ABSTRACT
EAP: growth and signicance The term English for academic purposes (EAP) covers language research and instruction that focuses on the communicative needs and practices of individuals working in academic contexts. It therefore includes a range of activities from designing listening materials to describing the discourse of doctoral defences, and while often characterised as a practical affair, it goes beyond preparing learners for study in English to understanding the kinds of literacy found in the academy. EAP is, then, a branch of applied linguistics, consisting of a significant body of research into effective teaching and assessment, descriptions of the linguistic and discoursal structures of academic texts, and analysis of the textual practices of academics.
