ENHANCING EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS IN ESP (ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES) CONTEXT – A STUDY CONDUCTED AT SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to define the notion of employability skills and to position the term in the context of higher education and language teaching and learning, more specifically the context of ESP (English for Specific Purposes) environment. The importance of employability skills in the context of higher education is frequently emphasized, due to the expectations that higher education needs to produce future experts with marketable skills and competencies which will be valued by the employers. However, the process of including employability skills in higher education is not always straightforward and often entails complex decisions regarding the skills to be included and the mode of inclusion. The selection of skills to be included and the models and ways (Bridgstock, 2009; Knight & Yorke, 2003) of including employability skills are presented. The paper also presents the views and the perspectives of students in ESP classes regarding the necessity of employability skills, compared to the views of potential employers. In addition, the paper suggests modes of including employability skills in the context of language teaching and learning.
Key words: employability skills, language teaching, language learning, English for Specific Purposes.
References
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http://www.employability.ed.ac.uk/documents/Staff/HEA-Employability_in_HE(Is,IsNot).pdf
