Abstract:

English for Academic Purposes is one of series of nine foundation courses offered by the University of the West Indies to its students in order to give them a wider, more-rounded knowledge base. The curriculum of the course is based primarily on teaching the rudiments of expository writing as well as techniques for research, documentation and explanation/analysis of findings. In 2007, the University unveiled its strategic plan for the period 2007-2012 ; at the heart of this plan is a renewed focus on teaching and learning, graduate studies, research and innovation, and service to UWI-12 countries and undeserved communities (13). Because of its pivotal position within the programme of so many faculties, it is important to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the content and strategies used within English For Academic Purposes, in light of the University’s goals over the next five years. There is great demand for graduates who are critical thinkers, effective written and oral communicators and who can to a large extent function independently and collaboratively across all disciplines. This means that the university must take steps to ensure that courses such as English for Academic Purposes also shift and reform in specific ways that help the university achieve its goals.
Reducing objectives, introducing more opportunities for cooperative learning , widening the range and nature of assessment strategies through the utilization of technology, are some of the ways of making the course more practical and applicable to the world of work and reflective of best practices in teaching and learning at the tertiary level.