An approach, from the Cuban experience, to the teaching of the English language at the university and its contribution to the development of scientific research. Challenges of the Ecuadorian university

Abstract

Knowledge universalization has become an aspiration and, at the same time, a challenge for progressive societies in face of a globalization process, which has resulted inan increase incultural, commercial, and scientific exchange among the different countries. This phenomenon, characterized by its high ubiquity, has raised to unsuspected levels the need for learning English for diverse purposes, being one of the outstanding effective professional performance, this last recognized by professionals, students, and university authorities all over the world Reading specialized literature in a foreign language with the purpose of giving solution to professional tasks and stand at the level demanded by science and technology development has become a necessity for graduates in the diverse spheres of human knowledge, especially for those who do research intended to give solution to the acutest problems of socioeconomic development. On the other hand, the leading role of English as the major language in scientific communication has motivated the teaching of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to become a priority in higher education institutions in many countries, including the Republic of Ecuador This paper analyzes, on the basis of Cuban university experience, the main potentialities of the teaching of English, especially of ESP for developing research skills. At the same time it intends to discover the conception of foreign language in Ecuadorian universities and the main challenges they have to face