An Introduction to Teaching English for Specific Purposes
Expert-defined terms from the Certificate in Teaching English for Specific Purposes course at London School of Planning and Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a professional course.
Academic Discourse – the language patterns, genre conventions, and rhetorical st… #
Related terms: Genre analysis, discourse community, scholarly register. Example: A research article in a peer‑reviewed journal. Practical application: Teaching students how to organize a literature review using cohesive devices. Challenges: Students often transfer informal speech habits into academic writing, leading to cohesion errors.
Adult Learner – a mature student who brings prior knowledge, life experience, an… #
Related terms: Andragogy, self‑directed learning, learner autonomy. Example: A nurse returning to study to improve patient communication. Practical application: Designing needs‑analysis questionnaires that capture career objectives. Challenges: Balancing work, family, and study time can limit practice opportunities.
Authentic Materials – texts, audio, or video drawn from real‑world contexts, not… #
Related terms: Corpus‑based resources, task‑based learning, input flood. Example: A company’s safety manual used in a workplace English class. Practical application: Selecting a recent industry article to illustrate genre conventions. Challenges: Authentic texts may contain jargon or cultural references unfamiliar to learners.
B2B (Business‑to‑Business) English – language used in commercial transactions be… #
Related terms: Trade terminology, corporate correspondence, negotiation discourse. Example: Drafting a purchase order email. Practical application: Role‑plays of price‑bargaining meetings. Challenges: Learners must master both formal register and industry‑specific vocabulary.
Bilingual Dictionary Use – the skill of efficiently locating meanings, collocati… #
Related terms: Lexical competence, dictionary skills, metalinguistic awareness. Example: Consulting a bilingual medical dictionary to clarify “myocardial infarction.” Practical application: A task where students annotate a text with dictionary‑sourced definitions. Challenges: Over‑reliance can impede development of inferencing strategies.
Business Correspondence – the written communication exchanged in professional se… #
Related terms: Email etiquette, tone, register. Example: Composing a polite complaint email to a supplier. Practical application: Peer‑review workshops focusing on salutation and closing conventions. Challenges: Learners may struggle with balancing brevity and politeness.
Collocation – a habitual combination of words that co‑occur more often than chan… #
Related terms: Lexical bundle, phraseology, formulaic language. Example: “Make a decision,” not “do a decision.” Practical application: Corpus‑driven activities where students identify common collocations in industry reports. Challenges: Collocational errors can sound unnatural even if grammar is correct.
Communicative Competence – the ability to use language appropriately in varied c… #
Related terms: Interlanguage, pragmatic awareness, language proficiency. Example: Delivering a pitch that adapts to audience feedback. Practical application: Simulations that require learners to negotiate meaning and manage breakdowns. Challenges: Learners may have strong grammar but limited strategic skills.
Contextualisation – the process of adapting language input to reflect the specif… #
Related terms: Situational relevance, task authenticity, learner profile. Example: Using a case study about a pharmaceutical company for a health‑English class. Practical application: Designing role‑plays that mirror actual workplace scenarios. Challenges: Insufficient context can lead to disengagement or misinterpretation.
Corpus Linguistics – the study of language based on large, computerized collecti… #
Related terms: Concordance, frequency list, collocational analysis. Example: Using the British National Corpus to show the frequency of “risk assessment.” Practical application: Having students generate a concordance line for a target phrase. Challenges: Learners may lack technical skills to navigate corpus tools.
Curriculum Design – the systematic planning of learning experiences, objectives,… #
Related terms: Syllabus development, learning outcomes, backward design. Example: Mapping a module on aviation communication to CEFR B2 descriptors. Practical material: A flowchart that aligns needs analysis, task selection, and evaluation. Challenges: Balancing breadth of content with limited contact hours.
Discourse Analysis – the examination of language use beyond the sentence level,… #
Related terms: Genre analysis, conversation analysis, cohesion. Example: Analyzing the turn‑taking system in a legal courtroom transcript. Practical application: Students annotate a professional report for cohesive devices. Challenges: Learners may find macro‑level patterns abstract without concrete examples.
Domain‑Specific Vocabulary – terminology that is unique to a particular field of… #
Related terms: Lexical specialization, terminology management, word formation. Example: “Suture” in medical English. Practical application: Flashcard sets that pair definitions with visual aids. Challenges: High density of technical terms can overwhelm learners if not sequenced.
EAP (English for Academic Purposes) – a branch of ESP focusing on the language d… #
Related terms: Academic literacy, genre awareness, research skills. Example: Guiding students through the structure of a conference abstract. Practical application: Integrating citation practices into writing workshops. Challenges: Students may need simultaneous support in content knowledge and language form.
ELT (English Language Teaching) – the field concerned with the theory, methodolo… #
Related terms: TESOL, applied linguistics, pedagogy. Example: Employing communicative activities in a business English class. Practical application: Reflective journals that track teaching decisions. Challenges: Staying current with research while meeting immediate classroom needs.
ELT Materials – textbooks, worksheets, audio‑visual resources, and digital platf… #
Related terms: Authentic materials, teacher‑generated resources, open educational resources. Example: A textbook chapter on legal drafting. Practical application: Customizing a case study to reflect local regulations. Challenges: Generic materials may not align with specific learner goals.
ELT Methodology – the systematic study of approaches, techniques, and strategies… #
Related terms: Communicative approach, task‑based learning, flipped classroom. Example: Implementing a genre‑based approach for technical report writing. Practical application: Lesson plans that integrate explicit instruction with guided practice. Challenges: Selecting methods that suit diverse learner profiles within a single ESP course.
Elicitation – the technique of prompting learners to produce language without pr… #
Related terms: Prompting, scaffolding, guided discovery. Example: Asking students to infer the appropriate register for a client email. Practical application: Board‑writing activities where learners reconstruct a template. Challenges: Learners may feel uncertain if prompts are too indirect.
Empirical Research – investigation based on observation or experiment rather tha… #
Related terms: Data collection, validity, mixed‑methods. Example: A study measuring the impact of task‑based instruction on aviation communication accuracy. Practical application: Encouraging students to conduct mini‑research projects on workplace language needs. Challenges: Limited access to participants can restrict sample size.
Error Analysis – the systematic study of learner errors to diagnose underlying i… #
Related terms: Interlanguage, fossilization, corrective feedback. Example: Cataloguing misuse of modal verbs in technical proposals. Practical application: Peer‑editing sessions focusing on identified error clusters. Challenges: Distinguishing between slips and systematic gaps requires careful observation.
Fidelity (to the syllabus) – the degree to which teaching adheres to the planned… #
Related terms: Alignment, implementation, curriculum mapping. Example: Ensuring that a module on risk communication covers all intended competencies. Practical application: Weekly checklists that compare taught activities with syllabus objectives. Challenges: Unexpected learner needs may force deviation from the original plan.
Form‑Focused Instruction – teaching that draws learners’ attention to linguistic… #
Related terms: Focus on form, explicit instruction, incidental learning. Example: A brief mini‑lesson on the passive voice before a case‑study discussion. Practical application: Pop‑up worksheets that isolate target structures. Challenges: Maintaining flow while inserting form‑focused moments can be tricky.
Functional Language – language used to achieve specific communicative purposes,… #
Related terms: Speech acts, pragmatics, language functions. Example: The phrase “Could you please clarify…” in a client meeting. Practical application: Role‑plays where learners practice making polite requests. Challenges: Learners may over‑formalise or under‑formalise depending on cultural norms.
Glossary – a compiled list of specialized terms with definitions, often included… #
Related terms: Terminology, lexicon, word list. Example: A glossary of legal terms at the end of an ESP textbook. Practical application: Having students create their own glossaries from authentic documents. Challenges: Ensuring definitions are concise yet comprehensive for non‑native speakers.
Handout – a printed or digital document provided to learners to support classroo… #
Related terms: Worksheet, supplemental material, resource packet. Example: A handout summarising email etiquette rules. Practical application: Distributing a checklist for drafting project proposals. Challenges: Overly dense handouts can discourage active engagement.
Input Enhancement – techniques that make certain linguistic features more salien… #
Related terms: Highlighting, bolding, underlining, noticing. Example: Bolding modal verbs in a technical article. Practical application: Learners notice and later produce the highlighted forms in a writing task. Challenges: Excessive highlighting may overwhelm learners and reduce overall comprehension.
Intercultural Competence – the ability to communicate effectively and appropriat… #
Related terms: Cultural awareness, pragmatics, sociolinguistic competence. Example: Understanding indirectness norms in Japanese business meetings. Practical application: Simulations that require learners to adapt speech acts to different cultural expectations. Challenges: Stereotypes can develop if cultural differences are oversimplified.
Interlanguage – the evolving linguistic system that learners construct as they p… #
Related terms: Fossilization, learner autonomy, error analysis. Example: A learner’s hybrid use of native syntax with English vocabulary. Practical application: Reflective journals that track interlanguage development over a semester. Challenges: Some features may become entrenched, requiring targeted intervention.
Learner Autonomy – the capacity of learners to take charge of their own learning… #
Related terms: Self‑directed learning, metacognition, lifelong learning. Example: A student who independently researches industry terminology. Practical application: Providing a learning contract that outlines personal objectives. Challenges: Learners accustomed to teacher‑centered environments may feel insecure taking initiative.
Lexical Chunk – a pre‑assembled group of words that functions as a single unit,… #
” Related terms: Formulaic language, collocation, multi‑word expression. Example: “According to the regulations.” Practical application: Drills that reinforce chunk usage in oral presentations. Challenges: Learners may treat chunks as isolated items rather than integrating them fluently.
Material Development – the process of creating or adapting teaching resources to… #
Related terms: Needs analysis, task design, resource adaptation. Example: Designing a simulation of a hospital hand‑over briefing. Practical application: Students contribute authentic documents from their workplaces for class use. Challenges: Time constraints and copyright issues can limit resource creation.
Needs Analysis – systematic investigation of learners’ language requirements, go… #
Related terms: Learner profile, gap analysis, target situation analysis. Example: A questionnaire that asks engineers about the types of reports they write. Practical application: Using survey results to prioritize vocabulary lists. Challenges: Responses may be vague or influenced by perceived expectations.
Needs‑Based Syllabus – a curriculum organized around the specific language needs… #
Related terms: Task‑based syllabus, content‑based instruction, goal‑oriented design. Example: A syllabus for tourism staff focusing on reservation dialogues. Practical application: Aligning each unit with a real‑world communicative task. Challenges: Evolving workplace demands may require frequent syllabus revisions.
Objective (Learning Objective) – a statement describing the intended knowledge,… #
Related terms: Outcome, competency, Bloom’s taxonomy. Example: “Students will be able to draft a concise executive summary.” Practical application: Writing SMART objectives for each lesson. Challenges: Vague objectives can impede assessment and feedback.
Oral Presentation – a spoken discourse delivered to an audience, often requiring… #
Related terms: Public speaking, delivery, rhetorical moves. Example: Presenting a project proposal to senior management. Practical application: Peer‑feedback checklists focusing on language accuracy and fluency. Challenges: Anxiety and limited speaking time may affect performance.
Pedagogical Content Knowledge – teachers’ understanding of how to convey subject… #
Related terms: Subject‑specific pedagogy, teacher expertise, curriculum knowledge. Example: A teacher’s ability to explain the logical flow of a risk assessment report. Practical application: Workshops that blend domain knowledge with language teaching techniques. Challenges: Balancing depth of content with language accessibility.
Phonological Awareness – the ability to recognize and manipulate sound structure… #
Related terms: Intonation, stress patterns, minimal pairs. Example: Distinguishing “ship” from “sheep” in a maritime safety briefing. Practical application: Drills that focus on sector‑specific terminology stress. Challenges: Non‑native speakers may struggle with unfamiliar phoneme inventories.
Pragmatic Competence – the skill to use language appropriately in context, consi… #
Related terms: Speech acts, implicature, discourse markers. Example: Using mitigators (“perhaps,” “might”) when delivering a negative decision. Practical application: Role‑plays that require learners to negotiate meaning while maintaining politeness. Challenges: Cultural differences can lead to misinterpretation of indirectness.
Project‑Based Learning (PBL) – an instructional approach where learners engage i… #
Related terms: Authentic assessment, collaborative learning, problem‑solving. Example: Producing a multilingual safety brochure for an international factory. Practical application: Group milestones that align language milestones with project deliverables. Challenges: Coordinating schedules and ensuring language focus amidst content work.
Reference Grammar – a comprehensive description of a language’s structural rules… #
Related terms: Descriptive linguistics, prescriptive rules, grammar handbook. Example: Consulting a reference grammar for the correct use of the subjunctive in formal letters. Practical application: Assigning sections for learners to summarize and present. Challenges: Dense explanations may be intimidating without guided support.
Register – a variety of language determined by context, purpose, and audience, r… #
Related terms: Style, tone, situational appropriateness. Example: Using a formal register in a contract versus an informal register in a team chat. Practical application: Comparative analysis of emails written for different stakeholders. Challenges: Learners often default to a single register, neglecting nuanced shifts.
Research Paradigm – the overarching framework that guides the design, methodolog… #
Related terms: Positivism, constructivism, mixed‑methods. Example: A case study adopting an interpretivist paradigm to explore language use in multinational meetings. Practical application: Teaching students to identify paradigm statements in research articles. Challenges: Novices may conflate paradigm with research topic.
Syllabus – a document outlining the scope, sequence, objectives, and assessment… #
Related terms: Curriculum, learning outcomes, instructional plan. Example: A syllabus that specifies weekly tasks on drafting technical memos. Practical application: Providing the syllabus at the start of the term to set expectations. Challenges: Rigid syllabi can limit responsiveness to emerging learner needs.
Task – an activity that requires learners to use language to achieve a specific… #
Related terms: Task‑based learning, authenticity, outcome‑oriented. Example: Negotiating a contract price in a simulated meeting. Practical application: Post‑task reflection where learners evaluate language choices. Challenges: Tasks that are too open‑ended may lead to off‑topic discussion.
Task‑Based Learning (TBL) – an approach where language acquisition emerges from… #
Related terms: Pre‑task, task cycle, post‑task. Example: Students collaborate to produce a project brief for a client. Practical application: Scaffolding the task with language support before the main activity. Challenges: Ensuring sufficient focus on form while maintaining task fluency.
Target Language – the language being learned and used for instruction, as oppose… #
Related terms: L2, foreign language, source language. Example: English used in a medical ESP module. Practical application: Immersion techniques that maximize exposure to the target language. Challenges: Learners may revert to L1 for complex technical explanations.
Target Situation Analysis – the investigation of the communicative situations le… #
Related terms: Needs analysis, situational context, job analysis. Example: Analyzing the types of meetings a marketing executive attends. Practical application: Aligning lesson activities with identified target situations. Challenges: Future situations may evolve, requiring periodic reassessment.
Terminology Management – the systematic process of collecting, organizing, and u… #
Related terms: Lexical database, glossaries, term extraction. Example: Creating a shared spreadsheet of aerospace acronyms. Practical application: Students contribute new terms as they encounter them in authentic documents. Challenges: Maintaining consistency across multiple sources and editions.
Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) – a standardized assessm… #
Related terms: Proficiency testing, score interpretation, test preparation. Example: Using TOEIC listening passages in class to improve comprehension of announcements. Practical application: Mock TOEIC tasks that simulate real exam conditions. Challenges: Test‑focused study may neglect deeper communicative competence.
Theory‑Practice Gap – the discrepancy between academic research findings and act… #
Related terms: Reflective practice, evidence‑based teaching, professional development. Example: Teachers aware of task‑based principles but still relying on lecture‑dominant methods. Practical application: Action research projects where teachers test new strategies. Challenges: Limited time and resources often hinder systematic experimentation.
Transfer (Linguistic Transfer) – the influence of a learner’s first language on… #
Related terms: Interference, cross‑linguistic influence, fossilization. Example: Applying Spanish word order to English technical sentences. Practical application: Contrastive analysis activities that highlight differences. Challenges: Deeply entrenched transfer patterns may require sustained corrective feedback.
Triadic Model of ESP – a framework that integrates the three dimensions of conte… #
Related terms: Integrated curriculum, interdisciplinary approach, content‑language integration. Example: A module that simultaneously teaches legal concepts, relevant vocabulary, and analytical skills. Practical application: Designing tasks where learners write a contract clause while discussing its legal implications. Challenges: Balancing depth in each dimension without overloading learners.
Underlying Theory – the foundational linguistic or pedagogical principles that i… #
Related terms: Communicative approach, genre theory, sociocultural theory. Example: Employing Swales’ genre analysis to structure a business report unit. Practical application: Explicit discussion of theory before students apply it to material creation. Challenges: Abstract theories may seem disconnected from immediate classroom concerns.
Unit (Curricular Unit) – a cohesive segment of a course focusing on a specific t… #
Related terms: Module, lesson, learning block. Example: A unit on “risk communication” that includes reading, speaking, and writing tasks. Practical application: Aligning unit objectives with assessment criteria. Challenges: Ensuring each unit builds logically on prior knowledge.
Validity (of Assessment) – the extent to which an assessment accurately measures… #
Related terms: Reliability, construct validity, content validity. Example: A writing test that truly reflects learners’ ability to produce professional emails. Practical application: Pilot testing items to check for alignment with objectives. Challenges: Over‑reliance on multiple‑choice items may compromise validity for communicative skills.
Vocabulary Acquisition – the process of learning new words, including form, mean… #
Related terms: Lexical development, spaced repetition, depth of processing. Example: Acquiring “mitigate” and its collocations in risk management contexts. Practical application: Spaced‑review flashcards with example sentences. Challenges: High volume of domain‑specific terms can impede retention.
Workplace Communication – the exchange of information, instructions, and feedbac… #
Related terms: Intra‑organizational discourse, professional etiquette, communication channels. Example: A briefings session where safety protocols are outlined. Practical application: Role‑plays that simulate daily stand‑up meetings. Challenges: Diverse cultural norms may affect expectations for directness and hierarchy.
Yield (in Language Teaching) – the amount of language output a learner produces… #
Related terms: Output hypothesis, speaking time, interactional competence. Example: Measuring how many target phrases a student uses in a negotiation role‑play. Practical application: Timed speaking tasks that encourage maximal language production. Challenges: Anxiety may limit yield despite adequate competence.
ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development) – Vygotsky’s concept describing the gap betwe… #
Related terms: Scaffolding, guided learning, collaborative interaction. Example: A tutor modeling email etiquette while learners attempt their own drafts. Practical application: Peer tutoring where more proficient students support others. Challenges: Accurately identifying each learner’s ZPD requires ongoing observation.