Letter from the Chair
Jennifer Roberts, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida, USA
Greetings ESP-IS Community,
We are glad you have found your way to this edition of the ESP-IS Newsletter. If you are new here, welcome! My name is Jennifer Roberts, and I am the current Chair of the ESP-IS. A few years ago I also served as Chair, and our Leadership Team created a great video about our Interest Section that is worth sharing again. The video aims to begin defining the exciting field of English for Specific Purposes. Tell us – what does ESP mean to you?
One of our goals is to connect with ESP professionals worldwide. Aligned with that initiative, we have begun collaborating with the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) through delivering webinars. In the spirit of partnership, I recently delivered a webinar entitled An Introduction to Aviation English: Current States and Future Challenges. The webinar wasn’t recorded, but you can view the slides here. What other ESP-focused professional organizations should our ESP-IS connect with? If you have ideas, let us know!
In the webinar, I discuss assessment in Aviation English, and I mention the work led by International Civil Aviation English Association (ICAEA) President Michael Kay to develop the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Test Design Guidelines (TDGs). In this edition of the ESP-IS, you can learn more about the project in Michael’s Project Leader Profile; you may also be interested in watching his webinar on the same topic from a few years ago. This effort is a testament to the value of academic best practices being acknowledged and utilized in industry, and the value of coordination with stakeholders in the field of ESP.
In other news, we are excited about the upcoming TESOL Convention in Long Beach, California. The ESP-IS will be well-represented, with both our Academic and Intersection Sessions! This year, we are looking forward to participating in two Intersection Sessions:
- ESP Program Administration: Unique Challenges and Innovative Solutions, in collaboration with the Program Administration IS
In this session, innovative and creative solutions to complex challenges in ESP program administration will be discussed. Presenters will share case studies in developing and implementing ESP programs from an administrative perspective, including syllabi and policies, curriculum design and delivery, assessment, and teacher training.
- Innovative CALL Strategies for Enhancing ESP Instruction in Professional and Academic Contexts, in collaboration with the CALL IS
This panel presentation explores cutting-edge strategies for integrating Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) into English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction, focusing on professional and academic contexts. Four expert panelists will share insights, practical examples, and case studies on how technology can enhance ESP teaching and learning.
For more information about our Academic Session, read Gerlinde Koppitsch’s letter in this newsletter.
It is my honor to serve again as the Chair of the ESP-IS. Remember, we are here to serve YOU! If you have ideas about how this IS can better provide for its members, please let us know. Our field is dynamic and meaningful, but it is also challenging. Let’s collaborate, share, and learn from one another.
With gratitude,
Jennifer Roberts
Chair, ESP-IS
Jennifer is the Program Coordinator for the Department of Aviation English in the College of Aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, where she works to develop and deliver Aviation English training programs. Her interests include the pedagogical applications of corpus linguistics, language policy and planning, and curriculum development in English for specific purposes settings.