English for Specific Purposes (3rd edition)

In this entry, we introduce the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) movement. We begin by defining ESP: what is meant by “specific purposes”; and how this approach to teaching and research is distinguished from general English. Next, we identify, define and illustrate the key concepts that underpin ESP: genre, discourse community, community of practice, and needs analysis. We then provide an overview of how ESP has been researched. This section introduces examples of objects of study as well as methodological approaches adopted, from text-analytical approaches to ethnographically-oriented work, mixed-methods designs, and critical perspectives. We conclude by discussing the relationship between teaching and researching ESP and propose potential future directions of research. These include the impact of technological advances on genres, new approaches to teaching and researching genres, and the role of practitioners in driving the research agenda.