Influences of Content-Based Instruction in the ESP Classroom

Language learning curriculum that is primarily driven by content (content-based instruction) has gained support because teachers and students are able to see the practicality of language that is meaningful beyond grammatical viability. Serious ESP instruction also must consider the benefits that a content-based approach engenders. In this paper, internal and external factors are discussed as a means to provide ESP teachers with some broad principles to consider when thinking about designing materials with a content-based teaching perspective. Internal factors are simply those influences that are in the students ’ immediate environment, while external influences are those that are derived primarily from the students ’ (eventual) professional domain. The conclusions in this paper emphasize that structural linguistic elements in the classroom must be, at the very least, balanced with content, and that internal and external influences should be driving forces behind content-based curriculum development intended for the ESP classroom