ERIC Number: EJ753084
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Dec
Pages: 24
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0039-8322
EISSN: N/A
Transfer of Learning from a University Content-Based EAP Course
James, Mark Andrew
TESOL Quarterly: A Journal for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages and of Standard English as a Second Dialect, v40 n4 p783-806 Dec 2006
This article describes an investigation into the learning outcomes that transferred from a university content-based English for academic purposes (EAP) course to other courses and the factors that influenced that transfer. The study was a longitudinal qualitative case study in one faculty at a large North American university. Data were collected over one academic year through multipronged assessment measures from five first-year students who were participating in a content-based EAP course concurrently with other first-year university courses, as well as from two instructors of the content-based EAP course, 16 instructors of other courses, and one administrator. Data included interview transcripts, participant journals, class observation notes, and samples of course work. Evidence emerged to indicate that learning transfer did occur from the content-based EAP course to the students' other courses. The learning transfer fell into six broad categories that reflected a range of academic language skills (e.g., listening comprehension skills, writing skills) and other learning outcomes (e.g., study skills). The transfer of these learning outcomes was influenced by eight factors (e.g., requirements for learning transfer in activities in other courses, similarity between the content-based EAP course and other courses). Implications of these findings for theory, practice, and future research are discussed. Sample Interview Protocols are appended. (Contains 6 tables and 1 footnote.)
Descriptors: College Students, Study Skills, Transfer of Training, Listening Comprehension, Academic Discourse, English for Academic Purposes, English (Second Language), Longitudinal Studies, Case Studies, Measures (Individuals), Teaching Methods, Interviews, Student Journals, Classroom Observation Techniques, Writing Skills
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A