what is eap course

by Harmony Schinner 4 min read

What is English for Academic Purposes
English for Academic Purposes
English for academic purposes (EAP), commonly known as Academic English, entails training students, usually in a higher education setting, to use language appropriate for study. It is one of the most common forms of English for specific purposes (ESP).
https://en.wikipedia.orgwiki › Academic_English
or EAP? English for Academic Purposes (EAP) refers to an English language program that focuses on helping international and immigrant students acquire the advanced competencies in academic English that will be necessary for them to complete their degree program.

What is EAP and how does it help?

Some of the issues and services often included in an EAP are (but aren't limited to):

  • Mental health issues. Anxiety, depression, grief, crisis intervention, and behavioral health issues such as addiction or eating disorders are some examples.
  • Health and caregiving. In addition to managing their own health (e.g. ...
  • Family services. ...
  • Counseling referrals. ...
  • Substance abuse. ...
  • Financial services. ...
  • Work issues. ...

What do EAP programs offer?

Since then, EAPs have expanded and can help employees through the following issues:

  • Workplace conflicts.
  • Mental health challenges.
  • Financial problems.
  • Family member issues.
  • Addiction treatment and recovery.

What does EAP stand for?

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees who have personal and/or work-related problems.

How do I access EAP services?

How do I access EAP services? There are several convenient ways to access our services: By phone: call 1-800-252-4555 during standard business hours. Emergencies or crises: If you need immediate assistance, our toll-free hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dial 1-800-252-4555. (both voice and TTD services.)

What is EAP in education?

The term EAP was first used in 1974, when it was a minor branch of English Language Teaching (ELT). It has grown enormously in the years since, mainly due to the internationalisation of higher education and the increasing use of English as the language of academic knowledge exchange. EAP has had its own professional body since 1972, originally called SELMOUS (Special English Language Materials for Overseas University Students), which changed its name in 1989 and is now known as BALEAP (The British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes), which supports the professional development of English for Academic Purposes. EAP has its own professional journal, the Journal of English for Academic Purposes (JEAP), first published in 2002.

What is EAP in teaching?

In short, EAP is the English which is needed to study or conduct research using that language, seen most often in short pre-sessional courses to prepare for undergraduate study , though also occurring in many other contexts. EAP has developed rapidly since the term was first used in 1974, and it now has its own professional organisation (BALEAP) and journal (JEAP), which will ensure its continued development. In terms of English Language Teaching, it is viewed as a branch of ESP, and differs markedly from General English. EAP itself comprises a general form (EGAP), which is the one that most of this website covers, as well as a specific form (ESAP).

How to understand EAP?

Another way to understand EAP is by viewing it in the family tree of English Language Teaching (ELT), as shown below (based on Hutchinson and Walters, 1987). ELT can be divided into English as a Mother Tongue (EMT) and English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL), depending on whether it is studied in an English speaking country (ESL) or not (EFL). EFL/ESL are sometimes referred to by other names, for example EAL (English as an Additional Language) and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), in deference to the fact that for many learners, English is not the second but the third, fourth or more language they have learnt. ESL/EFL can be sub-divided into General English (GE), and English for Specific Purposes (ESP). General English, which is mainly for exam purposes, is the form learners are most familiar with, since it is the kind of English taught in schools. Due to the fact that most GE students are too far from real communication in English to have any real need to study it, GE is sometimes referred to as TENOR (Teaching English for No Obvious Reason), which directly contrasts it with ESP, for which there is a specific purpose. ESP can be sub-divided into English for Occupational Purposes (EOP), for example English for business or English for law, and English for Academic Purposes (EAP).

What is the difference between EAP and GE?

EAP courses tend to devote more time to reading and writing , since these are the most important skills for academic study, and for learning and assessment at university. In contrast, GE courses tend to give more time to speaking and listening. The text types and approach also differ.

Why do people study EAP?

The reason why students study EAP is because they study or plan to study another subject in English. They may need to study EAP in order to gain admission to university. GE, on the other hand, is studied because it is a compulsory course (e.g. at school), or because it interests them (e.g. adult evening classes).

What is an ESP?

ESP can be sub-divided into English for Occupational Purposes (E OP), for example English for business or English for law, and English for Academic Purposes (EAP). The diagram below outlines this family tree of ELT.

Is EAP higher than GE?

As a result of the short timeframe and reasons for study, EAP courses tend to be very high stakes, with entry to university depending on the result, while GE courses are much lower stakes. There is also a difference in terms of skills focus.

What is EAP?

For degree-seeking students, the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program is an excellent choice. The program offers English language lessons to non-native speakers in order to prepare them for a degree program.

General vs Specific EAP

EAP may be classified into two types based on whether the material is general (EGAP, short for English for General Academic Purposes) or particular (EGAP, short for English for Specific Academic Purposes) (ESAP, short for English for Specific Academic Purposes).

EAP Program Outline

There are different levels in EAP programs that help students learn English in a systematic hierarchy and track their progress.

Eligibility

The following is the basic eligibility to get enrolled in the EAP program:

Tuition and Fees of EAP Program

The fees shown below are simply estimates. Beginning with Fall 2021, tuition is divided into three semesters.

Foreign Universities and Colleges that offer EAP Programs

Are you planning to study abroad for the EAP Program? Book your FREE counseling session with Leverage Edu today! We will help you throughout your study abroad experience, from choosing the best universities to the visa process.

What is an EAP course?

EAP – English for Academic Purposes – refers to the language and associated practices that people need in order to undertake study or work in English medium higher education. The objective of an EAP course, then, is to help these people learn some of the linguistic and cultural – mainly institutional and disciplinary – practices ...

How long is an EAP course?

Most universities in the UK offer these Pre-Sessional courses, which vary in length from two weeks to one year. The EAP courses frequently take place at the institution where the students intend to take their main academic course but this need not be the case. These courses are intended to prepare students coming to study in higher education in the UK to study in English. They also allow students to familiarise themselves with the new environment and facilities of the institution before their main courses start. The students need to learn to adopt particular approaches to their study and learn strategies and skills that will enable them to succeed in the British higher education system. The purpose of the Pre-Sessional EAP course is to bring the students up to the level that is necessary to start a course. In this case, EAP lecturers and course organisers need to liaise with admissions tutors to find out what is necessary. Some longer Pre-Sessional courses of up to, perhaps, one academic year – usually called Foundation courses for undergraduate preparation and Pre-Masters course for post-graduate – attempt to prepare lower level students for entry to higher education. Many of these courses also include a quantity of academic subject content as well as EAP.

What is ESP in education?

First, ESP is goal directed – the learners are not learning the English language for the sake of it, but because they need, or will need, to use English in their professional or academic lives.

Why is EAP important?

For that reason, one important feature of EAP courses is the close attention that is paid to the learners’ aims and what they are working on, studying or planning to study. It is aso important to take into account the learning or study needs of the students, what they need to do in order to learn the language.

How old do you have to be to get an EAP?

Most EAP students are over 18 and they will either have made a difficult decision to study in an English medium university or, for example, researching, publishing or teaching in English may be a requirement. Learners may need specialist language, but this is not necessarily so.

What is the first stage of EAP?

The first stage in any EAP, and EPP or EOP, course, therefore, is to find out exactly why the learners are learning English and what language and practices they will need to pay attention to. Often there is a very clearly specified period for the ESP course.

What is an ESP?

It is a type of ESP (English for Specific Purposes) – along with English for Professional Purposes (EPP) and English for Occupational Purposes (EOP) – in that the teaching content is explicitly matched to the language, practices and needs of the learners.

What is an EAP course?

EAP - English for Academic Purposes - refers to the language and associated practices that people need in order to undertake study or work in English medium higher education. The objective of an EAP course, then, is to help these people learn some of the linguistic and cultural – mainly institutional and disciplinary - practices involved in ...

How long is an EAP course?

Most universities in the UK offer these Pre-Sessional courses, which vary in length from one year to two weeks. The EAP courses frequently take place at the institution where the students intend to take their main academic course but this need not be the case. These courses are intended to prepare students coming to study in higher education in the UK to study in English. They also allow students to familiarise themselves with the new environment and facilities of the institution before their main courses start. The students need to learn to adopt particular approaches to their study and learn strategies and skills that will enable them to succeed in the British higher education system. The purpose of the Pre-Sessional EAP course is to bring the students up to the level that is necessary to start a course. In this case, EAP lecturers and course organisers need to liaise with admissions tutors to find out what is necessary. Some longer Pre-Sessional courses of up to, perhaps, one academic year - usually called Foundation courses for undergraduate preparation and Pre-Masters course for post-graduate - attempt to prepare lower level students for entry to higher education. Many of these courses also include a quantity of academic subject content as well as EAP.

What is the difference between EGAP and ESAP?

EGAP - English for General Academic Purposes - deals with the language and practices common to all EAP students, whereas ESAP - English for Specific Academic Purposes - is concerned with the specific needs of students in particular disciplines. In reality, though, most EGP courses are made up of common ESAP language and practices as there is no such thing as an EGAP text.

What is ESP in education?

First, ESP is goal directed - the learners are not learning the English language for the sake of it, but because they need, or will need, to use English in their professional or academic lives. EAP learners are usually current higher education students or members of staff or they are hoping to go on to higher education after their EAP course.

Why is EAP important?

For that reason, one important feature of EAP courses is the close attention that is paid to the learners’ aims and what they are working on, studying or planning to study. It is aso important to take into account the learning or study needs of the students, what they need to do in order to learn the language.

What is the culture of EAP?

The culture where the language is used in EAP is higher education, usually, but not necessarily, in an English speaking country. Therefore, knowledge of the academic culture is necessarily part of an EAP course and students and other learners need to be aware of differences between their own academic cultures and the culture where they are studying. Writing conventions, such as organisation and use of sources, for example, can vary from country to country. Students in the UK, for example, need to develop a willingness to accept responsibility for their own learning and to be reflective and critical. Other areas of difficulty include use of names between lecturers and students, how and when to ask questions and how to deal with lateness and privacy. As well as knowledge of the higher education culture in the UK, there are subject specific cultures (Hyland, 2000) that students and lecturers need to be aware of. This applies to all students, not just students from other countries. Bourdieu's point that no-one speaks (or writes) academic English as a first language, therefore everyone needs to learn it (Bourdieu & Passeron, 1994, p. 8) is often quoted in this respect.

How old do you have to be to get an EAP?

Most EAP students are over 18 and they will either have made a difficult decision to study in an English medium university or, for example, researching, publishing or teaching in English may be a requirement. Learners may need specialist language, but this is not necessarily so.

How long is the EAP program?

Traditional Option: English for Academic Purposes (EAP) In this option, the six levels of the EAP program are offered each semester and last for 16 weeks during fall and spring semesters, or 12 weeks during the summer semester.

How many credits does an EAP student take?

A typical full-time EAP student will take approximately 14 credits a semester, at a cost of $1655.08 per semester. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. You should apply early and complete the FAFSA application if you plan to request financial aid to pay for your classes.

What is EAP in Miami?

EAP (English for Academic Purposes) is a program for students that want to earn academic credits toward pursuing a certificate or a degree at Miami Dade College . ESOL (English as a Second Language) is a non-credit course for students who want to learn English for non-academic purposes.

What is an ACE program?

The ACE (Accelerated Content-Based English) Program is a fast-track EAP program for students with strong academic backgrounds. Participants in this program will complete two levels in one semester (Levels 3 and 4, or 5 and 6). Also, ACE students take a regular college credit class, such as a computer science or psychology class, thereby allowing them to get a head start on their college career at MDC. Admission into this program is on a competitive basis and requires a separate ACE Program application, as well as an interview and a writing sample. Students who choose this option will normally take 15-16 credits including their regular college credit class.

What is the purpose of the English for Academic Purposes Program?

The English for Academic Purposes Program fulfills an important mission in assisting the immigrant population in the Miami-Dade County area to learn the English language in order to facilitate continuing education and entry into mainstream America.

Is EAP+ a separate lab?

With EAP +, there is no separate lab; the lab is integrated into the course. In addition to the integrated skills classes, students in the EAP+ Program may take college level courses while completing the program, known as concurrent enrollment. For example, students in EAP+ Level 4 may take MAT 1033 (Intermediate Algebra) while taking EAP+ courses.

What is EAP in academics?

What is involved in English for Academic purposes? Academia’s EAP course is made up of two different levels: EAP 1: designed for foundation and diploma programs, EAP 1 is perfect if you want to go on to one of Academia’s other courses. EAP 2: designed for university applicants, EAP 2 is more advanced, covering more complicated language ...

What is EAP 2?

EAP 2: designed for university applicants, EAP 2 is more advanced, covering more complicated language and advanced English skills. Each class is structured towards a specific English speaking level, ensuring you enter higher education with the required knowledge of English needed to thrive. Classes for both levels run from Monday to Thursday, ...

What is the score for EAP 1?

A GE5 with us is equivalent to an IELTS (International English Language Testing Scheme) score of 5.0, and will provide you the skills needed to succeed in tertiary education.

What is EAP in Australia?

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) – what does it involve? At Academia, we offer a wide range of English courses in Melbourne. One of the most popular is English for Academic Purposes (or EAP). Before applying for an Australian university, it’s recommended that you complete a course that specialises in Academic English.

What are the assignments you receive in university?

Many of the assignments you receive in university will be essays and reports. As part of the grading system, you will be marked on your level of English proficiency, as well as how clearly you present arguments, observations, and messages in your essays. At Academia, you will learn how to write these essays and reports.

What is EAP counseling?

Marital and family counseling: If many of your employees are married or have children, you can provide them with an EAP plan that includes marital and family support. Work-life balance assistance: There may be employees who are committed to working long hours.

What are the reasons for using EAP?

Anxiety or mental health problems. Struggles with family or partners. Adjusting to a proper work-life balance. If a supervisor fears their employee’s job performance is declining, they will often recommend the employee use the EAP plan’s resources.

What is EAP 2021?

Employee Assistance Program Definition, Benefits and How It Works. February 9, 2021. Sometimes, employees may face problems in their personal lives that affect their work performance. Implementing an employee assistance program (EAP) in the workplace can help them feel productive, motivated and encouraged. In this article, we outline ...

Why is employee assistance important?

Helps employees feel safe, comfortable and protected. If an employee feels uncomfortable regarding a workplace or personal issue, an active employee assistance program can help them feel safe as they discuss their issues. By anonymously talking to a certified counselor about the challenges they’re facing, they can feel more secure in the workplace.

How to create an EAP plan?

Inform your employees of the plan you chose and its guidelines. 1. Determine the goals of your company and employees. Before creating a full employee assistance plan, decide the overall goals your company holds regarding providing this service to your employees.

How much does it cost to implement an employee assistance program?

The cost to implement an employee assistance program is approximately $10 to $50 a month, depending on the plan you choose. Providing this assistance to employees can be significantly less expensive than the cost to hire and onboard new employees.

Is EAP confidential?

The employees who enroll in the program, as well as the topics discussed, are confidential. Employees have the opportunity to work with licensed, professional counselors to talk about challenges that may affect their work performance. Issues EAP plans can assist your employees with include:

Abstract

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) teachers can positively intervene into the learning progress and play an important role in learner acquisition of EAP skills. They can analyze students’ needs and decide what to teach based on these needs.

Keywords

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 191 ( 2015 ) 634 – 638 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com 1877-0428 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

What is EAP in English?

What is EAP? EAP (English for Academic Purposes), or as known by many tutors and students ‘Academic English,’ is teaching English for the Academic IELTS module and/or teaching in an English language department at a University.

What is EAP in UK?

The courses are aimed at international students who want to go on to study an under or postgraduate degree at a UK university. EAP provides the skills necessary to integrate into a western University system and meet the English requirements of that University,

What is a nine month course?

On the nine-month courses the semesters tend to be very busy mid-way through and at the end due to testing and assessment. The lessons are very much skills based with emphasis on university life, so teaching includes research, reading and writing, listening to lectures and speaking skills of presentations and seminars.

What is an EUS course?

For example, one such course is known as English for University Study (EUS) which is aimed at low level learners. Another course is called ‘Foundation’ which is aimed at students wishing to do an undergraduate degree.

When do 9 month courses start?

Courses tend to run throughout the year with nine-month courses starting in September and January, and shorter 6/10/12 week courses in the summer. There are many different types of 9-month courses and each university has its own programme name.

Does a university have an EAP?

Many universities have an EAP teaching department. Once it was part of the University but now many are partnerships with companies such as INTO, Kaplan and Study Group who are specialists in marketing to overseas students and dealing with agents.

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EAP: A Definition

The Development of EAP

A Family Tree of ELT

  • Another way to understand EAP is by viewing it in the family tree of English Language Teaching (ELT), as shown below (based on Hutchinson and Walters, 1987). ELT can be divided into English as a Mother Tongue (EMT) and English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL), depending on whether it is studied in an English speaking country (ESL) or not (…
See more on eapfoundation.com

General vs. Specific EAP

  • EAP itself can be sub-divided according to whether its content is general (EGAP, short for English for General Academic Purposes) or specific (ESAP, short for English for Specific Academic Purposes). Whether an EAP course is general or specific will often depend on the students in the class: if they are students who study or will study a range of disciplines, then the course will usu…
See more on eapfoundation.com

EAP vs. General English

  • The difference between EAP and General English (GE) has been briefly outlined above. As mentioned, GE is the form of English learners (and beginning EAP teachers) are usually most familiar with. Understanding how General English and EAP differ will assist students and teachers as they transition from the former to the latter. Two fundamental areas of difference are the aim…
See more on eapfoundation.com

Summary

  • In short, EAP is the English which is needed to study or conduct research using that language, seen most often in short pre-sessional courses to prepare for undergraduate study, though also occurring in many other contexts. EAP has developed rapidly since the term was first used in 1974, and it now has its own professional organisation (BALEAP) and...
See more on eapfoundation.com

Introduction

  • For degree-seeking students, the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program is an excellent choice. The program offers English language lessons to non-native speakers in order to prepare them for a degree program. The EAP curriculum is divided into three stages, each focusing on a different skill area: grammar and writing, listening and speaking, ...
See more on leverageedu.com

Target Needs Analysis

Performance

Select Teaching Approach

Implementation

Image
EAP – English for Academic Purposes – refers to the language and associated practices that people need in order to undertake study or work in English medium higher education. The objective of an EAP course, then, is to help these people learn some of the linguistic and cultural – mainly institutional and disciplinary – p…
See more on uefap.net

Evaluation

  • The starting point is to analyse the learners’ target needs. This includes the language and related practices that they will need in their work or their academic courses. These needs must be clearly researched as different subjects at different levels in different institutions or countries at different times may have different needs (Hyland, 2000). However, some general statements can be mad…
See more on uefap.net

Conclusion

  • After EAP lecturers and course designers have obtained some knowledge of what the learner will eventually need, they need to look at where the learner is now, and so they have to analyse the learners’ present performance and knowledge. There are various ways in which this can be done. Most well-known are the commercial tests such as IELTS and TOEFL. Although, not EAP tests i…
See more on uefap.net

References

  • Because of the important focus on needs and analysis of needs, it might seem that EAP is very teacher centred, but this is certainly not the case. It is important to remember that as well as teaching language, we are also teaching human beings. Therefore an EAP lecturer or course designer needs to be aware of different learning preferences and approaches. Selecting the teac…
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Introduction

  • EAP courses are very often Pre-Sessional courses. That is, they are taken before the learners’ main academic courses start. Most universities in the UK offer these Pre-Sessional courses, which vary in length from two weeks to one year. The EAP courses frequently take place at the institution where the students intend to take their main academic course but this need not be th…
See more on uefap.net

Target Needs Analysis

  • There is already much information and research published on target needs analysis. There is also a large amount of research available on testing and evaluation of students and of particular teaching methods. Much of this research is in EAP. In a survey of EAP, Hamp-Lyons (2001) mentions needs analysis, analysis of linguistic and discoursal structures of academic texts for c…
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Performance

  • Teaching EAP, therefore, involves developing in the learner – who could be anyone from a pre-undergraduate or a published research professor – the language and associated practices that they need in order to undertake study or work in English medium higher education. For that reason, it must start with the learner and the academic context in which they work or study. It is …
See more on uefap.net

Select Teaching Approach

  • Badger, R. & White, G. (2000). A process genre approach to teaching writing. ELT Journal, 54, 153-160. Bell, R. (1981). An introduction to applied linguistics: Approaches and methods in language teaching.London: Batsford. Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S. & Finegan, E. (1999). Longman grammar of spoken and written English.Harlow: Longman. Blue, G. (1988). Individualis…
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Implementation

  • EAP - English for Academic Purposes - refers to the language and associated practices that people need in order to undertake study or work in English medium higher education. The objective of an EAP course, then, is to help these people learn some of the linguistic and cultural – mainly institutional and disciplinary - practices involved in studyin...
See more on uefap.com

Evaluation

  • The starting point is to analyse the learners' target needs. This includes the language and related practices that they will need in their work or their academic courses. These needs must be clearly researched as different subjects at different levels in different institutions or countries may have different needs (Hyland, 2000). However, some general statements can be made. The recent QA…
See more on uefap.com

Conclusion

  • After EAP lecturers and course designers have obtained some knowledge of what the learner will eventually need, they need to look at where the learner is now, and so they have to analyse the learners' present performance and knowledge. There are various ways in which this can be done. Most well-known are the commercial tests such as IELTS and TOEFL. Although, not EAP tests i…
See more on uefap.com