Review article | Open Access
Innovational Research in ELT 2026, Vol. 7(1) 1-14
ESP Teacher Education: Why, What and How
pp. 1 - 14 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/irelt.2026.1450.1
Publish Date: June 15, 2026 | Single/Total View: 0/0 | Single/Total Download: 0/0
Abstract
English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teaching requires specialized pedagogical expertise; however, many educators enter the field without targeted training. This study conducts a narrative literature review of research on ESP teacher education to determine the major trends in its development, challenges, and future directions. By analysing theoretical frameworks, empirical studies, and reflective practitioner reports in Scopus, ERIC, Web of Science, and SpringerLink databases, the review addresses three research questions: Why is ESP teacher training needed? What competencies define effective ESP educators? And how are programs worldwide addressing these needs? The findings suggest a demand for interdisciplinary collaboration as ESP teachers increasingly work alongside subject-matter experts, pointing to training in teamwork and in domain-specific discourse analysis. The review also indicates that a pedagogical shift from generic and traditional materials to contextualized, needs-based design that involves corpora and digital tools is widely recommended in the literature. Key findings also indicate that ESP instructors face professional identity tensions. As for the trends in the field, fragmented training models are observed. While some universities try to integrate ESP into ELT / TESOL programs, others rely on ad hoc workshops, signalling a gap in standardized curricula. This present study concludes that it is urgent to systematize ESP teacher education through policy alignment, competency frameworks, and blended learning models.
Keywords: English for specific purposes (ESP), teacher education, narrative literature review, pedagogical trends, ESP teacher competencies
APA 7th edition
Sen, M.K., & Koksal, D. (2026). ESP Teacher Education: Why, What and How. Innovational Research in ELT, 7(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.29329/irelt.2026.1450.1
Harvard
Sen, M. and Koksal, D. (2026). ESP Teacher Education: Why, What and How. Innovational Research in ELT, 7(1), pp. 1-14.
Chicago 16th edition
Sen, Mustafa Kemal and Dincay Koksal (2026). "ESP Teacher Education: Why, What and How". Innovational Research in ELT 7 (1):1-14. https://doi.org/10.29329/irelt.2026.1450.1
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