For the past several decades, it has been clear that the ability to write texts for academic and professional purposes （＂academic writing＂ in this article） is key to the success of adults in U.S. society--in schoo...For the past several decades, it has been clear that the ability to write texts for academic and professional purposes （＂academic writing＂ in this article） is key to the success of adults in U.S. society--in school, in university courses, on tests that they need to take to progress through learning and into work, and in the workforce. Academic writing has specific features and involves approaches that are different from much of the writing that is done with adult learners, particularly those learning English as an additional language （e.g., described in reviews by Hinkel, 2015; Leki, Cumming, ＆ Silva, 2008; and a survey by Rosenfeld, Courtney, ＆ Fowles, 2004）. However, a recent survey of adult educators, conducted by the authors, found that academic writing has not been a focus in many adult education programs, and teachers receive limited professional development in this area and instructional support in implementing it. This article describes the importance of academic writing at all levels of adult education, the key features of academic writing, and the current state of writing instruction in adult education programs. It then describes the motivation for, design, and outcomes of a survey of and interviews with adult educators across the country on their preparation for and instructional practices with academic writing （conducted in 2014 and 2015）. Finally, it describes approaches that can be used in adult education programs to meet the writing proficiency needs of students at all levels and next steps that the adult education field might take.展开更多
Adult English Education in China is making a good progress. But in some places, it is developing very unevenly. The author makes use of this paper to find the problems and to analyze the causes, then to make some sugg...Adult English Education in China is making a good progress. But in some places, it is developing very unevenly. The author makes use of this paper to find the problems and to analyze the causes, then to make some suggestions on how to solve the problems by characteristics of the adult learners.展开更多
This paper will discuss the findings of students＇ needs for an EL （English language） programme at the SDE （School of Distance Education）, USM （Universiti Sains Malaysia）, Penang. English is offered as a compuls...This paper will discuss the findings of students＇ needs for an EL （English language） programme at the SDE （School of Distance Education）, USM （Universiti Sains Malaysia）, Penang. English is offered as a compulsory subject for all its students since the School＇s inception in 1971, and the subject has not moved beyond that status quo. However, in the new millennium, with USM having been selected as a research university with an apex status, the expectation of its stakeholders has increased. SDE needs to keep abreast with what is on and what is up in distance education teaching and learning so that its programmes remain relevant. It cannot remain complacent with its present courses Taking into consideration the current needs of its stakeholders within the realm of distance teaching and learning, the researchers carried out a research on the need for an EL programme. Findings show that the students agree that an English programme will help them improve their language and their upward mobility. Majority of the students will sign up for the course if it is offered. This research will provide insights for curriculum developers and lecturers at the SDE to design a new English programme tailored towards meeting the needs of their adult students展开更多
文摘For the past several decades, it has been clear that the ability to write texts for academic and professional purposes （＂academic writing＂ in this article） is key to the success of adults in U.S. society--in school, in university courses, on tests that they need to take to progress through learning and into work, and in the workforce. Academic writing has specific features and involves approaches that are different from much of the writing that is done with adult learners, particularly those learning English as an additional language （e.g., described in reviews by Hinkel, 2015; Leki, Cumming, ＆ Silva, 2008; and a survey by Rosenfeld, Courtney, ＆ Fowles, 2004）. However, a recent survey of adult educators, conducted by the authors, found that academic writing has not been a focus in many adult education programs, and teachers receive limited professional development in this area and instructional support in implementing it. This article describes the importance of academic writing at all levels of adult education, the key features of academic writing, and the current state of writing instruction in adult education programs. It then describes the motivation for, design, and outcomes of a survey of and interviews with adult educators across the country on their preparation for and instructional practices with academic writing （conducted in 2014 and 2015）. Finally, it describes approaches that can be used in adult education programs to meet the writing proficiency needs of students at all levels and next steps that the adult education field might take.
文摘Adult English Education in China is making a good progress. But in some places, it is developing very unevenly. The author makes use of this paper to find the problems and to analyze the causes, then to make some suggestions on how to solve the problems by characteristics of the adult learners.
文摘This paper will discuss the findings of students＇ needs for an EL （English language） programme at the SDE （School of Distance Education）, USM （Universiti Sains Malaysia）, Penang. English is offered as a compulsory subject for all its students since the School＇s inception in 1971, and the subject has not moved beyond that status quo. However, in the new millennium, with USM having been selected as a research university with an apex status, the expectation of its stakeholders has increased. SDE needs to keep abreast with what is on and what is up in distance education teaching and learning so that its programmes remain relevant. It cannot remain complacent with its present courses Taking into consideration the current needs of its stakeholders within the realm of distance teaching and learning, the researchers carried out a research on the need for an EL programme. Findings show that the students agree that an English programme will help them improve their language and their upward mobility. Majority of the students will sign up for the course if it is offered. This research will provide insights for curriculum developers and lecturers at the SDE to design a new English programme tailored towards meeting the needs of their adult students
