A Reflection On College English Teachers' Self-directed Professional Development-Based On ESP Teaching

With the globalization of the world economy and the specialization of professions, English, as a communicative tool, has to be playing a more and more important role in the world communication. However, our present college English teaching is not able to meet the needs of social development. With the specialization of the different trades, profession-oriented English talents are needed, but the present college English teaching is still focused on the literature appreciation and general social problems such as security, parents or daily life, having little to do with specific professional knowledge. Also, present college English learning for the learners seems a repetition of the previous English learning since it is still primarily about the knowledge of English as a language in stead of the use as a tool.With this into consideration, college English teaching reform has been on its way after entering the 21st century. One alternative is to have ESP (English for Specific Purpose) teaching in college period to replace the general English teaching. ESP teaching generally is for the learners of medium or upper level that college learners belong to. It is also directed at certain profession and aiming at helping the learners in their profession learning and occupation adaptation which can be seen as meaningful to the learners themselves as social constructivists suggest learning should be. And under such circumstances, a part of the present college English teachers will probably turn to ESP teachers to meet the new situation. So how do they prepare themselves for this change? That is the background for this thesis.This thesis attempts to focus on the transformation of present college English teachers to ESP teachers. First, the social constructivists'learning theory is reviewed. It holds that learning should be of personal meaning for learners themselves; as to teacher, being a reflective teacher and having teaching reflection is advocated. ESP in its nature conforms to meaningful learning. And for college English teachers, how to become reflective in the process of transformation is the focal point. Second, some aspects concerned in ESP teaching are settled in order to help college English teachers get familiar with the new field. These aspects include the role and position of ESP teacher and the present situation of domestic ESP teaching, and some linguistic features of ESP. With all these as a foundation, third, how to make present college English teachers reflective in the shifting is proposed. Finding out a proper profession by reflecting on their interests is of great importance for college English teachers; then making a decision in choosing to be a collaborative ESP teacher or an independent ESP teacher; after that, making preparations for their choice respectively.