The need for professionally oriented ESL instruction in the United States

Increasing numbers of foreign students are coming to the United States for university‐level studies. Most go on to professional careers where English is needed for sophisticated and complex uses. Unfortunately, these students and professionals seldom receive English language training adequate for th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:TESOL quarterly 1984-06, Vol.18 (2), p.273-294
Main Authors: HUCKIN, THOMAS N., OLSEN, LESLIE A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case Study
Civil engineering
College Second Language Programs
Didaktische Grundlageninformation
Einzelarbeit
Engineering education
Engineers
Englisch
English (Second Language)
English as a second language
English for Special Purposes
Fachsprache
Foreign Students
Fremdsprachenunterricht
Higher Education
Hochschule
Industrial Training
International students
Motivation
Nichtschulische Ausbildung
Professional communication
Rollenspiel
Schreiben
Second Language Instruction
Simulation
Sprechen
Statistische Auswertung
Teachers
Teaching Methods
Technical writing
Universities
Vereinigte Staaten
Writing instruction
Written communication
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Description
Summary:Increasing numbers of foreign students are coming to the United States for university‐level studies. Most go on to professional careers where English is needed for sophisticated and complex uses. Unfortunately, these students and professionals seldom receive English language training adequate for this purpose, either in school or on the job. Using engineering as a case in point, this article argues that there is a growing need for professionally oriented ESL instruction in American colleges, universities, and companies. Such instruction should combine aspects of both ESL and ESP in what is here called “generalized ESP.” Two illustrations of this approach—technical communication courses for university students and troubleshooting for technical professionals—are discussed.
ISSN:0039-8322
1545-7249
DOI:10.2307/3586694