THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATIVE GRAMMAR IN TEACHING ESP TO GEOLOGISTS

Abstract

The article discusses the role of communicative grammar in teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to geologists. The authors emphasize the importance of effective communication skills in the field of geology, as geologists often collaborate with international colleagues, present research findings, and contribute to the global scientific community. While grammar is sometimes considered tedious, it plays a significant role in enhancing communicative skills. A lot of Ukrainian scholars have been developing effective approaches to teaching ESP with a strong focus on communication skills. Despite the broad spectrum of fields in which communication approach has been theoretically considered and practically incorporated (e. g. engineering, information technologies, business communication), Earth sciences, namely the field of geology, have received relatively little attention in terms of communicative grammar instruction. This fact accounts for the urgent need to develop relevant exercises for geostudents. The authors suggest various types of communicative grammar exercises suitable for geostudents within the ESP framework. These exercises include contextual dialogues, error correction activities, information gap exercises, descriptive presentations, role-play group discussions, and collaborative problem-solving tasks. In order to support their theoretical observations, the authors have chosen illustrative material based on the grammar topic ‘Modal Verbs’ and lexical topic ‘Environmental Issues’. In conclusion, the article emphasizes the crucial role of communicative grammar in teaching ESP to geologists. When it comes to using modal verbs in a professional context, communicative grammar exercises can improve students’ ability to ask for permission, grant or refuse permission, ask for advice and give advice, speculate about future events, and discuss possible consequences of various natural and human-made phenomena in professional contexts.