An ESP Speaking Course of International Graduate Students

Abstract

A critical issue in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), is whether a "wide-angle" or more discipline-specific approach should be taken (Johns & Dudley-Evans, 1991). If a course attempts to address students' needs in their area of study, even an EAP-trained teacher cannot be conversant with the concepts, issues, vocabulary, and discourse in a variety of scientific fields, especially with students at the graduate level. This article describes an academic speaking program in which international graduate students are grouped according to their academic discipline (e.g., hydrology, chemistry, pharmacy) and participate in activities that simulate situations where they need to use English in their academic programs. In such a situation the peer group members are the content experts, providing discipline-specific guidance and discussion, whereas the ESL teacher is the language expert, helping the students in the areas of organization, grammar, pronunciation, and presentation skills.