The Intercultural Dimension of English for Specific Purposes: Developing Communicative Competence and Strategies in Multilingual Crews

Abstract

The present paper argues for the need for integrating the multicultural factor in ELT and widening its scope towards ESP university settings. This study focuses on the possibilities of using commmunicative strategies by Maritime english learners as alternative ways of expression in 'talks-in-interaction' in their future profesional context as well as skills that can increase their competence and autonomy when they face up with a set of different cultural expectations regarding multilingual crews. It attempts to show that discourse analysis can be a useful theoretical framework in ESP teaching and research. It is also suggested that task-based activities are suitable ways to tackle the problem and bridge the gap between language learning and cultural studies.