Department of EnglishFaculty of Modern Languages

and Communication

DOING NEEDS ANALYSIS IN ESP(A talk for BBI3211)

LSP & ESP

The practice and theory of Language for Specific Purposes (LSP) focuses on (Bloor & Bloor, 1986):

(1) “a model of a theory of language and language learning/use;…

(2) linguistic competence comes from language in use in specific situations;…

(3) teaching-learning strategies that are incompatible with certain theories of language learning;…

(4) language can be learned in a variety of ways, but the use of language is learned in appropriate contexts;…

(5) learning a language involves much more than providing the optimum circumstances for acquisition; and…

(6) [the argument that] aspects of language use that must be taught even to native speakers i.e. cultural conventions and the system and uses of literacy.”

‘General English’?

• ‘GE’ aims to develop general competence and capacity in the language (Widdowson, 1983)

• But does not refer to any particular variety (Biber, Conrad & Reppen, 1996)

• ESP = language learning for use in a specific context, so ‘classroom English’, ‘exam English’, ‘banking English’ etc. in terms of purpose

• ESP based on learners’ prioritised communicative needs

How is ESP different?

Major factors that characterise ESP:

• Target set of learners and their communicative needs

• ESP ‘teacher’ plays many roles

• Texts and task learning materials

• Language and content are authentic

• Appropriate methodology relevant to target context of language use

Orientation to Learner’s Needs

• Changes in focus on learner needs in educational psychology

• Differences in the way individual learners learn• Skills, strategies, styles, knowledge schemata

and approaches to studying• Learner interests, motivations and needs• Learner factors as important as methodology

Absolute characteristics of ESP

• ESP is designed to meet specific needs of the learner;

• ESP makes use of the underlying methodology and activities of the discipline it serves;

• ESP is centred on the language (grammar, lexis, and register), skills, discourse and genres appropriate to these activities.

Variable characteristics of ESP

• ESP may be related to or designed for specific disciplines or areas of work;

• ESP may use, in specific teaching situations, a different methodology from that of General English;

• ESP is likely to be designed for adult learners; could also be used for learners at secondary school level;

• ESP is generally designed for intermediate or advanced students; but it can be used with beginners; and, etc.

THEORIES OF ESP

• ESP as superordinate variety of English (‘Super-variety theory’) – Bloor, M. and T. Bloor (1986)

• ESP as function of specificity of purpose (‘Continuum theory’) – Bhatia, V. K. (1986); See also Dudley-Evans, T. and M. J. St John (1998, p. 9)

• ESP as discourse (‘Discourse-oriented theory’) – Thomas, S. (1991, 1994); Martin, J. R. (1992)

Key Stages in ESP

evaluation needs analysis

assessment course design

teaching-learningStages in the ESP process: theory (Dudley-Evans & St John, 1998, p.

121)

Key Stages in ESP 2

evaluation needs analysis

assessment course design

teaching-learningStages in the ESP process: reality (Dudley-Evans & St John, 1998, p.

121)

Concept of ‘needs’• In general, ‘need’ = gap between what is and

what ought to be• objective vs. subjective needs (Brindley, 1989)• perceived vs. felt needs (Berwick, 1989)• target needs vs. learning needs• product-oriented needs vs. process-oriented

needs (Brindley, 1989)• necessities, lacks and wants (Hutchinson &

Waters, 1986)

A Working Model…

1. Target Situation Analysis• Learners, genres, tasks, activities using English,

genre knowledge & skills** (necessities)

2. Present Situation Analysis• Previous learning experiences, language

proficiency, cultural information; Means analysis – resources, time, physical environment, etc. (lacks)

3. Learning Situation Analysisreasons for attending course and expectations, attitude

to English, preferred ways of learning, styles, strategies (wants)

**Professional communication information:

knowledge of genres, language and skills used in target situation/context analysed via:Linguistic analysis (inc. lexical analysis)Discourse analysisGenre analysis

A Target Situation Analysis framework (Hutchinson & Waters 1987)

• Why is the language needed?

• How will the language be used?

• What will the content areas be?

• Who will the learners use the language with?

• Where will the language be used?

• When will the language be used?

A Framework for Analysing Learning Needs

• Why are the learners taking this course?

• How do the learners learn?

• What resources are available?

• Who are the learners?

• Where will the ESP course take place?

• When will the ESP course take place?

Authentic Texts• What are authentic texts for classroom use?

– narrow and defined audience– “owned” by discourse community– used by people in the learner’s target context in the

course of their work

• Examples: – written text types: emails, memos, reports, calls for

tender, contracts, project documentation, mission statements, minutes of meetings, etc

– spoken text types: interviews, meetings, phone calls, etc

Sample text

Text Analysis

• Real Content vs. Carrier Content– Carrier content: the subject of a text, what it

is about – Real content: language items which the

teacher determines to be present in a text and which he/she regards to be worthy of teaching

Text analysis...

Dudley-Evans and St. John (1997):

technical vocabulary: specialized and restricted meanings in certain disciplines and which may vary in meaning across disciplines

semi-technical vocabulary: used in general language but has a higher frequency of occurrence/use in the specialist discourse of professional life

Task Analysis

• What is the main communicative purpose of the task?

• Which of the four skills does the task require?• Are there preliminary and follow-up tasks

involved?• What language functions can be expected to

play a role in the task? • What text types does the task involve? • Where can these texts be found?

Methods of Analysing Needs

• Tests• Questionnaires• Interviews /structured interviews• Observation• Case studies• Learner diaries• Previous research• Participatory needs analysis (including

‘Shadowing’)

Remaining issues

• The timing of a needs analysisPre-course (GNP specs)In-course (formative assessment of LOs) Post-course (course evaluation)

• Who carries out the needs analysis / Who decides what the language needs are?– JIJOE? (Alderson, 1996)– Home-grown expert?– Often the practitioner/instructor

Remaining issues...

• Translating needs analysis outcomes – the GNP (Generalised Needs Profile)

• Construct TSA, PSA & LSA specifications for target group of learners– Problem with heterogeneous groups – Resolve within available means/resources

(Swales, 1989: ‘opportunity cost’)

Remaining issues...• Resolve mismatches in expectations to

establish “happy mean” (Richterich, 1983)– e.g. How much ‘grammar’? How much focus on

speaking skills?

• Immediate needs and projected needs• A key issue: how much data to collect and

analyse?– Adopt pragmatic approach/stance

• Question of power: English specialist vs. Content specialist

Question of power...

ESP Course Design

• Issues in ESP Course Design• A' narrow-angle’ approach • A‘wide-angle’ approach • ‘mono-skill’ focused courses

• Special methodologies for ESP courses• Project-based learning • Deep end strategy• Team teaching• Translation strategy and diminishing control

ESP CD…

• Possible Components of a Syllabus– general aims & specific objectives– a rationale (i.e. why the course is necessary)– an inventory of (language) items– an indication of entry level (essential previous learning)– an indication to mastery level– description of teaching methodology– explanations for students and teachers– indications of time distribution– assessment procedures– indications of non-linguistic content (e.g. topics)– variation provisions (e.g. enrichment activities for more able

learners and remedial activities for weaker learners)

ESP CD...

• The Role of a Syllabus– Formal record of institutional curriculum– Blueprint for course design

• Approaches to Course Design– Language-centred Approach– Skill-centred Approach– Learning-centred Approach

• Type of ESP Syllabus: – topics and tasks – pedagogical tasks and real-world tasks– Task sequencing

Possible syllabus components

• general aims • specific objectives• a rationale (i.e. why the course is necessary)• an inventory of (language) items• an indication of entry level (essential previous learning)• an indication to mastery level• indications of teaching methodology• explanations for students and teachers• indications of time distribution• assessment procedures• indications of non-linguistic content (e.g. topics)• variation provisions (e.g. enrichment activities for more

able learners and remedial activities for weaker learners)

Language Analysis…

1. Concepts of special language, register, and genre

2. Language content in syllabus specification

3. Vocabulary4. Form and function5. Genre, task and discourse community: a

theory of language in context for ESP

Example of a genre and its moves

Research Article Abstract (adapted from Bhatia, 1993) • 1. WRITER INTRODUCES PURPOSE OF STUDY:

The purpose of the study was to examine …• 2. WRITER DESCRIBES METHODOLOGY: 50 high

school students in Kelantan participated in the study. They were selected from …

• 3. WRITER SUMMARISES RESULTS OF STUDY: It was discovered that …

• 4. WRITER PRESENTS CONCLUSIONS: High school students in Kelantan, and probably in other similar settings …

Some concepts about language