Graduate qualifying work

1.3.Characteristic features of ESP course
Before teaching ESP, the organization of ESP courses is the first step that should not be forgotten. It involves different curriculum, different types of exercises and different materials. To achieve the learning process, ESP courses must be organized based on some elements.
In the case of ESP, English is learnt and taught depending on specific purposes that teachers should be familiar with and should be able to find the right methodology to achieve learning. Hutchinson and Waters proposed the “learning theory” that consists of theoretical basis for the methodology, by helping us to understand how people learn. (Hutchinson and Waters, 1992: 23).
Factors such as the learners´ groups, their age, level or reason they study help teachers to determine the main aspects for a successful learning that meets learners´ needs and expectations successfully. Hutchinson and Waters (1992) have added needs analysis which analyses and discusses the questions of “who”, “why”, “where” and “when” about the learning situation. There exist three factors to be respected in organizing ESP courses:

Elements of organization of ESP course

Selecting material

Materials used in presenting ESP courses determine the running of the course and underlines content of the lesson. Choosing the appropriate material is helpful for both teachers and learners by organizing the course, introducing the new learning techniques, and achieving the learning process. Hutchinson and Waters (1992: 107) described materials as the teacher’s reflection; “they should truly reflect what you think and feel about the learning process”. Good material should be based on various interesting texts and activities providing a wide range of skills. Teachers determines which aspects of ESP learning will be focused on but one piece of material can serve for developing more than one skill, e.g. reading, listening, vocabulary etc. Materials should also function as a link between already learnt (´existing knowledge´) and new information. (Hutchinson and Waters, 1992).