EAP Foundation

This podcast describes the General Service List (GSL), explaining what it is, details about the list, and why it is important for academic study. There is also information about the New GSL (NGSL), as well as note on the information and GSL tools contained on EAPFoundation.com.

In academic contexts you cannot assume that everything you read is a simple representation of the facts. Every area of study has many different perspectives, and you will need to understand not only what a writer is saying, but how and why they are saying it, in order to judge how credible the information and arguments are. This involves reading critically. This podcast explains in detail what cri...

In academic writing, you will need to use other writer's ideas to support your own. The most common way to do this is by using paraphrase. This podcast considers how to do this by first looking in more detail at what paraphrasing is, then giving reasons for using paraphrase, and finally considering how to paraphrase.

Reports are a common academic genre at university. Although the exact nature will vary according to discipline, the general structure is broadly similar for all disciplines. This podcast examines the typical structure of a report, often referred to as IMRAD, which is short for Introduction, Method, Results And Discussion.

Academic English, like any writing, has its own conventions or 'style'. This podcast considers 10 'rules' for good academic writing in English. These rules are concerned with the use of: formality (rules 1-5); objectivity (rule 6); precision (rules 7-8); tentative language (rule 9); explicit links (rule 10).

Academic writers need to use material from other writers to support their own ideas. Failure to integrate this material appropriately can lead to plagiarism, a form of academic misconduct. This podcast explains what plagiarism is, gives types of plagiarism, gives some examples of acceptable and unacceptable source use, lists reasons why students plagiarise, and suggests ways to avoid plagiarism.

In academic writing you will develop an argument or point of view. This will be supported by concrete evidence, in other words reasons, examples, and information from sources. The writing you produce in this way will need to be 'critical writing'. This podcasts considers what critical writing means, explains how to write critically, contrasts critical writing with descriptive writing, with some ex...

This podcast discusses academic vocabulary, beginning with a definition of academic vocabulary, then looking at different types of vocabulary used in academic contexts, namely general words, non-general 'academic' words, and technical words. Another important feature of academic vocabulary, nominalisation, is also considered.

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in writing. This podcast gives information on what transition signals are, the grammar of transition signals, and different types of transition signals.

In academic writing, you will need to cite (or 'refer to') other people's work or ideas. In order to do this accurately, you will need to use reporting verbs to link your in-text citation to the information cited. This podcast looks at what reporting verbs are, and the strength and grammar of reporting verbs.

Lecture cues are words or phrases which lecturers use to help you understand their lectures. This podcast explains cues to signal the structure (structure cues), different parts of the talk (transition cues and concluding cues), and the connection between ideas (organisation cues).

Understanding a lecture is not simply a matter of attending the lecture and listening. You need to prepare for the lecture by doing some pre-lecture activities; you need to be active during the lecture by listening for the main points and making notes; and you need to do follow-up work after the lecture has finished to consolidate your understanding. Each of these stages is described in more detai...

Learner autonomy is an important concept in educational fields, including language learning ones such as EAP. This podcast, part of the study skills series, considers what learner autonomy is, what skills autonomous learners need and why learner autonomy is important. It also looks at how learner autonomy can be developed, as well as considering the cultural aspects of learner autonomy. The podcas...

Feedback is an important way to improve performance. Feedback is typically associated with written work, e.g. essays or reports, but is equally vital for other areas of English, such as presentation skills or even note-taking when reading or listening. This podcast, part of the study skills series, considers why feedback is important, looks at the main sources of feedback, then gives some advice o...

Reflection is an important part of the learning cycle, and in order to understand reflection and its importance it is necessary to understand more about the learning cycle. This podcast, part of the Study Skills series, looks at the Kolb learning cycle, and how to reflect using the Gibbs Reflective Cycle.

This podcast, part of the Presentation Skills podcasts, gives some guidelines on using visual aids for presentations, with some do's and don'ts as well as useful language phrases.

This podcast, part of the Presentation Skills podcasts, looks at presentation delivery, considering three key factors which influence the delivery of a presentation: pace; volume; and emphasis.

The message you give with your body is as important as the one you give using words. This podcast, part of the Presentation Skills podcasts, examines the most important elements of body language for presentations, namely posture, position, movement and eye contact.

This podcast, part of the Presentation Skills podcasts, gives examples of language phrases to use in different sections, for transitioning, and for presenting visual aids.

This podcast, part of the Presentation Skills podcasts, outlines the structure of a typical presentation, namely Introduction, Main body, Conclusion, Q&A, with tips on the function of each section and what to include in each.

This podcast, part of the reading skills series, gives an overview of skills which are needed for reading academic texts, including skimming, scanning, surveying, establishing a purpose and guessing meaning of unknown words.

Academic reading differs from reading for pleasure in that you will often not read every word, and you are reading for a specific purpose rather than enjoyment. This podcast, part of the reading skills series, explains different types of purpose and how the purpose affects how you read, as well as suggesting a general approach to reading academic texts.

Surveying is another way to read a text quickly. The aim is to take a broad look at a text to decide whether it is worth reading more closely. This podcast, part of the reading skills series, explains in more detail what surveying is and which parts of the text are needed.

Skimming is another way to read a text quickly. This podcast, part of the reading skills series, looks at what scanning is, how to scan a text, and the difference between scanning and searching.

Skimming is one way to read a text quickly. This podcast, part of the reading skills series, looks at what skimming is and which parts of the text are needed for skimming.