Setting the Stage: Context, Concepts, and Theoretical Constructions

Abstract

Following a brief narrative of the author’s first encounter with societal changes which have affected the nature of EAP and Higher Education around the world, Three conceptual threads, those of the Neoliberalization of Higher Education, a more inclusive definition of EAP, and a group of workers in HE labeled as Blended EAP Professionals, are explained in brief. The concept and methodology of Critical Grounded Theory is also discussed to provide readers with a basic understanding of how the theory was constructed, and addresses epistemological issues related to deriving interpretive theory from interviews and other field data. A brief overview of the upcoming chapters, and the reasons for adopting a written style that differs in tone from what is normally found in Applied Linguistics, is explained in detail.