English for Academic Purposes: Definition and classification

Purpose: To provide a general overview of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) according to Jordan (1997).
Thesis statement: EAP provides students in higher levels of education with the basis to succeed in their formal studies in both general and specific areas.
Audience: EAP teachers and students and academic writers.

I. What is EAP?
A. Definition

B. Range of settings
1. Students’ needs
a. Higher education studies
b. Pre-departure courses
2. Time
a. Pre-sessional; usually full-time
b. In-sessional; usually part-time
3. Format
a. Formal teaching programs
b. Self-access situations
c. Distance-learning materials
d. Computer-assisted language learning

C. Coverage
1. English for General Purposes (EGP) / Teaching of English for No Obvious Reason (TENOR)
2. English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
a. English for Occupation/Vocational/Professional Purposes (EOP/EVP/EPP)
b. English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

D. English for Academic Purposes
1. English for General Academic Purposes (EGAP) – common core / study skills
2. English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) – subject specific English
a. Language structure
b. Vocabulary
c. Particular skills needed for the subject
d. Appropriate academic conventions

II. What are Study Skills?
A. Definition
(Jordan, 1997)

Reference

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