Business English in the Age of Technology – a Reappraisal of the Traditional Framework
Business English in the Age of Technology – a Reappraisal of the Traditional Framework

Summary/Abstract: Based on the dual hallmarks of flexibility and adaptability, English for Specific Purposes, or ESP, proposes methods of teaching which are anchored in the immediate reality of the students who will be instructed and will, subsequently, benefit from the use of real-life linguistic scenarios. This means that, as the world keeps changing and technology keeps evolving, the instructors of ESP classes are relentlessly searching for new and better teaching methods, designed especially to strengthen the language skills of a small number of participants involved in the learning process. And without a doubt, the abovementioned methods now rely heavily on the introduction of technology, be it in the form of computers, tablets or smartphones, into the daily interaction between instructors and students, as well as among the latter. Designed as the first part of a two-article study, this paper will deal with the specific case of students who are enrolled in Business programmes (Administration or Management) by providing an overview of these students' weak and strong points, as well as specific examples of how integrating technology in the curriculum builds up the skills with which they commonly struggle. Dedicated entirely to a group of individuals who are most frequently competent speakers and only average writers, the methods and examples of tasks depicted in this article are exclusively tailored to bring a twofold advantage to the ESP class: on the one hand, they boost reading and writing skills and, on the other, they engage students by the use of computers or mobile devices.

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