Kansai University Graduate Student Showcase

Friday, 10:55 am - 12:30 pm, Room 301

(1) ESP that works in Japan: Consolidative ESP

Kiyomi Okamoto

What should be the primary objective of ESP teaching at a Japanese university where the students do not need English to pursue their undergraduate studies? The answers include that ESP should help them understand content primarily studied in Japanese. The presenter will describe an ongoing consolidative ESP teaching project for first- to third-year students in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Engineering at Kansai University.

(2) ESP materials: Hints from an economics textbook

Ryo Kirimura

A study of a highly-acclaimed introductory textbook on economics reveals a way to consider how ESP courses in a Japanese university should provide a variety of authentic, motivating tasks. The presenter will classify and organize exercises available in the textbook, and then introduce an ESP Task Model as a criterion for ESP materials selection and development.

(3) Meaning and role of ESP for undergraduate students

Yoko Maekawa

There are increasing demands for ESP instruction in Japanese university EFL courses. However, the meaning and role of ESP courses for undergraduate students have not yet been clarified. On the basis of a survey to investigate engineering students' motivational orientation and attitudes towards learning English, the presenter concludes that an ESP course can be used to provide an imaginary professional community.