Tapping into Research
When conducting the Communication Task/Language Analysis, the workplace language trainer
should also turn to research studies in genre analysis and communication for the workplace and
professions to gain insight into differences between specific types of spoken and written texts
used in communication within the workplace. These research findings can prove valuable when
determining what to include as objectives in curriculum design and when selecting and
developing training materials. While some excellent work has been done, much more research into the form and discourse of texts used in specific workplace and academic situations for
specific purposes needs to be undertaken.
It should be mentioned that when refining course objectives based on data from the CT/LA, the
ESP practitioner must look ahead to issues of learner assessment as well as program and course
evaluation. Written objectives must reflect the desired training outcomes and must be
measurable, that is the learner must be able to demonstrate the ability to do, not describe, the
communication task in a measurable or observable way.
The ESP practitioner now has a listing of topics to refine the initial course objectives and to use
when creating an instructional design/curriculum for her/his ESP course. In the next week of our
online course, we will focus on key organizing principles for a course, including criticality
concerns as well as other relevant organizing frameworks related to topic/theme, situation, or
simplicity/complexity of the communication task.
References
Canale, M., and M. Swain. “Theoretical bases of communicative approaches to second language
teaching and testingâ€. Applied Linguistics, 1 (1), pp. 1-47. 1980. Print.
Friedenberg, J., D. Kennedy, A. Lomperis, W. Martin, and K. Westerfield. Effective Practices
in Workplace Language Training: Guidelines for Providers of Workplace English Language
Training Services. Alexandria, VA: TESOL, 2003. Print.
Friedenberg, J., A. Lomperis, W. Martin, M. van Naerssen, and K. Westerfield. Standards for
Workplace Language Training: Guidelines for Workplace Language Trainers. Unpublished
manuscript.
Hymes, D. “Competence and performance in linguistic theory. In R. Huxley & E. Ingram (Eds),
Language acquisition: Models and methods. pp. 3-23. London: Academic Press. 1971. Print.
Savignon, S. Communicative competence: theory and classroom practice. Reading, MA:
Addison-Wesley. 1983. Print.
Savignon, S. “Communicative language teaching: State of the artâ€. TESOL Quarterly, 25, 261-
277. 1991. Print.
he above text has been adapted by Westerfield from: Friedenberg, J., A. Lomperis, W. Martin, M.
van Naerssen, and K. Westerfield. Standards for Workplace Language Training: Guidelines for
Workplace Language Trainers. Unpublished manuscript.