Exploring an EAP Teacher’s Beliefs and Practices in Teaching L2 Speaking: A Case Study

This article presents a case study that examined the beliefs and practices of one female English for Academic Purposes (EAP) teacher in relation to teaching second language (L2) speaking. Overall, the findings indicate that the teacher’s stated beliefs converge with her classroom practices. However, instances of divergence were also observed. Potential reasons for the patterns of divergence include the programme expectations, the need to maintain the instructional flow of the class, and the novice teacher’s lack of teaching experiences in an EAP programme. Results suggest the need for EAP teachers to explore the sources of their beliefs and systematically, and regularly, examine their classroom practices through reflective practice in order to monitor their beliefs and classroom practices.