The Role Of Vocabulary In Esp Teaching

Abstract

Vocabulary plays a major role in any language acquisition. Language acquisition is commonly seen as an endless process. Students, consciously or unconsciously, acquire new words permanently. The teaching of vocabulary in ESP should not be distinct from the teaching of vocabulary in EGP. ESP teachers should start by introducing words that belong to general language, but which are also frequently used in technical language. The introduction of vocabulary that has specialized meanings in certain disciplines comes second. In the past, vocabulary learning used to be restricted to learning lists of specialized words by heart and to reading and translating technical texts. Nowadays, students have access to more modern methods of learning, which help them develop their language skills. When discussing the teaching of ESP, one of the first questions that arise is whether the ESP teacher should be responsible for the teaching of technical vocabulary. It is generally agreed that the ESP teacher should not be responsible for the teaching of technical vocabulary. Yet, there are certain situations when the ESP teachers must ensure that the students are familiar with the technical words occurring in an exercise or in a text. It is essential that ESP teachers should be aware of their students’ exact needs so that they should be able to select the vocabulary they teach in accordance with these needs. The better teachers know their classes, the easier it will be for them to choose the most appropriate techniques for each learner.