'Relevancing' Communication and Study Skills Courses

Abstract

Defined in contexts of general theories and practice of education, the terms relevant or relevance are used to indicate whether or not educational activities or processes involved in teaching-learning situations add value to or enhance students' psycho-social as well as intellectual skills in the analysis, application and communication of the knowledge or skills they acquire or develop during the learning process. It is generally understood that the acquisition of knowledge in specified disciplines is facilitated by students' communication proficiency levels in the use, not only of the medium of communication used, but by, also, their familiarity with the discourse studies used to communicate information in specified disciplines. The discourse strategies used in different subject disciplines are generally referred to as, English for Specific Purposes (ESP).