English for Specific Purposes in Costa Rica: A Compilation of Experiences from the First Graduating Class of the Program Maestría Profesional en Lingüística Aplicada con Énfasis en inglés para Fines Específicos

This qualitative study, with a descriptive scope, adopted a prospective cross-sectional approach. Its primary objective was to compile the experiences of two former students from the first graduating cohort of the Program Maestría Profesional en Lingüística Aplicada con Énfasis en Inglés para Fines Específicos, based on their teaching practicum. As part of the study, two specialized courses were designed—one focused on English for Occupational Purposes and the other on English for Academic Purposes. A key finding of this research was the central role of the Needs Analysis as the cornerstone of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses, which should be conducted before and during lesson development to plan, implement, address, and improve classes while addressing potential challenges that may arise in the classroom. Moreover, ongoing communication between instructors and students is crucial to ensure the effective delivery of lessons and to support student learning outcomes.