Socio-pragmatic and cultural aspects of teaching English for Academic Purposes in Lesotho

Abstract

Teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP), and in the context of a particular 'brand' of academic culture, at an African university, that is in a society with a very different historical and cultural background, involves more than just language teaching. In this paper, after a brief sketch of the historical and sociolinguistic conditions, EAP is contrasted with African oral performance (orature) as this relates to discursive conventions amongst a community of African students. Following this, several socio-pragmatic and linguistic aspects are highlighted; and finally the question of assessment is touched upon.