Vocationally oriented language learning (VOLL) is often seen as a part of English for Specific Purposes/Language for Specific Purposes (ESP/LSP), which it is not in every case. The diverging characteristics and lines of development that these two branches of ELT have undergone are outlined and contrasted. Then, a discussion of the added value of a VOLL approach for target learner groups in secondary and tertiary education preparing for the world of work is presented. Remaining problems with implementing the VOLL approach are briefly addressed in the last section. The purpose of the article is to re-establish VOLL on the ELT agenda.