Slide 1

In His Name

EAP Curriculum in Iran:
History, Challenges, & Prospects
By:
S. Yahya Hejazi
(MA in TEFL)
25 April, 2014
9 – 10 AM
Kashan Language Academy

Email: [email protected]


Slide 2

English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
What is ESP?
 Characteristics:
 Primacy of needs
 Attention to specific language, skills,
discourse, and genres
 Different methodology than general
courses
 Mainly for adults
 Mostly for intermediate and advanced
students



Slide 3

Why ESP?
 Practicality
 Needs
 Context

 Learners


Slide 4

ESP Classifications


Slide 5

English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
 Definition
 Purposes
 Primacy

of Needs
 Types: English for General Academic
Purposes (EGAP) & English for Specific
Purposes (ESAP)


Slide 6

EAP Growth in Iran
Objectives
 Three main eras:
1. 1970s
2. 1980s
3. 1990s and onwards



Slide 7

Problems
Materials

development and course design
based on intuitions
Lack of any coherent, systematic
curriculum development
No rigorous needs analysis
Broad statement of goals
Students’ low and heterogeneous GEP
level


Slide 8

Problems
Lack

of well-qualified ESP teachers,
Conventional, counter-productive ESP
methodology, e.g. undue emphasis on
translation and memorization of lexical
and grammatical points
Lack of a rigorous evaluation method
Lack of up-to-date, suitable ESP books
Lack of audio-visual aids
Lack of real, demanding situations in Iran
to use English


Slide 9