Institutionally Produced ESP Course Implications for Professional Competence Development

Abstract

The article deals with institutionally developed ESP (English for Specific Purposes) courses, one of the predominant and progressive language teaching approaches in tertiary education, as it is focused on the specific and profession-related needs of students. The paper studies the role of needs analysis and material selection, later adaptation according to particular specialty student requirements, changes of business environment and current demands for English language skills. The implication of the study results in that ESP courses should be more attuned to students’ needs targeting productive skills, specialized vocabulary, language functions and intercultural competence. The study also discusses the ways and methods, which can increase professional competence development in the context of the multiprofessional environment of a modern economic university experiencing constant changes due to internationalization.