An Apology for EGAP: The Benefits of a General Approach to English for Academic Purposes in Canadian Post-Secondary Contexts

Description

This opinion essay discusses the advantages and disadvantages of an English for General Academic Purposes (EGAP) approach in post-secondary contexts in Canada. It is based on a review of the literature related to EGAP in the Canadian context, with nine key sources informing an argument that the benefits provided by discipline-specific input, terminology, and tasks provided by an English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) approach seem to be outweighed by the general academic benefits provided by EGAP. In Canadian post-secondary settings, overall student wellbeing should be a key priority, and this priority can be supported much more holistically by providing support of a cultural-, community-, campus-, and socio-emotional- nature—components typically present in many EGAP courses but sometimes lacking in ESAP.

Student Biography

Paul Anthony Marshall is from the U.K., and has been teaching English as a Foreign Language, and for English for Academic Purposes for over 20 years. He has taught students of all ages and levels in 7 countries in 5 continents. He experienced life as an international student in Canada and is teaching EAP at the University of British Columbia and Professional Writing at Okanagan College in Kelowna, Canada.