English for Special Purposes - A 21st Century Approach

English for special purposes is a relatively new concept. Originally, language courses were focused on English for general, conversational use. At home course offerings frequently assumed the user would be traveling to a country where English was predominantly spoken and approached the lessons from a traveler’s perspective. Vocabulary asking for directions to the airport and restrooms were located in the first few lessons. The other option was to approach it from a child’s perspective, learning colors, numbers and basic vocabulary. Globalization of the business environment has made these methods obsolete, lacking the usefulness and definition of purpose needed for most adult learners.

Vocabulary and grammar still need to be taught. When done so using words and phrases appropriate to the adult learner's specific industry and market segment, learning a language has a whole new meaning. Interest levels spike and learning occurs more quickly. One of the difficulties when teaching adults is that the teacher is expected to be an expert in everything. This is where courses in English for special purposes come in. Courses specifically created for the corporate environment employ teachers with experience and understanding in a variety of industries. The vocabulary and grammar taught in the class is used by the students every day.

Business conversations, situational discussions and case studies are all part of English for special purposes curriculum. Despite working for the same company, the coursework used to teach English to an engineer will contain different vocabulary and case studies than that of a Finance manager. Depending on the program, there is usually a mix of classroom work and online, interactive classes. In the classroom, only students at the same level or in the same industry segment will attend the same class. This prevents students from being left behind, or lost by the terms being used. Classes are small, which encourages participation and opportunities to practice.

By using the same type vocabulary in English that is used in their native tongue, students learn to understand how sentences are structured. They learn to recognize mistakes made by other speakers who translate the native tongue to English. Conversation flows and comprehension is heightened. English for special purposes coursework results in better communication with vendors and coworkers in other countries. Customer service results are improved and business increases. In today’s competitive work environment, effective communication is key. To learn more about improving your employees' communication skills, visit our web site at TalktoCanada.com.