Learners Producing a MALL Application for EAP Learning in the Discipline of Mathematics: A Research-Led Project

Adult learners studying English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in different disciplines potentially offer rich resources of knowledge and experiences in their disciplines while expressing their ongoing need for disciplinary EAP. To address this situation, EAP teachers who previously mainly devoted their energy to language teaching may explore the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teaching and learning by drawing on the differences in the academic backgrounds between the students and themselves through projects aiming to develop students’ learning motivation and learning outcomes. Based on theories of research-led teaching nexus, academic English for specific purposes in the discipline of mathematics as well as mobile-assisted language learning, this report presents a case of EAP summer learning project which positions students at the centre of producing a mobile application that supports undergraduates learning EAP in the discipline of mathematics in the English Medium Instruction (EMI) context. The project proposal, process, and outcomes are described in terms of their key features and procedures. The strengths and limitations of this project are reflected from several perspectives with the hope of providing references for future practice and research on project-based learning (PBL) in the field of English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP).