LEXICAL FEATURES OF PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE LANGUAGE OF JOB INTERVIEWS

Abstract

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) can employ a wide variety of teaching approaches and methodologies in order to meet the learners� specific needs. Job interviews simulations have been successfully used for the past few years as an end-course examination of our ESP students. One of the main objectives of this activity is to enhance their professional communication skills, which encompasses a complex skill set, focussing on increasing their self-confidence and self-esteem at the same time. In addition to improving grammar, this activity aligns with the learning objectives and leads to building career-related vocabulary. The present paper, which is part of a broader project aimed at investigating the language of job interviews from various perspectives, focuses on exploring the lexical features of professional communication in such instances. Like any other specialized language, the language of job interviews is a living organism, which incorporates new words denoting new realities or new meanings acquired by existing words. A closer examination of the lexical features of professional communication, will equip ESP students with the lexical competence they need in order to face the demands of a fast-changing work environment.