Integrating English for Specific Purposes in Technical and Vocational Education: A Sustainable Model for Industry-Education Alignment

Abstract: This study investigates the integration of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) contexts, addressing the critical intersection of language teaching and technical skills development. Using a qualitative case study methodology at Arrass College of Technology in Saudi Arabia, the research examines how ESP pedagogies can be systematically embedded in technical curricula to enhance both linguistic competence and workplace readiness. Data collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis reveal that effective ESP integration requires a genre-based approach that addresses authentic workplace communication needs while supporting technical content acquisition. The findings demonstrate that task-based language teaching methodologies, when aligned with industry-specific communication requirements, significantly improve students’ technical vocabulary acquisition, genre knowledge, and communicative confidence. The study identifies key implementation challenges, including limited teacher preparation for specialized language instruction and institutional barriers to curriculum integration. A sustainable ESP-TVET model is proposed, drawing on sociocultural theories of language learning and needs analysis frameworks, which positions language as central rather than peripheral to technical education. This model emphasizes collaborative teaching approaches, authentic assessment practices, and ongoing alignment with evolving workplace communication demands. The findings contribute to ESP pedagogy by providing evidence-based strategies for language teaching in vocational contexts and offer practical implications for ESP practitioners, TVET administrators, and language teacher educators working in technical education settings. Keywords: English for Specific Purposes (ESP), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), genre-based pedagogy, workplace communication, content and language integrated learning. Title: Integrating English for Specific Purposes in Technical and Vocational Education: A Sustainable Model for Industry-Education Alignment Author: Dr. Abdullah Mohammad A. Alhomidan International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online) Vol. 13, Issue 2, April 2025 - June 2025 Page No: 201-218 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 05-May-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15341890 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/integrating-english-for-specific-purposes-in-technical-and-vocational-education-a-sustainable-model-for-industry-education-alignment