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  1. Specific language course

    Language Courses for Specific Purposes

    Programs Guide



    As the world’s population becomes more global demand for language courses is really going to increase over the coming years. Language courses for specific purposes is one section that’s really on the up; providing language courses for professions such as medical, legal, marketing and more.



    What are Language Courses for Specific Purposes?


    The largest market for language schools is for general language courses, i.e. ones which teach you a good general vocabulary in a foreign language. Language courses for specific purposes are different because, just as it sounds, the course is for a specific purpose and hence teaches you far more specialized vocabulary than you would learn on a general language course.



    What Kind of Language Courses for Specific Purposes are Available?


    These subject specific language courses may be available for all sorts of professions, though some of the most common sectors usually include: medical, legal, law enforcement, finance, banking, catering and marketing. Some language schools may even offer bespoke language courses if you tell them what it is you need.



    What are the Benefits of Studying a Specific Purpose Language Course?


    This type of language learning has become more popular over recent years because the world’s population is becoming more global. By this we mean that more and more people are emigrating from their home countries to foreign countries, whether it be a permanent or a temporary move. Whilst a general language course is very useful for everyday living and more standard areas of employment, they are not always so useful within specific professions, especially ones which use special terms.


    In some professions, a misunderstanding could be the different between life and death, so it’s vital that you’re confident in communicating at a specific level. Of course, the major benefit is that by having taken a subject specific language course, you are aiding your chances of being employed abroad in the first place.



    Who Offers Language Courses for Specific Purposes?


    At this time, the number of language schools offering these subject specific language courses is on the up, but they are still far fewer in number than more generalised language schools. This means you may have search around far more than you would to find a generalised language school. Getting feedback from previous language students is perhaps even more important when searching for a subject specific language course, so try to find out what past students thought of the course.



    Other Factors to Consider When Looking for Language Courses for Specific Purposes


    You should be aware that, for several reasons, language courses for specific purposes will cost more than generalised language courses. One reason for this is because there aren’t as many language schools offering subject specific courses. Therefore the ones who do offer it can charge more for the service because they are in demand.


    Another reason is that the people teaching these language courses have to have the knowledge of that specific subject, and hence they themselves require more training than a teacher who teaches generalised language courses. This fact will increase the cost of delivering these courses for the language school.