Transferability of Academic English Skills to Discipline Courses:

A Survey-Based Study in the Indian Context

Abstract

This study investigates student perceptions of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course, offered in first year of undergraduate studies at Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD).Specifically the study focuses on the transferability of academic English skills to the study of core discipline subjects. It also examines the role of administering a proficiency test in the beginning of the semester for proficiency wise groupings of students. This study is based on a survey of 200 undergraduate students who have studied the EAP course and presently enrolled in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth semesters. The study explores students' perceptions of the relationship between the academic English instruction in EAP classes and the actual tasks they found in courses across the disciplines through a survey questionnaire, recorded interviews and formal and informal discussions over one semester. 20 faculty members were interviewed to validate the perceptions of the students. The results of the survey and interviews indicate that students found EAP skills relevant in dealing with the demands of other content courses. These skills ranged from generating, analysing and synthesising ideas, drafting, revising and editing, presenting content in written and oral form and other academic skills.