Teaching academic English

Purpose: To provide a broad overview of English for academic purposes and relate it to study skills following Jordan’s (1997) description.

Thesis: EAP deals with those communication skills in English such as abilities, techniques and strategies which are used for study purposes in formal education systems (ETIC, 1975; cited in Jordan, 1997)

Audience: English teachers, post-graduate students and tutors.


I. First recorded use of the term: 1994

II. Range of settings
A. Higher education studies
B. Pre-departure courses
1. Sessions
a. pre-sessional (full time)
b. in-sessional (part time)
2. Contents
a. formal teaching programs
b. self-access situations
c. distance-learning materials
d. CALL (computer-assisted language learning) programs

III. Coverage
A. English Teaching for No Obvious Reason (TENOR) / English for General Purposes (EGP)
B. English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
1. English for Occupational (EOP) /Vocational (EVP) /Professional Purposes (EPP)
2. English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
a. English for General Academic Purposes (EGAP)
(1) common core subjects
(2) study skills
b. English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP)
(1) particular academic subjects


References

Jordan, R. R. (1997). English for academic purposes: A guide and resource book for teachers. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.