What Is Eap?
siWhat are EAP and ESP?
The aim of this report is to talk about a narrower, functional perspective of variation in language use and the linguistics resources which ESP /EAP students may choose and ignore in order to achieve their communicative goals in professional practice. This involves three important concepts: EST (English for Science and Technology), EAP (English for Academic Purposes) and ESP (English for Specific Purposes).
The first concept, EST is the language used in the professional contexts of natural sciences and technology. According to L. Trimble´s (1985) EST is a spectrum/ continuum extending from the peer writing of scientists and technically oriented professionals to the writing aimed at skills technicians. A distinctive variant of language in use.
The second concept, EAP, refers to the language and associated practices that people need in order to undertake study or work in English medium higher education. According to Robinson’s (1991) the following are EAP features:
· EAP learners are usually current higher education students (over 18 years old). They need to learn English in order to succeed in their academic careers.
· EAP, therefore, involves an attitude to learning and teaching that believes that it is possible and useful to specify what language and practices are required in a particular academic context and that it is worthwhile to focus teaching on this.
· In some cases, a very high level of proficiency is not necessarily required, as long as the learners can succeed in their aims. Students, for example, need to be able to understand their lectures, fellow students and textbooks and obtain good marks for assignments and examinations.
· A central role of the EAP lecturer or course designer, then, is to find out what the learners need, what they have to do in their academic work or courses, and help them to do this better in the time available.
· EAP lecturers are often interested in areas such as cross-cultural studies,
The aim of this report is to talk about a narrower, functional perspective of variation in language use and the linguistics resources which ESP /EAP students may choose and ignore in order to achieve their communicative goals in professional practice. This involves three important concepts: EST (English for Science and Technology), EAP (English for Academic Purposes) and ESP (English for Specific Purposes).
The first concept, EST is the language used in the professional contexts of natural sciences and technology. According to L. Trimble´s (1985) EST is a spectrum/ continuum extending from the peer writing of scientists and technically oriented professionals to the writing aimed at skills technicians. A distinctive variant of language in use.
The second concept, EAP, refers to the language and associated practices that people need in order to undertake study or work in English medium higher education. According to Robinson’s (1991) the following are EAP features:
· EAP learners are usually current higher education students (over 18 years old). They need to learn English in order to succeed in their academic careers.
· EAP, therefore, involves an attitude to learning and teaching that believes that it is possible and useful to specify what language and practices are required in a particular academic context and that it is worthwhile to focus teaching on this.
· In some cases, a very high level of proficiency is not necessarily required, as long as the learners can succeed in their aims. Students, for example, need to be able to understand their lectures, fellow students and textbooks and obtain good marks for assignments and examinations.
· A central role of the EAP lecturer or course designer, then, is to find out what the learners need, what they have to do in their academic work or courses, and help them to do this better in the time available.
· EAP lecturers are often interested in areas such as cross-cultural studies,