• English
    • Welsh
  • English 
    • English
    • Welsh
  • Login
Search DSpace:
  • Home
  • Research at Cardiff Met
  • Library Services
  • Contact Us
View item 
  • DSpace home
  • Theses
  • PhD theses \ Traethodau PhD
  • View item
  • DSpace home
  • Theses
  • PhD theses \ Traethodau PhD
  • View item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

A sociolinguistic study of postgraduate students' perceptions of using English for academic purposes

Thumbnail
View/open
PhD Final Submission.pdf (2.355Mb)
Author
Abdulkader, Abdulkader
Date
2009
Type
Thesis
Publisher
University of Wales
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) has been increasingly researched in recent years. However, in this research the learner's voice is still not clearly evident. The current study investigates postgraduate students' perceptions of using EAP in studying for higher degrees in Wales and Syria. The study makes a contribution to the field by focusing on the learner's voice in two different contexts, where English is a native language or a foreign language. The students in the study were either home students in Syria or international students in Wales. The juxtaposition of two different contexts allowed for key points of comparison and contrast to be observed. The methodology employed in the research was that of a main and associated case study. A range of data were gathered from University Wales and University Syria through the two case studies. It was found that most University Wales interviewees, as international students, perceived cultural context as an inseparable part of their concept of EAP. They were also aware that they were engaged with a number of overlapping cultures in their use of English. By contrast, the majority of University Syria interviewees, as home students, often perceived clear boundaries between EAP and the cultures surrounding it. It was also found that both groups of interviewees perceived particular features of teaching styles and resources as important elements in their use of EAP. The study findings are valuable in illustrating the similarities and differences of the students' perceptions of their use of EAP in two different contexts. They are also valuable in highlighting the students' identity as EAP learners, a pragmatic one in response to EAP and one that was evolving in response to the broad context of their studies. A central finding was the key role enacted by context in students' overall perception of EAP. Context highlighted the necessity of re-defining EAP, closely considering the different contexts in which it occurs.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10369/848
Collections
  • Research Degrees (Education) [41]
  • PhD theses \ Traethodau PhD [392]

Related items

Showing items related by title, author, subject and abstract.

  • Thumbnail

    Using psychometrics to identify traditionally-aged and mature students at risk of non-completion 

    Sanders, Lalage; Mair, Carolyn; James, Rachael (Forum for Access & Continuing Education, 2016)
    Returning to higher education can be a life-enhancing step, but returning then not completing can have a deleterious effect on self-esteem. Early identification of those at risk of non-completion would enable focussed ...
  • Thumbnail

    The influence of women in ancient Egypt: Tour guiding curricula and the development of tour guiding competencies 

    Rady, Maged Mohamed Abdelhalim Mohamed (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2008)
    Many tourism writers have described the tour guide as a front-line player in the tourism industry, responsible for the success of tour programmes. Tour guides, their competences and the higher education curricula to develop ...
  • Thumbnail

    Investigating Technology User Acceptance of Virtual Learning Environments in Higher Education Institutions in Qatar 

    AlMohannadi, Abdulaziz (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2016-04)
    o ABSTRACT Since the rapid growth and development in technology, specifically in the Internet followed by the popular attitude pertaining to using computers and technology, this resulted in the birth of new gadgets and ...

Browse

DSpace at Cardiff MetCommunities & CollectionsBy issue dateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis collectionBy issue dateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

My Account

Login

Statistics

Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

DSpace software copyright © 2002-2015  DuraSpace
Contact us | Send feedback | Administrator