Reexamining and Refining a University English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Curriculum for Global ELT Needs

by Catherine L. Oki and Floyd H. Graham III

As dimensions and approaches in ELT expand, we must periodically reassess the goals and objectives of university EAP programs to adapt to the needs of students aspiring to study abroad in English-speaking countries. Not only must we address the requirements placed upon them by overseas institutions, like test scores and how best to achieve them, but we must consider local and individual exigencies as well.

The presenters will outline the procedures undertaken to determine the academic and social demands placed on students while abroad. They will demonstrate how their research results were used to reform a Japanese university curriculum to prepare students pre-departure in order to better cope in new academic and social environments abroad. Participants will leave this presentation with a series of steps to help them more clearly define objectives for an EAP program and the skills-based objectives currently in place in this Japan-based EAP program. Participants will also be asked to workshop new areas worth exploring as Global ELT expands to incorporate multilingual approaches and online learning mediums.