A LEAP of faith: The development of programs for English for Academic Purposes at the University of Calgary, 1994--2006

摘要

I present this dissertation through a narrative of the historical account of the events that led to the establishment of a program for language enhancement and bridging of non-native speaking students at the University of Calgary. Methodology and outcomes analysis presented take on a narrative character as I interpret the events and lived experiences of the participants in the study.;This narrative inquiry, though it involves only one case study, may reach out to different social, historical, linguistic, cultural and philosophical contexts related to issues on the field of English for Academic Purposes programs. As such, it gains wider significance both academically and personally.;Different from other academic traditions, narrative inquiry involves the interpretation of emotional issues as well as historical facts. This is an attempt to tell the story and understand others' experiences from their perspective and to reflect on my own personal experiences and the transformation of perspectives into inquiries.;A framework of narrative story telling is used in writing the report to achieve a clearer understanding of the particular nature and functions of the program. Narration and storytelling are highlighted as instruments to locate, distinguish, and portray the events in order to create a holistic historical account of how participants reconstruct the past before a final narrative and an account of the history of how the program is created by those who have a vested interest in defining the meaning of English as a Second Language endeavors and the events that accompanied the development of such programs at the University of Calgary.