What Is English For Specific Purposes And How Do I Teach It?

TEFL. TOEFL. TOEIC. IELTS. EFL. ESL. EAP.

No, this is not a code to decipher or another language!

In the field of English Language education, there are more acronyms and abbreviations than there are banana pancakes in Thailand. Just when you’ve figured out the difference between EFL and ESL, you stumble across a new one: ESP English for Specific Purposes. Even if you have already done a TEFL course you might not know what they all mean.

So, what is English for Specific Purposes (ESP), and how do you teach it? Let’s break it down.

Read more: 10 Abbreviations And Acronyms You Should Know Before Becoming An EFL Teacher

What is English for Specific Purposes?

In English langauge teaching, ESP means learning English for specific purposes.

Unlike General English, which covers everyday communication, ESP is tailored to meet specific needs.

Examples include:

– English for Hospitality: hotel staff dealing with guests

– English for Aviation: pilots and air traffic controllers

– English for Medicine: doctors, nurses, and medical staff

– English for Tourism: travel agents and tour guides

– English for Banking and Legal English:  professionals working in finance or law

Some mainstream categories like Business English and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) also fall under the broader ESP umbrella.

Of course, a student learning English for a specific purpose will likely also need to know how to use and understand English in a more general context, but this is a secondary concern for these classes.

Who needs English for Specific Purposes?

English language learners who take ESP classes do so for a very specific purpose. They have a particular language goal in mind, related to their lives and often their jobs.

Students who take ESP courses are usually:

– Adults with intermediate or higher English proficiency

– Highly motivated, because their career or studies depend on it

– Focused on achieving very specific language goals

For instance, a nurse taking English for Medicine isn’t just learning grammar—they’re learning how to communicate clearly with patients or understand medical instructions.

How to teach English for Specific Purposes

The first steps is always a needs analysis. This helps you identify:

– Why your students need English

– The exact skills and vocabulary they must learn

– The real-life situations they’ll face in English

A needs analysis will tell the teacher exactly what language and skills the students need to know and why they need to know it. It will provide a background for the teacher so they have a better understanding of the necessity of the classes for their students.

Unlike General English, ESP classes don’t necessarily cover all four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking equally. Instead, they focus on what’s most relevant. They are more focused on specific language and contexts rather than grammar and language structures.

For example, in English for Hospitality, lessons might focus on functional language like greetings, check-ins, or handling customer complaints.

Remember: these lessons are essential for the learners for their daily lives.

Teaching tips for ESP:

– Research the industry vocabulary before class

– Use authentic materials (menus, manuals, reports)

– Keep lessons practical and goal-driven

– Avoid filler activities – students want direct results

While ESP students will naturally be highly motivated, they expect professionalism. They’ll be motivated, but they’ll also expect lessons that are clearly relevant to their field.

In other words, ESP classes are generally more serious than other classes – but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring!

Can I teach ESP without industry experience?

Yes! You don’t need to be a pilot to teach English for Aviation or a doctor to teach English for Medicine. As a TEFL teacher, your expertise is in language — not in the profession itself.

Read more: Can Only Businessmen Teach Business English?

Resources for teaching English for Specific Purposes

OneStopEnglish has a comprehensive section dedicated to teaching ESP. There are lesson plans related to English for Aviation, Oil, Marketing, Sales, Human Resources and many others. Some of the lessons require a subscription to access (which is a worthwhile investment), while others are free. 

Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Macmillan are just three major publishers which offer coursebooks for many different ESP courses, as well as resources for Continuous Professional Development and online resources. Many other publishers do as well. 

National Geographic Learning provides a number of online resources not only for General English but for Exam Preparation, Business English and ESP courses too. 

Considerations when teaching English for Specific Purposes

Teaching ESP is a bit of a juggling act; it’s not the same as teaching a General English class. It is rewarding, but it does come with challenges:

– You may not know the field, so extra preparation is essential

– Accuracy matters more than usual — sometimes it can be life-or-death (in aviation or medicine)

– Your institution might not have ready-made resources for niche ESP classes

Still, with training and the right resources, any TEFL teacher can succeed in ESP. Whether you’re teaching engineers, flight attendants, or lawyers, you’ll be equipping them with skills that directly impact their careers.

Teaching ESP English for Specific Purposes allows you to go beyond general communication and help students achieve tangible goals. From getting a promotion to ensuring passenger safety, ESP learners need English for real-world success.

So, the next time you come across the acronym ESP in TEFL, don’t think “extra-sensory perception.” Think English for Specific Purposes — and the exciting teaching opportunities it brings.