Green, Jonathan H. (2015) Teaching for transfer in EAP: hugging and bridging revisited. English for Specific Purposes, 37. pp. 1-12. ISSN 0889-4906
Abstract
While transfer of learning is an explicit goal of EAP, this end is sometimes neglected. To foster transfer, Salomon and Perkins (1989) advocated ‘hugging’ – creating learning experiences that are similar to the target applications – and ‘bridging’ – promoting more abstract conceptual associations between the initial learning and its ultimate implementation. Although these strategies have enjoyed currency in general education, they merit further attention in EAP. This study (N = 39) revisited the hugging–bridging framework to explore the relationship between EAP instructors' methods and transfer of learning to the disciplines in an undergraduate programme in Thailand. Data from a self-report questionnaire indicated a significant moderate relationship between students' perceptions of both EAP instructors' combined hugging and bridging methods and of transfer of writing skills to the disciplines; however, the methods accounted for only 12% of the variance in the transfer. While the findings support the development of instructional strategies to foster transfer of learning, recommendations are also made for further studies that examine the validity of the theory in relation to sociocultural factors, and for the development of a general model that takes into account both instructional and ecological factors, so that EAP may attend more fully to its purposes.
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| Item Type: | Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
| Faculty / Department / School: | Current - Open Access College |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Jun 2016 04:56 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Jun 2017 06:15 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | transfer of learning; higher education; english for academic purposes |
| Fields of Research : | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170103 Educational Psychology 13 Education > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130207 LOTE, ESL and TESOL Curriculum and Pedagogy (excl. Maori) 20 Language, Communication and Culture > 2004 Linguistics > 200401 Applied Linguistics and Educational Linguistics |
| Socio-Economic Objective: | C Society > 93 Education and Training > 9301 Learner and Learning > 930102 Learner and Learning Processes |
| Identification Number or DOI: | 10.1016/j.esp.2014.06.003 |
| URI: | http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/29113 |
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