The American academic novel and English for academic purposes

Abstract: This study focuses on American academic fiction, with special emphasis on increasing the students’ vocabulary as well as knowledge and understanding of the American culture. Although American academic fiction has enjoyed immense popularity in the last few decades, it is still relatively unknown and unexplored within the Croatian context. The present study aims to increase both the Croatian readers’ awareness of this genre and show that the American academic novel offers foreign learners of English not only detailed insight into the American higher education system and the problems faced by the American academic community, but also contributes to a better understanding of the diversity of American culture and society. Furthermore, the academic novel is a valuable source of campus words and phrases and as such is effective in making students fluent in social and academic interactions.