LSP theory and second language acquisition

Since the early 1960s LSP research has been dominated by English for Special Purposes, as the increasing importance of English as an international language led to rapid growth in the demand for higher education through Engl ish, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. This in turn created a huge international market for English language courses designed to prepare students to follow degree programmes, mostly in science and technology. The research produced in language teaching and learning for special purposes which resulted from this activity is in many ways ahead of research relating to the teaching of other languages to students or specialists in areas such as business, science and technology. In these circumstances it is natural that teachers and researchers in other languages should consult published ESP research with a view to applying it to their own activity. It is the aim of this study to investigate to what extent the research which has been carried out in ESP can be applied to the teaching of other languages for special purposes.