Formation of a Virtuous Circle of ESP Learning, ESP Teaching and ESP Practice

The previous studies on English for Special Purposes (ESP) have mostly focused on the perspective of ESP Teaching. However, the present situation shows that the effect of ESP teaching is not satisfactory at all. Many scholars are also aware of the problems of ESP Teaching and have put forward some solutions in the hope of changing it. This paper starts with the analysis of the origin of ESP theories and practice to find out the critical factors of ESP. Through this analysis, ESP Learning and ESP Practice are regarded as fundamental factors of ESP. ESP Teaching is the bridge to make the relationship between ESP Learning and ESP Practice balanced. So a cycle graph is drawn to describe the relationships between ESP Learning, ESP Teaching and ESP Practice. Strategies are put forward to form a virtuous circle between them.