Promoting Learning Through ESP ToT for Legal English Instructors

Abstract

In the current ongoing globalization trend and competitive job-market specialized skills and specific preparation are required. In this climate Kosovo is continuously facing challenges to meet learners’ needs and reform teaching from traditional to learning-centered teaching that will closely consider learners’ needs and prepare them for target situations. The demand and interest for English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is growing everyday as challenges rise while in search of prosperous employment or further studies and research, both crucial to professional and academic development. Moreover Kosovo is preparing for accession into European Union and Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) negotiations have already started. This emphasizes the importance of legal English in this region, specialized language skills and expertise especially in the legal domain. This study aims to explore the importance of teacher attitudes and roles in an ESP setting. A Train of Trainers (ToT) Program, aimed at Legal English instructors, carried out by ESP practitioners while emphasizing appropriate teaching methodology, focused on preparing instructors to teach further in the ESP field with focus in legal English. The study investigates the ground for implementing ESP as pedagogy at Kosovo Judicial Institute (KJI) in Prishtina, and broader in other institutions throughout. The results of this study will hopefully serve as a recommendation to ESP teachers and assist them when dealing with the challenges of teaching ESP courses in practice.