TEACHING ESP SKILLS: THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS, PEDAGOGICAL STRATEGIES, AND PROFESSIONAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Abstract. English for Specific Purposes (ESP) has emerged as a major branch of applied linguistics focused on meeting the communicative needs of learners in specialized professional and academic contexts. This article examines the theoretical foundations, methodological principles, and pedagogical strategies involved in teaching ESP skills. Drawing upon needs analysis theory, communicative language teaching, genre analysis, and task-based learning, the study explores how ESP instruction differs from general English teaching and how it can effectively develop domain-specific communicative competence. Particular attention is given to skill integration, authenticity of materials, discourse specificity, assessment practices, and teacher roles. The article argues that effective ESP teaching requires systematic needs analysis, contextualized materials design, and alignment between linguistic form, professional discourse practices, and pragmatic competence. The paper concludes by outlining implications for curriculum development and teacher training in ESP contexts.