HOW TO WORK WITH THEMATIC TEXTS IN ESP CLASSES

Svitlana O Chernyshova Svitlana O Chernyshova,Olena P Tokmenko Olena P Tokmenko,Olena A Sydorenko Olena A Sydorenko

doi:10.31435/rsglobal_ws/30092019/6702

Svitlana O Chernyshova Svitlana O Chernyshova, Olena P Tokmenko Olena P Tokmenko + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.31435/rsglobal_ws/30092019/6702

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Abstract

   The article provides guidelines on working with thematic texts with students of non-linguistic majors. It seeks to formulate effective and efficient methods of working with thematic texts, drawing upon the main types of working with texts in general. The article has made use of the method of analysing thematic texts and, therefore, argues that there are three basic steps in working with thematic texts, namely pre-textual, textual, and post-textual. A set of exercises based on the book On the Uses of Philosophy by Will Durant has been used to illustrate the point. In the final analysis, the article argues that the methodology it sets out focuses on developing students’ reading skills through helping them:• correctly understand a foreign word;• make conscious use of the structure of the meanings of foreign words;• combine words and/or phrases in accordance with relevant lexical and grammatical rules;• formulate and express an opinion in a foreign language in various form with thematic vocabulary;• and understand thoughts expressed by other foreign-language speakers.  

Highlights

Since any English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course is based on the majorspecific discipline, a thematic text is a high-quality and reliable cognitive material that complements the knowledge acquired in the course of the study and ensures that the prospective specialist has a decent command of the English language
The selection of educational material follows the provisions of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which states that the basic principles of the selection of language-teaching tools provide for the selection of original texts, taking into account the professional needs of those studying a foreign language [1, 81]
A thematic text is the main means of learning ESP; a source of thematic vocabulary; and a way of shaping the linguistic, professional and sociocultural competence of students by virtue of ‘overlaying’ foreign language skills on the substantive content of the profession while performing professional tasks [5, 199]

Summary

Introduction

Since any English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course is based on the majorspecific discipline, a thematic text is a high-quality and reliable cognitive material that complements the knowledge acquired in the course of the study and ensures that the prospective specialist has a decent command of the English language. Since student experience certain difficulties in processing a thematic text—due to their lack of linguistic and professional competence—the teacher must carefully plan the work with the text, identify potentially problematic parts, prepare methods for processing their basic lexical and grammatical features, and come up with a set of relevant exercises.

Results

Conclusion