PREFACE

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 541.

The knowledge of the earth's past both

embellishes and sustains the spirit of man

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

The teaching of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) has been generally seen as a separate activity within the English Language Teaching (ELT). However, ESP has somewhat moved away from trends in general ELT, but at the same time, it has retained its emphasis on practical outcomes. Different approaches were considered and the main problems in teaching ESP for various technical faculties were analyzed. This new practical course is designed for 3^rd –year students of the Institute of Geology and Oil & Gas Institute (all specialties). The course aim is professional language communication competence development as a means of professional intercommunication at an international standard level.

EGC (Essential Geology Course) consists of eight modules and is for the intermediate level. It is specially designed to motivate and involve technical students in effective ESP learning. This course provides systematic preparation for all basic skills required for successful communication in written and spoken ESP.

Thus, the course objectives are to:

1. enlarge specific vocabulary through reading, writing, speaking and listening;

2. recognize, deduce, understand, distinguish, interpret and clarify specific information from different authentic sources;

3. communicate effectively in the written tasks prescribed by the student's study or future professional situation;

4. communicate successfully in professional interaction focusing on appropriate language;

5. develop professional language user confidence

The main components are:

· Student's book (reading, vocabulary practice, language development sections, listening and speaking activities, tests, wordlists);

· Teacher's book (map focus, keys, audio tape scripts, supplementary texts, rating score scale);

· Self-study booklet (various unit tasks);

· Audio cassette (for student's book and self-study booklet);

· Resource pack-photocopiable materials (diagrams, tables, pie charts, drawings);

· Glossary of geological terms.

The following course is designed for two academic semesters including 54-hour ESP language preparation session and 18-hour session correspondingly. This course is based on the teamwork of language teacher-provider and professional teacher-facilitator.

The authors consider that this course is a new approach to ESP teaching as it includes the following features: comprehensive practical approach, universality, flexibility, simplicity and inter-disciplinary approach.