TEACHERS AS MATERIAL DESIGNERS - INSIGHTS FROM DESIGNING AN ESP COURSE BOOK (ENGLISH FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE AND DIPLOMACY)

Abstract

The inexistence of ready-made context-responsive materials for English for Specific Purposes (ESP) areas is a major drawback, but in such an environment teachers can become active agents. This is a small-scale empirical study on the actual processes employed by a team of authors engaged in designing their own ESP materials to suit their unique realities. Material design for this practical pedagogical approach is a time consuming and challenging process, but by collaborative work teachers can explore new avenues for professional development and reflect on the ESP principles. The learning focus and the intended outcomes, as well as contributing to functional knowledge and skills, were the leading factors in these dual-focused materials integrating content and language. To that end, the focus in the ESP coursebook analyzed in this paper is on the vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension.