Graduate qualifying work

Absolute characteristics:

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  ESP is designed to meet specific needs of the learner;
  
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  ESP makes use of the underlying methodology and activities of the disciplines it serves;
  
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  ESP is centered on the language (grammar, lexis and register), skills, discourses and genres appropriate to these activities.
  

Variable characteristics:

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  ESP may be related or designed for specific disciplines;
  
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  ESP may use, in specific teaching situations, a different methodology from that of general English;
  
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  ESP is likely to be designed for adult learners, either at a tertiary level institution or in a professional work situation; it could be used for learners at secondary school level;
  
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  ESP is generally designed for intermediate or advanced learners; and
  
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  Most ESP courses assume basic knowledge of the language system, but it can be used with beginners.
  

3. The Birth of ESP

The birth of E.S.P was the result of many factors which nearly present the same causes that, in turn, suggest a cause-effect relationship (Hutchinson and Waters, 1987: 6): The crucial factor was the enormous development in scientific, technical and economic activity on an international scale especially in the U.S.A, where technology and commerce dominated the new post-war world wish required an international language to accelerate its progress. This role was granted to English.
The raise in the number of individuals wanting to learn English in order to follow the international currencies of technology and commerce.
Another sub-factor of the emergence of ESP is the Oil Crises in the early 1970s that involved a massive flow of funds and western expertise into the oil-rich countries. The lack of time and money constraints created a need for cost-effective courses with accurately specific goals; on the other hand, commercial pressures began to exert an influence in the acquisition of this language. Therefore, English has become a major interest for most countries in the world.
The need for several countries to update their knowledge. As a result, ESP became a new area of interest that gradually developed into a multilayered language approach primarily based on learners’ specific needs required by their professions or occupations. ESP has now a universal dimension through the concept of language for specific purposes and a language-specific perspective through the insights explored into various European languages such as French, German, Russian and Spanish.