The research into aspects of EAP covers the twenty-five-year period from 1972 to 1997. The main focus of the submission is the use of needs analysis in relation to EAP, the implications of the findings, and their implementation with regard to teaching materials, course design and methods of teaching. Various methods are used to investigate the language and study skills needs of international students, mostly postgraduates at Manchester University: these include - language tests, self-assessment, questionnaires and surveys, observation and monitoring in class. Evaluation, feedback and follow-up investigations are used to assess the effectiveness of EAP courses and materials. The research covers the common core or study skills strand of EAP which includes the main study skills of listening and note-taking, academic writing, academic reading, speaking and discussion, reference skills, and examination skills. In addition, it covers subject-specific areas, exemplified here through Economics. One of the results of the investigations and the trial of teaching materials is the production of several books catering for students' needs in the main areas of study skills, especially academic writing. Co-operation with the Department of Economics enabled a framework to be developed which was used as the basis for designing and constructing materials for postgraduate students of Economics who needed to improve their study skills and English for Economics. The result of the co-operation was an improved language service for the students and the joint production of a book for their use. One of the main methods of collecting data for use in analysing the needs of students was the structured questionnaire and survey. The findings enabled the needs of students to be prioritised, and enabled EAP courses to be structured so that they met the students' changing needs. Course design was assisted by conducting the first national survey of EAP courses in British universities. Although the main focus of the research is upon the needs of students, the needs of EAP teachers are not overlooked. It had been discovered years ago that no single book catered specifically for the needs of EAP teachers. This had been -confirmed while writing a state-of-the-art article on EAP. Consequently, the first guide and resource book for EAP teachers and those undergoing training to become EAP teachers was written, and published in 1997.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:488346 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Jordan, R. R. |
| Publisher | University of Manchester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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