Symposium article: ESP needs washback and the fine tuning of driving instruction

Abstract

Workplace needs are often difficult for English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teachers to assess due to a variety of obstacles that can restrict opportunities to analyze the existing needs. Nevertheless, the workers' needs may be recognized by employing techniques aimed at extracting information from the workers themselves. Japanese university students, working as in-automobile interpreters for American employees stationed in Japan, were asked to interpret Japanese instructions provided to the Americans during practice sessions at a local drivers'training facility. During think-aloud interviews with students, it was determined that the interpreters had not gained sufficient control of specialized vocabulary related to automobiles; moreover, they were unable to adequately interpret the commands that were given by the Japanese instructors during the training sessions. The students pointed to a specialized vocabulary worksheet that was developed, simulated driving lessons, and general discussion as being effective measures to better prepare them for the in-automobile interpretation.