High Achievers' Learning Experience in English for Academic Purposes: Transitioning From High School to University

• In Event: 47.096 - MTCC Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: 47.096-12 - Language Across Domains: Literacy and Oracy Experiences for Emergent Bilinguals in the Curriculum

Abstract

This study focuses on the perceptions of learning English for Academic Purposes (EAP) of first-year elite undergraduates with high ESL proficiency admitted to an university in Hong Kong. Two in-depth individual interviews were conducted with nine participants and their written assignments were analysed. The data reveal several challenges among the high achievers in learning EAP. One evident is that the participants struggled with selecting suitable texts from sources, paraphrasing and citing them to support their arguments. This study reveals gaps between the English learnt in high school and EAP and offers insight into what first-year students need when they transition from high school to university studies. It argues that EAP should be made an essential component in first-year undergraduate programmes.

Authors

• Kevin W. H. Yung, The Education University of Hong Kong

• Natalie Fong, The University of Hong Kong