For EAP practitioners working in STEM
Join Laura Duncan (University of Southampton) and Aaron Woodcock (University of Reading) for an informal ‘Tea-time Teams Meet’ to explore the Hidden Language Around Equations. Bring a cup of tea and settle in as we uncover the linguistic fundamentals behind equation verbalisation in teaching and research. We encourage you to bring examples from the fields […]
How can we teach STEM communication without ourselves falling into over simplistic generalisations? “Engineers just write reports – they don’t need to know how to write essays” “Scientists don’t need to speak” “The passive is really important– you can’t use personal language in STEM writing” “The Methodology is written in the past simple” What misconceptions […]
Date and Time: Tuesday, 18th February, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Having explored verbalising the hidden language in equations themselves, this session will focus on explaining equations in spoken contexts. We’ll discuss how STEM students communicate their understanding of equations during lectures, tutorials, and group discussions. Bring your insights, examples, and a cup of tea as […]
We would love to invite you to the STEM SIG’s Three Minute Paper discussion and AGM on Tuesday 25 March. In this STEM SIG event, we will summarise Schäfer’s (2023) key points about Chat GBT and science communication, and then use this as a springboard to discuss related issues: Paper Details: Schäfer, M. S. (2023). The Notorious GBT: science communication in […]
You are welcome to join us to help shape the direction of our SIG. Our agenda is as follows:
Are you teaching EAP to STEM students?So are we—and we’d love to hear from you.Join the BALEAP STEM Special Interest Group (SIG) to explore the uniquechallenges and exciting opportunities of working in STEM-specific EAP contexts. Meet Us at the BALEAP SIG World Café – BBG 410 Click here for related materials
Building on the hidden language in equations and spoken explanations, this session focuses on written structures around equations. Together, we’ll examine published papers and student work to explore: You can find recordings and resources from the hidden language in equations series here.
A relaxed, informal space to share ideas and swap classroom tips. Bring your questions, teaching stories, and reflections — or just listen in with a cuppa.
This 3-Minute Paper spotlights a recent JEAP study by Fan & Khattak (2025) exploring how medical students combine speech and visuals in academic presentations. We’ll look at how verbal and visual modes can work together—or pull apart—and what this means for helping STEM students communicate ideas with clarity and confidence. Fast, focused, and fun: Aaron Woodcock will share this latest piece of research in just […]
This session will showcase how a new supernumerary module (extra bridging course) supports students transitioning from pre-sessional to in-sessional study in Engineering and Physical Sciences. Dr Denise de Pauw and Natasha Rust (University of Leeds) will share the design, rationale, and early insights, followed by discussion on feasibility and transferability to other STEM contexts. This […]
“Educators must increasingly account for how physical environments, materials, and social practices are drawn into, and inform, learning design decisions and corresponding spatial configurations that enable them to meet students where they are, and recognise their changing needs and circumstances” (Elkington et al 2025) In our 🌍Perspectives Forum on 6th Jan, we will consider how the educational context […]
This 3-Minute Paper looks at work by Roesler (2021) to put together a specialised academic vocabulary list for computer science students. Patrick Fitzgerald will outline the approach used in creating the list and the issues it addresses. We’ll then consider how lists like these can be used to enhance vocabulary acquisition for students of STEM […]