Teaching languages for specific purposes : perceptions, methodological perspectives, practical issues and challenges

Abstract

Language skills are becoming increasingly important in organisations and businesses who want to be competitive on an international level. Mastery in foreign languages is considered not just an excellent tool to bridge gaps between people coming from different countries and to create strong sentimental and professional relationships, but above all an instrument that enables workers to considerably improve their career prospects. Knowing how to use a language in specific circumstances and purposes gives people a very strong bargaining power, especially in the labour world. Whereas up to twenty or thirty years ago, speaking a foreign language was a very important prerequisite for just a few, like managers or diplomats, today it has become of fundamental importance in all professional circles. In fact, in today’s European society, languages and intercultural play a fundamental role in getting to know different people and in obtaining professional and economic development. This explains why today there exists a need to diversify the language training market with courses in foreign languages for specific purposes, be it for tourism, for call centers, for business and so on, focusing on acquiring the necessary terminological, interdisciplinary and intercultural skills needed for specific jobs. Such courses imply addressing the immediate and very specific needs of the learners involved, having as their driving force, both in the preparation stage as well as in the development stage, the needs analysis of the learners. In terms of implementation and methodology, such courses have to be totally learner-focused, practically oriented and, above all, applied to professional contexts, providing a method of learning, teaching and assessing basic skills or abilities in the language, not simply according to the particular needs of the students but also in line with the specific requirements of the vocational domain. This obviously presents a number of challenges which need to be discussed and analysed from both the educators’ and the students’ point of view, given that such courses need to address the immediate and very specific needs of the learners involved, which in turn should serve as the basis for informed curriculum practices, such as syllabus design, materials development and instructional design. It also necessitates a threefold framework design, consisting of an individual theoretical component of learning, an individual practical component as well as the provision for group work and practice. All this has serious ramifications on teacher training and formation courses, and requires methodical collaboration and cooperation from all stakeholders involved, be it the educational institutions offering the course, the employer or any authority requesting the course as well as the learners themselves.