Teaching English for Academic Purposes

Key information

Start date:
Attendance dates:
Weekly seminars: Wednesday 2 October – Wednesday 11 December 2024
Venue:
Distance learning
Contact details:
Start date:
Attendance dates:
Induction: Monday 20 January 2025. Weekly seminars: Wednesday 22 January – Wednesday 2 April 2024
Venue:
Distance learning
Contact details:

Overview

This online course is suitable for teachers from a wide variety of backgrounds. The content is aimed at both experienced and inexperienced practitioners who are interested in developing their understanding of practices and skills required for teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP).

The first session will be a 1-hour induction scheduled on a Monday at 12 noon (UK time). Following this, there will be a total of eleven 90-minute webinars. These are scheduled each Wednesday at 12 noon (UK time).

TEAP video

Learning outcomes

The course content is informed by the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP) Competency Framework. On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Identify where EAP fits into the wider ESP context (K)
  • Understand the roles of the teacher and learner in EAP (C and K)
  • Identify the pedagogical and linguistic needs of the EAP learner (C, K, P and T)
  • Understand and apply basic principles of EAP course design (K, P and T)
  • Understand and apply basic principles of EAP materials evaluation and selection (C, K, P and T)
  • Recognise the linguistic features typical of academic genres (C and K)
  • Understand and apply basic principles for teaching key skills (C, K, P and T)
  • Identify key criteria for EAP assessment (K, P and T).

Attributes

CodeDescription
CCognitive/analytical
KSubject knowledge
PProfessional/practical skills
TTransferable skills

Course content

Informed by the BALEAP Competency Framework, indicative content includes:

  • Contextualising EAP 
  • Roles of the EAP Teacher and Learner
  • Needs Analysis in EAP
  • Principles of EAP Course Design
  • Materials Design, Selection and Coursebook Evaluation
  • Linguistic and Rhetorical Features of Academic Discourse
  • Teaching of the four key skills
  • Critical Thinking in EAP
  • Testing and Assessment in EAP
  • Technology Assisted Teaching of EAP.

There will also be an induction with an introduction to online learning. Technical support will be provided as necessary throughout the course.

Learning and teaching methods

This course is delivered by our team of experienced EAP professionals at Surrey. We have extensive experience in EAP course design as we run both in-sessional and pre-sessional EAP courses throughout the year. We also have experience of designing and delivering an MA TESOL programme.

The course content will be delivered using interactive technology and consists of mini video lectures supported by tasks and interactive webinars (all based on our Virtual Learning Environment). You will also have full access to relevant electronic materials including journal articles and books via our university library.

It is advised to allocate approximately 4.5 hours per week to complete the course content. This includes:

  • 1 hour to watch the mini video lectures (completed at a time of your convenience)
  • 2 hours to complete tasks and set reading (as above)
  • 90 minutes to take part in an interactive webinar (scheduled at 12 noon on Wednesdays).

Assessment

On completion of the course you will be awarded a certificate in Teaching English for Academic Purposes (TEAP). The certificate will be awarded to those who have attended and engaged in a minimum of eight out of eleven of the webinars.

The course is unassessed, however, you will receive feedback on your understanding of the course content and on the tasks you have completed during the interactive 90-minute webinars. Throughout the course you will be encouraged to apply what you are learning to your current (and future) teaching practice.

Completion of the course should provide you with the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence to apply for EAP teaching positions such as on university pre-sessional programmes.

Timetable

This course takes place over 11 weeks. Please see the start dates listed at the top of the page.

Most of the course content can be completed asynchronously at a time of your choosing. This should allow you the flexibility to complete this course while also meeting your external work and other life commitments. The 90 minute webinar is scheduled at 12 noon (UK time) each Wednesday.

Entry requirements

  1. You need to be fluent in English as you will be required to process academic texts and discuss theory and concepts in detail (suggested minimum IELTS level of 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each element, or equivalent)
  2. You should have a first degree, and it would be also be beneficial to have a recognised qualification in teaching English to speakers of other languages
  3. You would ideally have some previous language teaching experience (ideally teaching teenagers and/or adults)
  4. You should have a suitable device or computer with the capacity to make reasonable quality video calls using a webcam, headphones and microphone. You will also need to have a reasonable internet bandwidth and speed. Technical advice and support will be provided as necessary.

Fees and funding

Price per person:

£700

A 10% discount is available for staff and students of the University of Surrey.

How to apply

Apply via the button below. 

Apply now

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer of a place at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to comply with our policies and regulations and our terms and conditions. You are also confirming you have read and understood the University's prospective student privacy notice.

  1. The course is open to adult learners over 18 years of age.
  2. Although there are no set English language requirements for this course, if it is clear to those running the course that a participant does not have appropriate English language skills to be able to cope with the course, they will be asked to withdraw.
  3. At the end of the course, a University of Surrey Certificate of TEAP will be awarded to students who have attended and engaged in a minimum of 8 out of the 11 webinars.
  4. By accepting an offer of a place on this online course you will become a student at the university and therefore you are agreeing to our universities policies. Please note that these include our Acceptable Use Policies and our Captured Content Policy, which, amongst other things, include the agreement to: adhere to appropriate standards of behaviour when interacting with others online via online conferencing and communication applications; make fair and proper usage of the internet, email and social media; use our recordings only for personal educational uses, and not redistribute, edit or re-use them (redistribution includes, but is not limited to, sending a copy or link to the materials to another person by email and/or adding recordings or other materials to a website/social media website); safeguard your IT credentials.
  5. Your university email address (provided at the start of the course) will be our primary point of contact during the course.
  6. Access to our university network, online library, virtual learning environment (SurreyLearn), all teaching materials (including recordings), and your university email account will only be ensured for the duration of the course.
  7. Payment of fees in full is required before attending the course.
  8. You will have 14 days, starting with the day after your booking has been received, during which you may cancel and withdraw. You will receive a full refund of course fees paid. To cancel or withdraw please email teap@surrey.ac.uk.
  9. All refund applications must be made 14 days before the start date of the course.
  10. The availability of the course is subject to demand. If the course has to be cancelled before the start due to circumstances beyond our control, you will receive a full refund.
  11. If we have to cancel part of the course you will receive a proportionate refund.
  12. Refunds cannot be given for webinars you are not able to attend (e.g. due to illness or changes in your work or personal circumstances).
  13. Webinars are not recorded. If a student cannot attend a webinar for a valid reason such as stated above, brief notes of issues discussed in the webinar can be provided by the lecturer.
  14. If a webinar has to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, we will endeavour to reschedule it (where possible). Please note, this might not be on the day or at the time of your usual webinar.

Where access to the online delivery of services is not possible as a result of technical failure on your part or the parts of third-parties commissioned by you to provide access to our services, such as your internet service provider, computer equipment etc., we shall not be deemed liable for the loss of any access to our services.

Course location and contact details

Campus location

Stag Hill

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught. 

Address

University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH