Bridging the gap through collaboration: a discussion of the commonalities of EFL and Student Learning Service provision

This is a joint paper authored by Dr Andrew Struan and Dustin Hosseini. This paper aims to look at the approaches taken from both EFL and Student Learning Service points of view, with the hope of discussing possibilities for future collaboration and development of joined-up approaches to teaching research training skills. Focusing on the experiences of teaching pre-sessional and matriculated Masters (PGR and PGT) students English for Academic Purposes through the EFL Unit, and teaching PGT students in social sciences (primarily international, but with some home students) through SLS, the paper will explore commonalities of provision and the unique challenges each approach presents for international students. In particular, the paper seeks to analyse the ways in which engagement with skills in areas such as research question development; resource analysis and interpretation; development, and defence, of a sustained argument through advanced writing techniques can be promoted by linked approaches from the EAP and student learning perspectives