As an approach to language teaching, English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is increasingly relevant in today's world. The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes features a collection of newly commissioned essays that survey the key areas of research in ESP. Contributions by leading scholars from across the globe address all major aspects of English for specific purposes study, from its origins and evolution to directions for future research.

Initial chapters focus on the history of ESP and current areas of ESP research, including speaking, reading, writing, business and legal English, nursing, technology, and many more. Subsequent chapters offer perspectives on ESP research, covering such topics as genre, intercultural rhetoric, multimodality, English as a lingua franca and ethnography. With its comprehensive scope and in-depth coverage, this handbook is an essential resource for students, teachers, and researchers engaged in ESP research.

Brian Paltridge is Professor of TESOL at the University of Sydney. He is co-author of Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language (with S. Starfield, 2007), Teaching Academic Writing (with L. Woodrow, D. Hirsh, A. Phakiti, H. Shen, L. Harbon, and M. Stevenson, 2009), and co-editor of New Directions in English for Specific Purposes Research (with D. Belcher and A. Johns, 2011).

Sue Starfield is Associate Professor in the School of Education and Director of The Learning Centre at the University of New South Wales. She is co-editor of the international peer-reviewed journal English for Specific Purposes, and co-author of Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language: A Handbook for Supervisors (with B. Paltridge, 2007).