English for Academic Purposes in Canada: Results From an Exploratory National Survey

Abstract

The growing trend of internationalization at Canadian institutions of higher education has led to increased need to support plurilingual students using English as an additional language (EAL). This support, often embedded in English for academic purposes (EAP) programs, is offered in a wide range of contexts across Canadian institutions of higher education. However, relatively little is known about this sector or those who work within it. In this article, we seek to delineate the Canadian EAP landscape by providing findings from the first phase of a mixed methods investigation into EAP programs and practitioners across Canada. We surveyed EAP programs and practitioners across three types of Canadian institutions involved in the provision of EAP support (n = 481). Findings point to a diversity of program models and practitioner profiles across Canadian regions and institutions, as well as significant differences in practitioners’ professional satisfaction based on role and institution type. Further findings point to substantial concern among EAP practitioners regarding job security, collaboration with other institutional stakeholders, and professional development opportunities. Adopting a critical pragmatic lens, we discuss findings, raising questions for consideration for EAP administrators, instructors, and post-secondary institutional policy makers, and conclude with a call for greater research into Canadian EAP programs and practitioners.

Keywords

• english for academic purposes (eap)
• english language teaching
• english as a second language (esl)
• english as an additional language (eal)
• teaching english to speakers of other languages (tesol)
• higher education