Probe into the Differences between EAP, ESP and EOP Teaching in College English Teaching

Abstract

This paper is to probe into the differences between EAP, ESP and EOP teaching in college English teaching. First, the author introduces EAP, ESP, EOP and their definitions. Then he analyzes the feasibilities and necessities to offer EAP, ESP and EOP courses at college on the basis of the improvement of elementary English education in primary school, junior and senior middle school. As for the differences of EAP, ESP and EOP, EAP is just like general English, it adapts to almost all fields or areas, while ESP and EOP are adaptable only to their particular fields or areas. Moreover, he points out EAP courses should adopt Learning by doing methodology, including theme-based methodology, task-based methodology, project-based methodology, inquiry-based methodology, case study methodology, inductive methodology and functional methodology etc., while ESP and EOP courses should adopt quite different methodology from EAP courses, which should be task type, cooperation type, project type and exploratory type teaching methodology. Finally, he puts forward some constructive advice on evaluation and test methodology for EAP, ESP and EOP. The novelty of this paper lies in its division of general English and EAP courses into one category, ESP and EOP into the other category and college English teachers should adopt different methodologies when teaching these courses.