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St Andrews University, Scotland: ELT EAP Conference

Innovation in EAP: the key to the future…

Balancing an innovative EAP assessment cocktail with student autonomySophia Butt Director, Business Management English Presessional & EAP TutorUniversity of Birmingham1 March 2014

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Overview

Part 1 • EAP/ESP Programmes – The claims we make• Preparation for degree studies – What departments want• The Student Experience – Their expectations• The challenges & constraints of EAP/ESP programmes

Part 2• BME Boosters – A forum for assessment cocktails • Examples of student work• Assessing the assessment cocktail• Q&A 2

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Part 1

EAP/ESP Programmes: the claims we make

Goldsmiths University of London

This intensive programme is for international students about to start full-time study in the arts and social sciences at a UK university. It covers English Language, academic study skills, cultural background studies, and critical analysis…Weekly lectures give you excellent practice in the academic language skills of listening to lectures and taking notes. To support the lectures, you will receive classes in writing and presentation skills, vocabulary and grammar development, and listening and speaking skills. The lectures also provide the academic theory on which you must base an extended essay.

[source: http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/pre-sessional-english-language/]

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Part 1

EAP/ESP Programmes: the claims we make

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Swansea University

Our [presessional] course is designed for international students who need to improve their language skills as a condition of entry to Swansea University or have already met the University’s English language conditions, but who wish to gain experience of UK academic expectations and academic study in English in order to obtain a good start before starting an academic programme at the university. The course includes: academic English, academic writing, academic reading, academic lecture programme, speaking skills for presentations, seminars and tutorials and an individual project related to your academic course.

[source: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/elts/presessional-programmes/]

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Part 1

EAP/ESP Programmes: the claims we make

University of St Andrews

Our [presessional] courses provide an excellent orientation to the University and enable students to develop the skills they need for success in both an academic and cultural context…The broad aim of all courses is to develop your language skills, and more importantly your academic literacy. Each course is designed, where possible, to take into account your particular needs, whether you are a taught or research student, as well as the School you intend to join for your degree programme.

[source: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/elt/presessional/]5

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Part 1

EAP/ESP Programmes: the claims we make

University of Birmingham

The Business Management English (BME) Presessional is an intensive, motivating and intellectually challenging programme which focuses on the language, key concepts and study skills necessary for academic success in degree courses in the Business School… The emphasis of this course is on English language improvement in the four skill areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking through the use of business and management content materials.

[source: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/presessional/english-bme.aspx] 6

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Part 1

Preparation for degree studies: What departments want

7Metcalfe, J., Loughlin, M., Shikoh, H. & Butt, S. (2012) e-Questionnaire for BBS Lecturers. University of Birmingham: EISU

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Part 1

The Student Experience: Their expectations

• Academic & cultural integration • Regular interaction with the host community• Improved writing skills• Fluency• Listening competence• Vocabulary-building• Exposure to & success in a range of assessment types• Overall: readiness for departmental studies

Rees, J., Butt, S. & Shikoh, H. (2012) ‘Understanding Pre-sessional Students’ ‘Provenance’ and Managing their Expectations 2010-2012.’ e-Questionnaire administered to 816 international students on the EAP & BME Presessional Programmes, University of Birmingham.

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Part 1

The challenges & constraints of EAP/ESP programmes

• Academic English v the continued need for General English…• Subject-specific English on ESP/multidisciplinary courses• Time (e.g.: how much can be covered in 4 weeks…?)• Presessional ‘hand-holding’ v future self-reliance & autonomy• Exposure to different academic genres v over-assessment

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Academic Genres of Writing Academic Study Skills

Essay Analytical & critical thinking

Feasibility study/report Problem-solving & decision-making

Literature review Seminar & presentation skills

Reflective writing Time management

Academic poster Creative thinking

Project Cross-cultural team-work

Critical commentary Leadership/conflict management

Statistical analysis Research, reading & referencing

Proposal Autonomy

Dissertation Listening & note-taking

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Part 2

Key components of academic programmes

…how many of the above can we cover in our programmes…in a single assessment…?

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Part 2

BME Boosters – a forum for assessment cocktails

Booster Week1. Create a product specification leaflet (new product/service)• academic writing (including summarising skills)• creative thinking• use of the marketing mix & other business tools

2. Produce a business plan & 3-year financial forecast• research skills• financial/statistical analysis

3. Film & edit a promotional video (max.: 1 minute)• technological aptitude

4. Deliver a 25-minute pitch/presentation (inclusive of Q&A)• presentation skills• spontaneous counter-argumentation/defence

5. Individual Personal Development Portfolio (PDP) • reflective writing

• …in cross-cultural teams, autonomously, under tight time constraints• Event size: approx. 200 students & 30 staff

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Part 2

BME Boosters – a forum for assessment cocktails

Booster Weekend (coincides with the August Bank Holiday)

1. Case study analysis • critical thinking• problem-solving & decision-making• application of business tools/theories/models

2. A1 academic poster followed by a poster presentation)• academic writing• referencing & citation• design & creativity

3. Group roles summary• reflective writing• critical commentary

4. Group presentation• speaking skills/fluency

• …in cross-cultural teams, autonomously, under tight time constraints• Event size: approx. 100 students & 15 staff

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Academic Genres of Writing Academic Study Skills

Essay Analytical & critical thinking

Feasibility study/report Problem-solving & decision-making

Literature review Seminar & presentation skills

Reflective writing Time management

Academic poster Creative thinking

Project Cross-cultural team-work

Critical commentary Leadership/conflict management

Statistical analysis Research, reading & referencing

Proposal Autonomy

Dissertation Listening & note-taking

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Part 2

So, how much do the assessment cocktails cover…?

…more work is needed to offer support on the statistical analyses…

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Part 2

Samples of student work

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Part 2

Assessing the assessment cocktail

Various tools/forms are used to assess the work produced; e.g.:• Dragons’ questions (for Booster Week – BME Dragons’ Den)• PDP assessment form/template

• Group presentation form • Poster assessment • Group role summary

Students have access to all assessment forms in advance

…any questions? 15

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Sources consulted

1. Butt, S. (2009) Lesson Observations & Interviews at the BBS. University of Birmingham: EISU

2. Geoghegan, G. (1983) Non-native speakers of English at Cambridge University: linguistic difficulties and social adjustment. Cambridge: Bell Educational Trust

3. Hamp-Lyons, L. (2011) ‘EAP: 2011 & Beyond.’ JEAP. Vol. 10 (2-4)4. Hutchison, E.D. (2005) ‘A Life Course Perspective.’ Families in Society: The Journal of

Contemporary Social Sciences. 86 (1) 143.5. Jordan, R.R. (2002) ‘The Growth of EAP in Britain.’ JEAP. Vol. 1 (69-78)6. Metcalfe, J., Loughlin, M., Shikoh, H. & Butt, S. (2012) e-Questionnaire for BBS

Lecturers. University of Birmingham: EISU7. Murphy-Lejeune, E. (2002) Student Mobility & Narrative in Europe: The New

Strangers. London: Routledge.8. Rees, J., Butt, S. & Shikoh, H. (2012) ‘Understanding Pre-sessional Students’

‘Provenance’ and Managing their Expectations.’ e-Questionnaire administered to international students at the University of Birmingham.

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Contact Details

Sophia Butt Director, Business Management English Presessional & EAP Tutor University of Birmingham

s.butt@birmingham.ac.uk0121 41 45701 17