Foreign language teaching for specific purposes: basic aspects

Abstract

The present article is an attempt to understand, analyse and provide an overall picture on basic aspects of Eng- lish for Specific Purposes: its definition, scope, historical background, characteristics, types and aims. It also discusses the ESP teaching objectives, the role of ESP teacher and the training process to become an ESP teach- er, the purpose of an ESP course and an ESP program. We see a clear rationale, amongst the variety of contradicting views on ESP policy, in coming to an agreement finally that ESP is the teaching of English to the learners who have specific goals and purposes: professional, academic or scientific. The article analyses the main roles and functions of teachers of foreign languages for specific purposes. It out- lines the general tasks and responsibilities of higher education teachers whose professional activity is multispec- tral and multifunctiona; it also analyses the ESP courses and their specific features