One of the greatest obstacles to mastery of science and other analytical genres in school is excessive curricular emphasis on reading and hearing those genres without practice at speaking and writing them. In science, the curriculum tends to insure that only students with privileged social and linguistic backgrounds master the genre structures…

This guide suggests techniques for teaching skills in summary writing to students of English as a foreign language (EFL) in scientific and technical fields. Activities include: pre-summarization (identification of thesis sentences, conclusions and other essential components, multiple readings, notetaking and text-marking); summarization activities…

A study investigated the types of writing assignments commonly found in undergraduate natural sciences and engineering courses. The study was used as a basis for the development of composition courses for limited-English-speaking students in these fields, the most popular fields of study among foreign students. Eighty take-home assignments given…

Forty-eight American (L1) and 48 Dutch students (L2), half of whom had computer science backgrounds and half of whom did not, were tested for their use of either scientific text (ST) syntactic structures or the less difficult common syntax when writing technical discourse (in Appendix). Results indicate that both L1 and L2 technical writers wrote…

In Czechoslovakia and other Eastern European countries, where native English speakers are rare and only limited quantities of English-language literature are available, the English for specific purposes teacher has to be more versatile and be able to accommodate the varying levels of English mastery of students. (CB)

Many foreign engineering undergraduates already have adequate English skills for the technical part of their academic and professional purposes, but still have problems with communication and interactive skills. Conventional ESP courses may not meet their needs, so an alternate program is proposed. (Author/LMO)

Almost all research and development work in China in computer-assisted language instruction is done on micro- and minicomputers because they are more feasible financially. Describes some English as a foreign language and Chinese language courseware and courseware needs. (Author/LMO)

Communication in the undergraduate science curriculum in an Indian university is restricted primarily to the teacher explaining and the students understanding. The English curriculum at the same university includes practice in the interaction process as well, but could do much more to improve the communicative competence of the students. (LMO)

For English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students learning academic content is complex. The purpose of this study is to explore and gain an understanding of ESL students' participation and learning in grade 11 biology classes in a secondary school in Vancouver, British Columbia. The paper reports on one aspect of the study--the mediational role of…

This article describes the development and implementation of a low-cost self-access language center for students and faculty participating in English for Science and Technology (EST) courses at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua, Leon. It discusses the phasing-in of self-access facilities, learner preparation and training, and staff…

The English-for-Science-and-Technology (EST) versus English-for-General-Purposes (EGP) dilemma is reviewed and a Hong Kong study is reported. Results of a study of EST and EGP students suggest that a balance between the two approaches would be more appropriate and useful for future career purposes. (eight references) (Author/LB)

Investigated Jordanian college students' evaluation of the impact learning and using five reading strategies in their English-language course had on performing academic tasks required in English for subject courses. Students believed formal instruction in these strategies helped them perform academic tasks required in English in their subject…

Discusses the first-year English program at Simon Bolivar University in Venezuela. The program is composed of three courses designed by language department professors to meet the needs of students who will major in different areas of science and technology.(Author/VWL)

Analyzed matched writing samples of 100 native Arabic speakers' writing on writing for science and technology (WST) topics in English and Arabic. Findings indicate that, though students have studied English-as-a-foreign-language writing for 8 years, and are judged to be good at the mechanics and lexis and grammar, they still have trouble with WST…

The development of a program and curriculum for instruction in technical English for Saudi Arabian petrochemical plant operator trainees studying in the United States for two years was undertaken by the University of South Alabama's English Language Center. The program was designed to accommodate (1) the degree of skills and prior learning of the…