A Critical Evaluation of EAP programs in Iran: Document Analysis and Authorities/Policy-maker's Perspectives

This study aimed to examine the policies in the Iranian English for Academic Purposes (EAP) education and the extent to which objectives match the policies and are materialized through pedagogical practices implemented. To this end, EAP course descriptions developed by macropolicy-making level were evaluated through document analysis and triangulated with the authorities’ perspectives through interviews to see the degree of conformity between policy and practice. Seven policy areas in Kaplan and Baldauf’s (2005) language-in-education planning (LEP) were chosen as the theoretical framework of the study. Based on EAP document analysis and interviews with the authorities, the similarities and discrepancies in micro and macro levels were clarified. The results showed that EAP course descriptions do not include any comment on some policy areas, and there were discrepancies in policy and practice due to such factors as lack of communication channel between the EAP stakeholders and policy-makers. Finally, the study revealed that due to deficiencies in both policy and practice and in order to reach an acceptable status, EAP programs are in dire need for reconceptualizing policy-making and practice.