QUICK RESOURCE SHEET #56

English for Academic Purposes

PREVIOUS TOPICS LISTED AT BOTTOM OF PAGE

Since the beginnings of communicative language teaching (CLT) and especially the teaching of English for specific (academic and professional) purposes, second language teaching and learning has come to be understood increasingly in terms of discourse, so that “today it is rare to find people involved in language teaching who are unaware of the significance of discourse for teaching reading, writing, intonation or spoken language, and for the evaluation of students’ communicative competence.” (Pennycook, 1994a)

---from The Handbook of Applied Linguistics (ed. Alan Davies and Catherine Elder – 2004)

http://www.uefap.co.uk/index.htm

This is without a doubt the most comprehensive online guide to all things EAP. The site has a wealth of materials on academic reading, writing, listening, and speaking – along with useful exercises for developing accuracy. There is also a special section on assessment. Finally, don’t miss the extensive bibliography (accessible under “Background”).

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/14751585

“For non-native English writers, second language (L2) advanced academic literacy encompasses knowledge of the rhetorical, linguistic, social and cultural features of academic discourse as well as knowledge of English as used by their academic disciplines. Literacy is acquired through a socialization process embedded in social practice, patterned by social institutions [Barton, D. & Hamilton, M. (1998). Local literacies: Reading and writing in one community. London: Routledge] and interactions between learners and their academic discourse community members.”

Part of an abstract from an article written by Orna Ferenz, a researcher in EFL at Israel’s Bar Ilan University, the article appears in the Journal of English for Academic Purposes (linked above). This is the only professional journal devoted specifically to EAP.

http://www.englishaustralia.com.au/ea_conference05/proceedings/pdf/Healy.pdf

“Developing supplementary materials is a common teacher activity. In many areas of ESL, the range of supplementary activities is impressive. This is clearly not the case in EAP, although the situation is improving steadily. The task of producing good quality materials, particularly for teaching reading or writing may well seem daunting. However, it is not as challenging as it may seem. The purpose of this paper is to encourage practitioners to be more ambitious by discussing the underlying principles and skills necessary to accomplish it.”

http://www.baleap.org.uk/

The British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP) is a national organization of centers where EAP is taught within British universities. Its key roles include:

• Supporting professional development for EAP teachers
• An accreditation scheme for EAP courses
• Promotion and dissemination of EAP associated research through conferences and one-day Professional Issues Meetings (PIMs) and also through publication of research.

Previous editions of the QUICK RESOURCE SHEET

#1 – Creating quizzes (and more) online                                                         

#2 – Vocabulary builders

#3 – Online discussion groups for English teachers                                    

#4 – Grammar headaches – and how to cure them

#5 – Resources for new teachers                                                     

#6 – International Education Week

#7 – Mentoring programs                                                                    

#8 – Education publications online

#9 – Applied Linguistics                                                                   

#10 – English for Young Learners

#11 – World AIDS Day                                                                      

#12 – Online writing guides

#13 – E-mail exchanges                                                                      

#14 – Free online English courses

#15 – Effective e-mail communication                                             

#16 – Libraries online

#17 – American Studies                                                                     

#18 – Teaching methodologies

#19 – Internet tutorials                                                                       

#20 – Using the newspaper – Part I

#21 – Making books                                                                           

#22 - Using the newspaper – Part II

#23 – Human rights in language teaching

#24 – Blogging

#25 – Poetry and language teaching

#26 – The communicative approach

#27 -  Idioms

#28 – Earth Day

#29 – Alternative assessment

#30 – Peer assessment

#31 – Self-assessment

#32 – Portfolio assessment – Part I

#33 -  Portfolio assessment - Part II (Online Portfolios)

#34 – Intercultural communication

#35 – Teaching Adults

#36 – Learning disorders / Special needs

#37 – Using computers in reading instruction

#38 – Use of authentic materials

#39 – English for Medical Purposes

#40 – Sources for authentic materials

#41 – Education and technology

#42 – Academic writing

#43 – Teaching and stress

#44 – Back to school

#45 – Motivating students

#46 – Action research

#47 – Internet terminology

#48 – Fluency

#49 – Curriculum design

#50 – Pragmatics

#51 - Podcasting for English teachers

#52 – Critical reading

#53 – Learner autonomy

#54 – Scaffolding

#55 - Holidays