Preparing Real-world Professionals: Integrating Translation, Sustainability, and Digital Media in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Education

Abstract

Innovative pedagogical approaches are essential in fostering environmentally conscious professionals who can successfully deal with complex, real-world challenges. This paper investigates how integrating themes of sustainability into an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course enhances students' four competencies (4Cs; critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication) while strengthening linguistic and professional skills. First-year students pursuing a degree in marketing at Fan S. Noli University engaged in bilingual translation tasks and digital content creation, using Instagram to create, translate, and share sustainability messages and MURAL for collaborative problem-solving. A pre- and post-course survey assessed students’ evolving perceptions of sustainability and skill development. Findings among others indicate that translation reinforced comprehension, social media fostered engagement, and interdisciplinary digital tools enhanced critical thinking and communication skills. These results highlight the pedagogical benefits of integrating translation and social media into ESP curricula to develop multilingual professionals with a strong awareness of sustainability.