USING CONNECTIVES IN CONTEXT IN ESP

One widely recognized problem in the writing of EFL (English as a foreign language) students in general, and of ESP (English for special purposes) ones in particular, is the misuse and overuse of words and phrases that are widely known as “linking words”, “connectives”, or “conjunctive elements”, such as: moreover, on the other hand, however, etc. Over the years it has been noticed that conventional methods of teaching connectives may actually contribute to the problems of overuse and misuse of such terms. Therefore, in our paper, we would like to offer an alternative approach based upon reading rather than writing, and a related series of activities based upon authentic material. These activities may be adapted for students at different levels, either for initial or remedial teaching of connectives.