Teaching English for Polytechnic Purposes: Guidelines for an Integrated, Communicative Approach

Abstract

To help ESP college instructors improve the English curriculum taught at polytechnic institutes, colleges and universities, the current study proposes a model for designing English for Polytechnic Purposes (EPP) courses for undergraduate students majoring in mechanical engineering, chemistry, technology, economics, textile industry and other applied sciences. It aims to show instructors the following: how to identify students’ needs;  how to assess students’ proficiency level in English; how to define the EPP learning outcomes (course objectives); how to identify the language skills and language elements that should be taught to a particular group of students; how to select technical terms and topics related to the students’ area of specialization; how to select the course content and material to be used; how to integrate the content and skills while teaching, i.e., how to teach content and listening skills, content and speaking skills, content and reading skills, content and writing skills, content and technical terms, content and grammar, and how to integrate current global events in the course; how to develop students’ prior knowledge in their area of specialization; teaching students how to search for information in online resources; the types of technologies that can be integrated in EPP instruction; the kind of assignments, practice and application activities to give to the students and assessment.