Why Academic English matters: unlocking transferable skills for career success beyond the Higher Education.

This blog post is mainly motivated by a recent discussion with my students on the reason why we need to learn academic English. “Is general English not enough?” and “Why do I even need to put more effort into learning academic English, I am already overloaded with studying my own subject?” These are very valid questions and I believe these students when they say they do not want to invest more time and effort into studying something that doesn’t seem to have a value on its own outside of academia. The truth is, though, it has. Academic English skills are transferable and applicable across a wide range of professional settings, enhancing individuals' career prospects, facilitating professional advancement, and enabling effective communication and collaboration in diverse contexts. Let me first define and then explain the value of the transferrable skills of academic English. 

English for Academic Purposes (EAP), simply put, prepares students to function in academic settings (Guardado and Light, 2020). Its key characteristics are: formal register, critical thinking, research skills, writing conventions, disciplinary discourse, presentation skills, reading comprehension, and language proficiency. To give an example, in my lessons on academic writing I not only focus on the linguistic precision of a text produced by a student. I teach my students that writing is a craft and that requires engaging in critical thinking, analysing complex information, constructing well-supported arguments that are coherently presented (these are all much needed skills in industry!). When you write an essay about a topic set by your lecturer and you only include few sources and merely describe the topic, this is not going to land you with good grades. As an aspiring student, you must be critical in the process of selecting sources and evidence, using your critical thinking skills to evaluate what your stance is based on the reading, creating a plan with the line of your arguments backed by evidence and making sure that the points are coherently and logically organized to guide your readers.  

Now, what is the value of Academic English skills beyond academia? As it turns out, these skills can be applied in various professional and personal contexts.  

1. Professional Communication: Many workplaces require strong written and oral communication skills. Academic English proficiency enables individuals to communicate effectively in emails, reports, presentations, and meetings, conveying complex ideas clearly and persuasively (think of all these essays that you had to explain, describe and analyse your complex topic). 

   
   

2. Research and Analysis: The ability to conduct research, critically evaluate information, and synthesize findings is essential in numerous professions – market research, finance and investment banking, technology and IT, education, electronics and computer science, and environmental sciences. Whether analysing market trends, evaluating policy proposals, or conducting scientific research, academic English skills facilitate evidence-based decision-making and problem-solving. 

   
   

3. Technical Writing: In fields such as engineering, IT, and healthcare, professionals often need to write technical documents, manuals, and reports. Academic English training helps individuals convey technical information accurately and comprehensively to diverse audiences. 

   
   

4. Public Speaking and Presentation Skills: Effective public speaking and presentation skills are valuable in various professional roles, from sales pitches to team meetings to conferences. Academic English proficiency enables individuals to organize their thoughts coherently, deliver engaging presentations, and respond confidently to questions. 

   
   

5. Cross-Cultural Communication: In today's globalized world, many professionals work in multicultural environments or collaborate with colleagues and clients from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Academic English skills facilitate clear and respectful communication across cultures, reducing misunderstandings and fostering collaboration. 

   
   

6. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: The ability to analyse complex issues, think critically, and propose innovative solutions is highly valued in many professions from engineering, IT, R&D, business to medicine and education. Academic English training improves these skills, enabling individuals to approach challenges systematically and creatively. I cover the basics of critical thinking in this blog post.

   
   

7. Professional Development: Continuing education and professional development often involve reading academic journals, attending conferences, or pursuing advanced degrees. Academic English proficiency allows individuals to engage meaningfully with scholarly literature, stay abreast of developments in their field, and pursue further educational opportunities. 

   
   

As you can see, academic English skills are transferable and applicable across a wide range of professional settings. They are a complex set of skills that are difficult to master, but they greatly enhance your individual career prospects, facilitate your professional advancement, and enable you to communicate and collaborate effectively in diverse contexts. From my perspective, I think mastering academic English skills requires taking responsibility for the learning process on the part of students (of course!), but also constructive feedback, advising and discussing the aspects of academic English the student struggles with, on the part of the tutor. If you would like to work on any aspect of your academic English skills, do reach out using the contact form.

I would love to hear what your opinion is on English for Academic Purposes is, let me know in the comments below.  

References: 

Guardado, M., and Light, J., (2020) Curriculum development in English for academic purposes: A guide to practice. Palgrave Macmillan