Academic literacy development and EAP in English medium instruction: A needs-based inquiry at a Bangladeshi private university

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses in Bangladeshi private universities are positioned to equip non-native undergraduate students with the required academic language skills needed for English Medium Instruction (EMI) education. However, these courses have frequently adopted generic language...

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Main Authors: Sheikh Nahiyan, Md. Al Amin, Mohammad Mosiur Rahman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) 2025-03-01
Series:Training, Language and Culture
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Online Access:https://rudn.tlcjournal.org/archive/9(1)/9(1)-04.pdf
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author Sheikh Nahiyan
Md. Al Amin
Mohammad Mosiur Rahman
author_facet Sheikh Nahiyan
Md. Al Amin
Mohammad Mosiur Rahman
author_sort Sheikh Nahiyan
collection DOAJ
description English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses in Bangladeshi private universities are positioned to equip non-native undergraduate students with the required academic language skills needed for English Medium Instruction (EMI) education. However, these courses have frequently adopted generic language proficiency models, neglecting students’ academic and disciplinary literacy needs. Moreover, the paucity of studies on EAP leaves a critical lapse in understanding what changes are required, given this misalignment. Guided by Brown’s Needs Analysis framework (2016), this qualitative study investigated non-native undergraduate students’ perceptions and experiences of EAP courses at a Bangladeshi private university offering EMI education, focusing on its method of instruction, the barriers they face and the alignment of its content with their academic and professional needs. Thematic analysis of forty-five semi-structured interviews and document analysis of EAP course syllabi revealed a misalignment between current EAP courses and students' academic and professional needs. The development of academic writing for disciplinary courses is unfulfilled, suggesting a need for a more targeted EAP curriculum. The study identifies students’ needs as systemic failures rather than linguistic deficits and challenges the generic EAP implementation in non-native higher education contexts like Bangladesh. It concludes that context-driven curricular reform, incorporation of skill-oriented content, and enhanced pedagogic practices can make current EAP courses to be needs-responsive. Additionally, teacher training in discipline-specific pedagogy is crucial for an equitable EAP redesign as it would better align with non-native students’ academic language and professional needs.
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spelling doaj-art-a2e2ffc00d5941bd9b1afbff73b5fd352025-08-20T02:26:06ZengPeoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)Training, Language and Culture2520-20732521-442X2025-03-0191536410.22363/2521-442X-2025-9-1-53-64Academic literacy development and EAP in English medium instruction: A needs-based inquiry at a Bangladeshi private universitySheikh Nahiyan0Md. Al Amin1Mohammad Mosiur Rahman2University of Liberal Arts BangladeshBrac UniversityUniversity of Liberal Arts BangladeshEnglish for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses in Bangladeshi private universities are positioned to equip non-native undergraduate students with the required academic language skills needed for English Medium Instruction (EMI) education. However, these courses have frequently adopted generic language proficiency models, neglecting students’ academic and disciplinary literacy needs. Moreover, the paucity of studies on EAP leaves a critical lapse in understanding what changes are required, given this misalignment. Guided by Brown’s Needs Analysis framework (2016), this qualitative study investigated non-native undergraduate students’ perceptions and experiences of EAP courses at a Bangladeshi private university offering EMI education, focusing on its method of instruction, the barriers they face and the alignment of its content with their academic and professional needs. Thematic analysis of forty-five semi-structured interviews and document analysis of EAP course syllabi revealed a misalignment between current EAP courses and students' academic and professional needs. The development of academic writing for disciplinary courses is unfulfilled, suggesting a need for a more targeted EAP curriculum. The study identifies students’ needs as systemic failures rather than linguistic deficits and challenges the generic EAP implementation in non-native higher education contexts like Bangladesh. It concludes that context-driven curricular reform, incorporation of skill-oriented content, and enhanced pedagogic practices can make current EAP courses to be needs-responsive. Additionally, teacher training in discipline-specific pedagogy is crucial for an equitable EAP redesign as it would better align with non-native students’ academic language and professional needs.https://rudn.tlcjournal.org/archive/9(1)/9(1)-04.pdfeapneeds analysishigher educationemiacademic literacyteaching methods in eapbangladesh
spellingShingle Sheikh Nahiyan
Md. Al Amin
Mohammad Mosiur Rahman
Academic literacy development and EAP in English medium instruction: A needs-based inquiry at a Bangladeshi private university
Training, Language and Culture
eap
needs analysis
higher education
emi
academic literacy
teaching methods in eap
bangladesh
title Academic literacy development and EAP in English medium instruction: A needs-based inquiry at a Bangladeshi private university
title_full Academic literacy development and EAP in English medium instruction: A needs-based inquiry at a Bangladeshi private university
title_fullStr Academic literacy development and EAP in English medium instruction: A needs-based inquiry at a Bangladeshi private university
title_full_unstemmed Academic literacy development and EAP in English medium instruction: A needs-based inquiry at a Bangladeshi private university
title_short Academic literacy development and EAP in English medium instruction: A needs-based inquiry at a Bangladeshi private university
title_sort academic literacy development and eap in english medium instruction a needs based inquiry at a bangladeshi private university
topic eap
needs analysis
higher education
emi
academic literacy
teaching methods in eap
bangladesh
url https://rudn.tlcjournal.org/archive/9(1)/9(1)-04.pdf
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AT mohammadmosiurrahman academicliteracydevelopmentandeapinenglishmediuminstructionaneedsbasedinquiryatabangladeshiprivateuniversity