Teaching presentation skills through popular science: an opportunity for a collaborative and transversal approach to ESP teaching

Collaboration is essential for all English for Specific Purposes practitioners, whether they are a part of a Faculty or a Language Centre. Conducting needs analyses to determine students’ specific English requirements necessitates interaction with subject specialists within their institution. The present report presents an innovative pedagogical approach to teaching academic presentation skills, where the ESP teachers collaborate not only with subject specialists but also with members of the science communication department and audiovisual services. It’s Not Rocket Science® is a popular science competition designed for first-year students to develop their presentation skills, as they are expected to deliver scientific presentations by the end of their bachelor’s degree. In this context, students are tasked with creating a short video explaining a concept in their field of study to senior secondary school students. The objective of the project is to ease the transition from general English to academic English, while also easing the transition from secondary to higher education.