Esp/ Emp: Are Students Prepared for It?

Abstract

ESP is considered the best choice in tertiary education context as it meets the students’ needs and consequently boosts motivation. However, the results of needs analysis applied while designing the course and the students’ awareness of their needs when using the language in professional communication may differ. The survey of 1st year students conducted at Sechenov University (Moscow, Russia) between 2014 and 2019 revealed only partial awareness of the needs. The possible solution may be either creating ‘first-hand’ experience (students’ exposure to the situations where they have to use respective ESP skills), or ‘second-hand’ experience (students’ exposure to communication with professionals in their prospective sphere of employment who are regularly using ESP skills).

Foreign Language for Future Diplomats: What Integrated Education Approach Is Better?

“…Over the past decades, the integrated education as a factor of successful foreign language acquisition is increasingly being mentioned. However, researchers and practitioners (Katsara 2008, Markovina, Krasilnikova, Kravtsova, Litvinova, 2020 note that students' motivation at the FLSP course is often instrumental, which means that they see foreign language skills as a useful tool to perform such extra-linguistic tasks as going abroad to learn and tourism, communicating with foreign citizens, widening one's horizons, etc. This usually happens when the students are relatively young and have no experience in the professional area they have chosen.…”