Innovation in Language Learning

Based on the findings of a personal research aiming at evaluating the state of the art of ESP instruction in Algerian universities; under the relatively newly implemented LMD reform; many drawbacks affecting negatively ESP teaching and learning were highlighted.

Therefore, for the sake of an upturn regarding the prevailing conditions, the researcher will focus in this presentation on providing some primordial suggestions and remedial actions in order to reconsider the status of ESP instruction in general, and raise it to international standards. These reforms will revolve mainly around five major points summarized in what follows:

- Reviewing the place of ESP courses in the curriculum by increasing the restricted ESP weekly teaching time

- The integration of placement tests as a prior step to any ESP teaching/learning process. These enable a better and individualized consideration of ESP students’ language background in order to determine their language proficiency level.

- The provision of important steps to follow for the design of appropriate teaching materials for specific learners with the aim to cater for their target needs, lacks and wants.

- The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a supportive material in ESP instruction, especially in this era of globalization; in order to enhance students’ active participation and autonomy in the learning process.

- Promoting the use of formative assessment so as to favor students’ continuous involvement, on the one hand, and get the truest possible picture of their real abilities.

On the whole, these suggestions seek primarily to develop students’ self-reliance, a feature which is highly required, but sometimes missing, to cope with the requirements of the different ESP target situations.

Keywords: ESP, LMD reform, Algeria, drawbacks, remedies, autonomy.