STAGES OF ESP COURSE DESIGN IDENTIFYING AND CONDUCTING STEPS OF NEED ASSESSMENT

Group VI

Language-centred course design The language-centred course design process aims to draw

as direct a connection as possible between the analysis of the target situation and the content of ESP course

Identify learnersTarget

situation

Establish evaluation

procedures to test

acquisition of syllabus items

Select theoritical views of language

Identify linguistic feature of

target situation

Create syllabus

design material to examplify

syllabus items

Skill-centred course design The basic theoretical hypothesis is that

underlying any language behavior are certain skill and strategies, which the learner uses in order to produce or comprehend discourse

Write syllabus

Identify target

situation

Select texts and write

exercises to focus on skill/ strategies in

syllabus

Establish evaluation procedures

which require the use of

skills/ strategies in

syllabusTheoretical

views of learning

Analyse skill/ strategies required to

cope in target situation

Theoretical views of language

A learning-centred approach The learner-centred approach is based on

the principle that learning is totally determine by the learner.

A language-centred approach

considers the learner to here

A language-centred approach

considers the learner to here

A leraning-centred approach

must consider the learner at every stage

Identify target situation

Analyse target situation

Analyse learning situation

Teach materials

Write materials

Write syllabus

Evaluate learner achievement

WHAT IS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT? A needs assessment is a systematic

approach to studying the state of knowledge, ability, interest, or attitude of a defined audience or group involving a particular subject.

Direct and indirect assessments

A direct needs assessment is accomplished through formal research that gathers data from clientele. An indirect approach uses secondary data or asks surrogates (advisors) for their opinions about priority needs and issues.

An indirect assessment can be conducted at any time when an advisory committee is meeting and does not require the same level of investment in the design, implementation, and analysis.

Seven steps in conducting a needs assessment

1. Write objectives: What is it that you want to learn from the needs assessment?

2. Select audience: Who is the target audience? Whose needs are you measuring, and to whom will you give the required information?

3. Collect data: How will you collect data that will tell you what you need to know? Will you collect data directly from the target audience or indirectly?

4. Select audience sample: How will you select a sample of respondents who represent the target audience?

5. Pick an instrument: What instruments and techniques will you use to collect data?

6. Analyze data: How will you analyze the data you collect?

7. Follow-up: What will you do with information that you gain?

Objectives of a needs assessment:

Various objectives of a needs assessment are based on two things: who is asking the questions (what is your mission and responsibility?); and who is the target audience. The objectives will dictate how the needs assessment is to be designed and conducted.

FOUR DATA COLLECTING METHODS

1. SURVEYSWritten surveys may be conducted by mail, by e-mail, or by using a Web page. They also may be used to gather data from a group of individuals attending an event.

2. INTERVIEWSInterviews are a means to collect needs assessment data through one or more conversations between two or more people.

3. FOCUS GROUPSFocus groups are group discussions conducted in person with a limited number of stakeholders to gain information about their views and experiences on a topic.

4. WORKING GROUPSGroup process is used to manage how people work together in groups. Group processes refer to a variety of techniques and activities through which a facilitator leads a group to a desired output and corresponding outcome.