Abstract
The Cara Syria Programme has been developed to support Syrian academics who have had abandon their academic positions due to the conflict in Syria and who have seen their careers compromised as a result. The Programme offers a means to re-establish their academic identities and develop new skills through participation in the learning activities and workshops provided on the Programme itself and through potential research collaborations with academics in universities in the UK. A key element is the training in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), which is delivered in weekly online lessons and intensive language workshops in Turkey. Both the online teaching and the workshops are staffed by volunteers working in language teaching and specifically in English for Academic Purposes. One of the core principles of this teaching is to pitch content in a way that is intellectually motivating and relevant in terms of the participants’ academic identities, but scaffolded to take into account language proficiency levels, which can be as low as CEFR A1. Over the last eighteen months the technology, administrative structures, and language materials suitable for learners at all levels between A1 and C1 have been developed, and the process mapped to ensure sustainability.
About the authors
Dr Sarah Brewer is Head of English for Academic Purposes at the University of Reading’s International Study and Language Institute. She has worked in the field of EAP since 2002, teaching international students at a range of different levels from Foundation to PhD. In recent years, she has become particularly interested in being involved in initiatives to provide support to learners outside the immediate HE sector, either through mentoring or teaching EAP.
Dr Karin Whiteside has worked in EAP since 2004 and is Director of the Academic English Programme, the University of Reading’s In-Sessional provision. She currently co-coordinates on-line tutoring for ‘Level 2’ participants within the EAP strand of the Cara Syria Programme.
Appendix
Information provided by:
Mr Mohamad Ousamaa Alabdulaa, Dr Melhem Alabdullah, Dr Samir Alabdullah, Dr Manaf Aldakhil, Dr Abdulnaser Aljasem, Dr Wissam Aldien Aloklah, Dr Taiseer Mohammad Barmu, Dr Adnan Rashid Mamo, Dr Iman Sarmini
Cara Syria Programme, Cara, London, UK
References
Cara. 2016. Sustaining Syria’s intellectual capital: Academics as agents for change. Programme for round table, council for at risk academics, London, 9–10 June. www.cara.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Round-Table-Final-Programme.pdf (accessed 10 April 2018).Search in Google Scholar
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