What is the difference between eap and esl

Unlike GE courses, which are level driven and focus on language, EAP courses are driven by needs, and focus on the learner and the situation. A needs analysis is a core component when designing any EAP course. Another difference is the timeframe. EAP courses tend to be very short courses, covering a fixed timeframe, for example week pre-sessional courses.

GE courses, in contrast, can be more flexible, and may cover many years of study. 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. 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.

EAP generally uses authentic, academic texts, which are genre based and, because of their complexity, tend to be explored more fully. GE texts, on the other hand, are often chosen because the topic is interesting, and are usually not explored in great depth. They tend to be conversational or social in nature. The form of expression is another area of difference.

In EAP, clarity and objectivity are prized, in contrast to GE, for which self expression and creativity are usually important. Another difference is the role of the teacher. Most universities in the UK offer these pre-sessional courses, which vary in length from one year to two weeks. The EAP courses often take place at the institution where the students intend to take their main academic course but this need not be the case.

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 UK HE system.

The purpose of the pre-sessional EAP course is to bring them up to the level that is necessary to start a course. In this case EAP tutors need to liaise with admissions tutors to find out what is necessary.

EAP courses can also be in-sessional courses. That is they are taken at the same time as the students' main academic course. In-sessional courses can take one of two forms.

They can be seen as language support classes - these are usually free drop-in classes held at lunch-times or Wednesday afternoons and students attend when they are able. Increasingly it is also becoming possible for international students to take credit-bearing EAP courses as part of their degree.

There is often discussion whether these two terms - EAP and study skills - mean the same. I find it useful to make a distinction between general study skills that are not concerned with language and language study skills that will probably form part of an EAP course.

There are many study skills books available for native-speakers and they usually concentrate on matters like: where to study, when to study, time management, remembering, developing study habits, filing and organising books, how to spend leisure time and so on, although they do often deal with aspects of study skills that involve language such as planning essays and so on. These general study skills are obviously important to our Students in Higher Education, but they are not usually the main objective of EAP courses.

The language study skills will form an essential component of the EAP skills classes. For many students this is probably the most important as it is the way in which most of their work is assessed.

The aim of an academic writing class is to prepare students for academic writing tasks. These tasks vary very much from writing short answers in exams to writing dissertations and theses. Of course, accurate grammar, punctuation and language use forms an important component of an EAP writing class, along with specific teaching of the formal language required.

This will involve teaching of different text types, linking words, signposting expressions, introductions and conclusions. It is also important to teach UK writing conventions as these can vary very much from those even in neighbouring European countries.

However, EAP lecturers often find they need to concentrate on the process of writing - planning, organising, presenting, re-writing, proof-reading, etc. Robinson, In my opinion, the most useful single skill that I can teach most of the students I meet is organisation. If students make little grammatical mistakes, they get a small correction. However, if there is a problem with organisation, they will get a big red question mark. Projects also allow students to become familiar with ways of working in British HE.

In particular they will have the opportunity to develop the right kind of approach to studying in the UK. This involves developing a willingness to accept responsibility for their own learning so that they are able to learn independently using initiative and self-discipline. They will need to develop the ability to think logically and independently, to be reflective and critical, to analyse, to synthesise and to be creative.

They will also need to develop the ability to use IT, to mount well-presented arguments, to solve problems and to work as a member of a team. Many students are initially very worried about their listening skills.

Academic listening usually involves the non-native speaker of English trying to follow a lecture or discussion in English and write adequate notes on it. As in many ESP classes, there is the question of whether the problems are listening problems or language problems. Certainly much listening to lectures or similar texts is essential.

There is also a need for making students aware of the way lectures are organised, the particular kind of language that is used in lectures Lynch, and making sure they know the language, particularly the pronunciation of familiar words, of their own subject. If you wish to download it, please recommend it to your friends in any social system.

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