Teaching and Researching EAP/ESP Classrooms in Higher Education

Symposium Abstract:

English for Academic or Specific Purposes classrooms have grown to be prevalent in many universities and institutes of higher learning around the world. In English as a medium of instruction (EMI) institutions particularly, these courses are frequently part of the curriculum for students regardless of their disciplines/major specializations. An example is the ubiquitous first-year writing course that is now near mandatory at almost any tertiary institution across the globe. Not only does the approach taken in these courses vary from institution to institution and country to country, the challenges in their implementation also vary from context to context. This symposium therefore brings together EAP/ESP practitioners and researchers around the world to share the different approaches and challenges in their classrooms and discuss how they improve their teaching through action research.

Part 1 - Curriculum Showcase

Part 1 of this symposium discusses curriculum design innovations, instructional strategies, classroom challenges, and assessment practices in these EAP/ESP courses. The presenters will showcase their curriculum and pedagogies, discuss challenges, and share their reflections on the teaching and learning practices in their courses. The aim of this showcase is to enable replication and/or adaptation of the course design, curriculum, and/or assessment practices where need be.

Part 2 - Action Research Showcase

Part 2 of this symposium focuses on the practice of action research in EAP/ESP courses. The presenters will showcase their action research work in addressing challenges that arise from the teaching and learning activities in their courses. They will draw on the literature on action research and other research relevant to the research topic and show how their research feeds into the improvement of their courses and their institution’s programs. The aim of this showcase is to demonstrate the many possibilities for action research in EAP/ESP courses. The presenters will share detailed explanations of their action research to illustrate the extent that the research design and implications can be employed by others working in comparable situations.

This symposium aligns closely with AILA2024 Conference Track no. 3 (Languages for Specific Purposes, Business and Professional Communication) and Track no. 7 (Language Teaching, Learning and Acquisition) and will appeal to those in the AILA audience who have a strong interest in language teaching. The presentations in this symposium will serve as a resource, and perhaps also a source of inspiration, for those who would like to seek ways to adapt and/or to improve their own teaching and their students’ learning in a similar course.