom
in deviation from plan
More time
for games
More relaxed
atmosphere
songs
literature
general
writing skills
social event
English for
Specific Purposes
specialized
vocabulary
motivation
related to job
teach
negotiation and presentation
techniques
students
very goal-oriented
more serious
business
correspondence
ESP
|
GE
|
1.
Focus on training
2.
Selection of appropriate content is easier(but note
not easy in itself)
3.
The aim may only be to create a restricted English
competence.
|
1.
Often focus on education
2.
Course content is more difficult to select
3.
It is important for the content in the syllabus to
have a high surrender value.
|
Widdowson (1983) differentiates English for Specific
Purpose and General English:
The example of English for specific
purpose
1.
In order to
train the tourist guide, the ESP class should promote the development of spoken
skills.
2.
One who
intends to work in a business administration should be trained in development
of reading skills.
The example
of General English
Teaching in the primary, secondary, and adult tertiary
focuses on teaching grammar and language structure (mostly in isolation).
C.
Conclusion
From
the paper, we conclude that ESP is language in context, while EGP is language
in isolation. Though, the motivation and goals of the students studying English
for specific purposes and General English are slightly different.
From all of ESP curriculum design, it
can be concluded that General English (GE) language content, grammatical
functions, and acquisition skills are important and dominant in curriculum
development and course design.
The
distinguish ESP from General English (GE) is an awareness of the need. In an
ESP class language is as a “service” rather than a “subject” in its own sake.
References
Tom Hutchinson, Alan Waters.1987.English for Specific Purposes.Cambridge
University Press:Scotland
http://www.antlab.sci.waseda.ac.jp/abstracts/Aizukiyo97.pdf Downloaded
on Friday, 30th October 2011 at 1.34 pm
http://www.coactivity.vgtu.lt/upload/filosof_zurn/n_netiksiene_filologija_nr_4.pdf Downloaded on Friday, 30th October
2011 at 1.39 pm
http://www.esp-world.info/Articles_17/PDF/On%20the%20Relationship%20between%20ESP%20%26%20EGP%20(Mohseni%20Far).pdf Downloaded on Friday, 30th October
2011 at 1.42 pm
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