Needs analysis

Foundations of ESP Foundations of ESP

LG523LG523

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Needs analysisNeeds analysis

A cornerstone of ESPA cornerstone of ESP Essential step in ESP course designEssential step in ESP course design What distinguishes ESP from EGP is not the What distinguishes ESP from EGP is not the

existenceexistence of a need as such but rather an of a need as such but rather an awarenessawareness of the need (Hutchinson & Waters, of the need (Hutchinson & Waters, 1987, p. 53)1987, p. 53)

Origins of the term:Origins of the term: First appeared in the 1920s in IndiaFirst appeared in the 1920s in India In ESP from the 1960sIn ESP from the 1960s Munby (1978) Munby (1978) Communicative Syllabus Design: Communicative Syllabus Design:

‘communicative needs processor’‘communicative needs processor’

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Needs analysis Needs analysis as a step in course designas a step in course design

In the course design cycle, when is it conducted?

A) As a first step, before course design B) On-going: during the course C) After the course

Needs analysis Course design Teaching/Learning

Evaluation Assessment

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Types of needs

Need = umbrella term Hutchinson & Waters (1987)

1. Target situation needs = needs defined in relation to the situation in which the learner will eventually need to function

A. Necessities = what the learner needs to know in order to function effectively in the TS

B. Lacks = what the learner already knows and does not know

C. Wants = what the learner feels s/he needsQ: Which of these are subjective and which objective?

2. Learning needs = needs of the learning situation (what is manageable at present)

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Learner 1: What are his necessities, lacks and wants?

Karl Jensen is a German engineer who has a frequent and important need to read texts in English. He also needs to talk to overseas colleagues occasionally, for example, at the annual planning conference. The company he works for is a multi-national company and the operating language for communication outside national boundaries is English, although the majority of workers are non-native speakers. By any quantitative analysis Karl Jensen’s need is for reading, because it is a much more frequent activity for him. But he feels a far stronger need to spend his time in the English class improving his oral competence. Why? The answer lies in the way in which he identifies his own personality with the use of a foreign language. He reads in private and at his own speed: he can use a dictionary if he wants. But when he is speaking, his pride is on the line: his English competence (or lack of it, as he sees it) is exposed for all to see and he is under pressure to participate at a speed determined by the discourse.

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Learner 2: What are her necessities, lacks and wants?

Li Yun Zhen is a Chinese graduate in chemistry, who is going to study in the United States. She needs to be able to survive socially and professionally in an English-speaking community. Fluency is, therefore, her greatest need. Li Yun Zhen, however, prefers to spend her time improving her knowledge of English grammar. Why? Her answer lies in her estimation of priorities. Inorder to be accepted for her course of study she must first pass a test. The most important criterion in the test is grammatical accuracy. She, therefore, sees as her priority need as being to pass the test.

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Learner 3: What are his necessities, lacks and wants?

Jose Lima is a Brazilian salesman. He needs to be able to talk on the telephone to customers and to other colleagues. He also needs to read catalogues and business letters. Jose is an outgoing, sociable man, who gets on easily with people. His spoken English is not very accurate, but is fluent. His employer feels that Jose ‘s real need is for greater accuracy in spoken conversation, because it reflects badly on the company’s image to have one of its representatives speaking very incorrect English. However, Jose feels that his spoken English very good, and he resents the implication that it is not. After all, he communicates very well. He sees the English classes as a criticism of his performance as a salesman. He, therefore, has little motivation to attend classes.

Target situation analysis vs. Target situation analysis vs. analysis of learning needsanalysis of learning needs

Target situation analysisTarget situation analysisWhyWhy is the language needed? (e.g., is the language needed? (e.g.,

for study, work)for study, work)

HowHow will the language be used? will the language be used? (speaking on the phone)(speaking on the phone)

WhatWhat will the content areas be? will the content areas be? (e.g., medicine)(e.g., medicine)

WhoWho will the Ls use the language will the Ls use the language with? (native/non-native with? (native/non-native speakers, customers/colleagues)speakers, customers/colleagues)

WhereWhere will the language be used? will the language be used? (meetings abroad)(meetings abroad)

WhenWhen will the language be used? will the language be used? (concurrently with ESP (concurrently with ESP course/afterwards; frequently)course/afterwards; frequently)

Analysis of learning needsAnalysis of learning needsWhyWhy are the Ls taking the course? are the Ls taking the course?

(e.g.,their attitudes)(e.g.,their attitudes)

HowHow do the Ls learn (what do the Ls learn (what methodology will appeal to methodology will appeal to them?)them?)

WhatWhat resources are available? resources are available? (materials, trained ESP (materials, trained ESP teachers?teachers?

WhoWho are the Ls? (age, nationality, are the Ls? (age, nationality, subject knowledge)subject knowledge)

WhereWhere will the ESP course take will the ESP course take place? (classroom features)place? (classroom features)

WhenWhen will the ESP course take will the ESP course take place? (every day/once a week)place? (every day/once a week)

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Types of needs analyses I

► Dudley-Evans & St John (1998) 1.Target situation analysis

= objective, perceived, product-oriented needs

2. Learning situation analysis= subjective, felt, process-oriented needs

3. Present situation analysis= the learner’s current strengths and weaknesses (what learners already know)

Target situation, learning situation or Target situation, learning situation or present situation needs analysis?present situation needs analysis?

1. I need to see vocabulary written down.1. I need to see vocabulary written down.

2. I have occasional meetings with British colleagues.2. I have occasional meetings with British colleagues.

3. I find it difficult to write persuasively.3. I find it difficult to write persuasively.

4. I pick things up by listening.4. I pick things up by listening.

5. Student X needs to read more widely.5. Student X needs to read more widely.

6. I like problem solving.6. I like problem solving.

7. I get my tenses mixed up.7. I get my tenses mixed up.

8. I hate group work.8. I hate group work.

9. I have to write reports.9. I have to write reports.

10. My problem is finding the right word.10. My problem is finding the right word.

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Types of needs analyses IITypes of needs analyses II

► Holliday & Cooke (1982): Holliday & Cooke (1982): means analysismeans analysis

= analysis of the environment where the = analysis of the environment where the course will be runcourse will be run

- Factors in the environment are seen not as Factors in the environment are seen not as negative constraints but rather as relevant negative constraints but rather as relevant featuresfeatures

- Question to be asked: What is best given the Question to be asked: What is best given the situation? (rather than ‘How can programme situation? (rather than ‘How can programme X be implemented’?)X be implemented’?)

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Conducting needs analysis: Conducting needs analysis: Sources of information Sources of information (based on Long, 2005)(based on Long, 2005)

► Literature: published (e.g., ESP research articles) Literature: published (e.g., ESP research articles) and unpublished (e.g., in-house reports)and unpublished (e.g., in-house reports)

► Learners: current and formerLearners: current and former► Teachers and applied linguistsTeachers and applied linguists► Domain experts /subject specialistsDomain experts /subject specialists► EmployersEmployers► DocumentsDocuments► Triangulated sourcesTriangulated sources

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Conducting needs analysis: Conducting needs analysis: Methods of gathering data Methods of gathering data (based on Long, (based on Long,

2005)2005)

► Interviews (structured, semi-structured, Interviews (structured, semi-structured, unstructured)unstructured)

► QuestionnairesQuestionnaires► Language auditsLanguage audits► Lesson observationsLesson observations► Diaries and logsDiaries and logs► Discourse analysis (spoken and written) using Discourse analysis (spoken and written) using

genre analysis, computer-based analysis, etc.genre analysis, computer-based analysis, etc.► TestsTests► Triangulated methodsTriangulated methods

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How How notnot to design a questionnaire: to design a questionnaire: What is wrong with the following items?What is wrong with the following items?

► 1. Do you need spoken and written language? Yes / 1. Do you need spoken and written language? Yes / NoNo

► 2. Do you use a lot of English in your work? A) a lot 2. Do you use a lot of English in your work? A) a lot b) a little c) not muchb) a little c) not much

► 3. do you prefer a friendly student-centred approach 3. do you prefer a friendly student-centred approach to a rigid teacher-dominated one?to a rigid teacher-dominated one?

► 4. If you utterance is linguistically deviant, do you 4. If you utterance is linguistically deviant, do you want: a) peer correction, b) a metalinguistic signal, or want: a) peer correction, b) a metalinguistic signal, or c) language correctionc) language correction

► 5. How much individual consultation with the teacher 5. How much individual consultation with the teacher do you think you should have on this course?do you think you should have on this course?

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TaskTask

► Suppose you were hired by the International Suppose you were hired by the International Academy to do a needs analysis in order for Academy to do a needs analysis in order for new pre-sessional and in-sessional courses new pre-sessional and in-sessional courses to be introduced for MA students at Essex. to be introduced for MA students at Essex. What sources of information and methods What sources of information and methods would you use to collect information?would you use to collect information?

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Critique of needs analysisCritique of needs analysis(based on Basturkmen, 2006)(based on Basturkmen, 2006)

► Learners may not be reliable sources of information Learners may not be reliable sources of information about their own needs, especially if they are pre-about their own needs, especially if they are pre-experience learnersexperience learners

► Learners may lack metalinguistic awarenessLearners may lack metalinguistic awareness► Objective needs are not the same as subjective Objective needs are not the same as subjective

needsneeds► Perspectives of needs vary; whose perspective of Perspectives of needs vary; whose perspective of

needs should be taken into account?needs should be taken into account?► Language use is too unpredictableLanguage use is too unpredictable► Needs analysis often serves the interests of the Needs analysis often serves the interests of the

institution rather than learnersinstitution rather than learners16

Further readingFurther reading

► Long, M. (Ed.).(2005). Long, M. (Ed.).(2005). Second language needs analysis. Second language needs analysis. Cambridge: CUP.Cambridge: CUP.

For further information on methods and sources of information in For further information on methods and sources of information in needs analysis see Long’s own article in the volume. needs analysis see Long’s own article in the volume.

For examples of needs analyses in various settings, see other For examples of needs analyses in various settings, see other chapters. chapters.

► West, R. (1994). Needs analysis in language teaching. West, R. (1994). Needs analysis in language teaching. Language Teaching, 27Language Teaching, 27(1), 1-19.(1), 1-19.

Good for the history and development of needs analysis.Good for the history and development of needs analysis.

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Article analysisArticle analysis

Cowling, J.D. (2007). Needs analysis: Planning a syllabus for a series of Cowling, J.D. (2007). Needs analysis: Planning a syllabus for a series of intensive workshop courses at a leading Japanese company. intensive workshop courses at a leading Japanese company. English for English for Specific Purposes, 26Specific Purposes, 26(4), 426-442.(4), 426-442.

► What was/were…What was/were…

1. the client’s requirements?1. the client’s requirements?

2. the target group?2. the target group?

3. sources of information used for needs analysis?3. sources of information used for needs analysis?

4. methods of data gathering used?4. methods of data gathering used?

5. methods of data gathering discussed but not used? Why were they 5. methods of data gathering discussed but not used? Why were they not used?not used?

6. information provided during each step in the data gathering 6. information provided during each step in the data gathering process?process?

7. the most useful and the most disappointing step in needs analysis?7. the most useful and the most disappointing step in needs analysis?

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