English for Specific Purposes in the Digital Age

Abstract

The information revolution has enhanced the role of English as the lingua franca of global communication and has dramatically increased the demand for academic English courses which focus on discipline-specific knowledge. The present chapter examines the current state of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course at the University of Bucharest, Romania. Against the wider background provided by language education policies and digital initiatives within the European Union, the chapter presents how technology-integrated teaching methods have begun to shape both the content and the delivery format of the specialised English class and to renew the task-based framework on which the course is developed. If, not long ago, the traditional assessment was considered the only reliable way of testing students' knowledge, the initially forced adoption of e-assessment following the global health crisis has shown that it can be an efficient tool, covering a relevant evaluation of both receptive and productive skills.