English for Academic Purposes

Perspectives on the Past, Present and Future

Douglas E. Bell

• Publisher: Multilingual Matters
• Year: 2024
• Print ISBN:
  9781788929288
• eBook ISBN:
  9781800414501
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Education Teaching Methods
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

A systematic and critical exploration of the history of EAP from its birth until the present day.

Since its inception in the 1960s, the field of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) has enjoyed a period of almost continual expansion and growth and now represents a multi-million dollar industry worldwide. This book provides readers with a critical and comprehensive overview of EAP's birth, its historical development and its ongoing trajectory, incorporating along the way the views of individuals who have played key roles in the field.

It examines a wide range of crucial topics in EAP, including pedagogy, materials and assessment and the role of EAP and those who teach it within the academy. The book concludes with a glimpse into the future as the author discusses the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities currently facing EAP and also evaluates some of the threats posed by issues such as privatisation and generative AI.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Series
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Common Acronyms
• Preface
• 1 EAP’s Birth and Early Historical Development
• 2 Core Issues and Debates 1960–
• 3 Core Issues and Debates 2000–
• 4 The EAP Practitioner
• 5 Approaches to EAP Pedagogy
• 6 EAP Materials and EAP Assessment
• 7 The Role and Status of EAP in the Academy
• 8 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats: Is EAP Facing a Bright or an Uncertain Future?
• References
• Author Index
• Subject Index