Evaluation of EAP Programs in Iran: Document Analysis and Expert ‎Perspectives Journal Article

Writer: Iranmehr، Abutaleb ؛ Atai، Mahmood Reza ؛ Babaii، Esmat ؛

Applied Research on English Language April 2018، Volume 7 - Number 2 Ranking: Science-Research/ISC (‎24 page(s) - From 139 to 162 )

Keywords: Evaluation EAP experts EAP documents Language-in-education Planning Policy and ‌Practice.‌

Abstract:

This study aimed to examine the policies in the Iranian English for Academic Purposes (EAP) education and the extent to which objectives match the policies and are materialized in practice. To this end, course descriptions in the syllabi for the EAP programs were evaluated through document analysis and triangulated with the experts’ perspectives through interviews to examine the current status of EAP policy-making and practice in Iran. Seven policy areas from Kaplan and Baldauf’s (2005) language-in-education planning were chosen as the framework of the study. Based on document analysis and interviews with the experts, the similarities and discrepancies in micro and macro levels were investigated. The results showed that EAP course descriptions do not include any comments on policy and there were discrepancies in policy and practice due to such factors as lack of communication channel between the EAP stakeholders and policy-makers. Finally, the study revealed that due to deficiencies in both policy and practice and in order to reach an acceptable status, EAP programs are in dire need for reconceptualizing policy-making and practice. The findings of this study have significant implications for EAP policies and practice in the academic system of Iran.

Machine summary:

To this end, course descriptions in the syllabi for the EAP programs were evaluated through document analysis and triangulated with the experts’ perspectives through interviews to examine the current status of EAP policy-making and practice in Iran. EAP in Iranian Higher Education EAP programs in Iran are designed to prepare the students to communicate easily in their academic and occupational situations nationally and internationally and have become a major part of the curricula (Atai{View the image of this page} Tahririan, 2003). This insufficiency of EAP programs was widely reported in various studies and in different domains as materials development, evaluation, methodology, curriculum development, and needs analysis (Loghmani, Biria,{View the image of this page} Khaki, 2016). Demographic information for the EAP policy-makers/program designers and EAP materials developers Participants Academic Field Position S AP materials AP materials Results Access Policy Access Policy addresses the issues related to learner, levels of language proficiency, and the duration of learning (Kaplan{View the image of this page} Baldauf, 2005). Academic skills mentioned in EAP syllabi {مراجعه شود به فایل جدول الحاقی} Methods and Materials Policy Methods and Materials Policy addresses the regulation of teaching methods and materials in the educational system (Kaplan{View the image of this page} Baldauf, 2005). e. , the structure of the existing materials does not allow for communicative practice of the language knowledge and, thus, policy-makers should have second thoughts about materials and methods for EAP programs in Iran (Soodmand-Afshar{View the image of this page} Movassagh, 2016).

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