Needs Analysis PDF

Needs Analysis
Session 3
Dr. Yousif Alshumaimeri
KSU MA TESOL Programme
CI 584
Yousif Alshumaimeri 2009

Why needs analysis should be
conducted ?
It can be best answered by simply stating
what needs analysis is.
Berwick (1989:52) suggests a basic
definition of need: a need is a gap or
measurable discrepancy between a
current state of affairs and a desired
future state.
Accordingly, the term analysis of needs
was first used.
History of Needs analysis
Needs analysis procedure in the field of language teaching
was first used by Michael West in a survey report published
in 1926 (White, 1988).
In the following decades, however, little if any attention was
given to needs analysis.
This can be explained largely by the influence that the
traditional structural view of the language continued to exert
on the field of English language teaching (ELT).
The term Need Analysis re-emerged during the 1970s as a
result of intensive studies conducted by the Council of
Europe team.
Research and studies conducted by the Council of Europe
team resulted in the emergence of the communicative
approach to language learning which replaced the situational
approach dominant in language teaching and learning at that
time.

History of Needs analysis
The Council of Europe team felt that successful language learning
resulted not from mastering linguistic elements, but from
determining exactly what the learner needed to do with the target
language.
One of the terms, which the team came up with, was the
Common Core.
The common core suggests that language learners share certain
interests despite their different goals in learning foreign languages.
The team recognised that there will be areas of interest common
to all students, whatever their particular situation and
specialisation (Johnson, K 1982:42).
The common core provides a basis one can rely on in conducting
needs analysis in the general English classroom.
Needs analysis has been neglected in the general English classroom
and emphasised in ESP as Hutchinson and Waters (1987) suggested.

Objective and Subjective needs
Nunan (1988) classified needs analysis under
two headings: Objective needs and
Subjective needs.
He assigned objective needs to be diagnosed
by the teacher on the basis of the personal
data of the learners. In the light of this data,
the teacher can select or plan a suitable
syllabus.
Subjective needs are derived from the
learners themselves and influence the
teaching methodology of the syllabus.
Objective data is that factual information which
dose not require the attitudes and views of the
learners to be taken into account. Thus,
biographical information on age, nationality, home
language, etc. is said to be objective.
Subjective information, on the other hand, reflects
the perceptions, goals, and priorities of the
learner. It will include, among other things,
information on why the learner has undertaken
to learn a second language, and the classroom
tasks and activities which the learner prefers.
(Nunan, 1988: 18)

Classify the following definitions of needs
analysis according to Nunan (1988)
classification of subjective or objective
needs.

Journey of Needs Analysis
Route Destination
Start
(Learning ( needs ,
(Lacks)
needs) wants)

Issues in Need Analysis
Can Needs Analysis ever be objective?
At what point are learning needs
assessed/decided on?
Conflict between wants and necessities?
What tools do we use to assess needs,
are they objective?
How reliable are these tools?

Issues in Need Analysis
learners
Sponsors
Syllabus Teachers
Design
Course
Designers

In conducting Needs Analysis
+ Pros - Cons
May Motivate learners Learners reactions to conducting
needs analysis
Values Learner Contribution May raise false expectations in
learners
May help in setting more realistic Conflicts between expectations of
objectives learners, course designers, sponsors
and teachers
Very useful where many resources Needs analysis is basically subjective-
available influenced by perceptions of person
conducting it
Greater awareness + motivation may More problematic with lower
lead to develop greater competence proficiency/ younger learners
May help pupils to assess own needs Time Consuming
better
Learner perceptions of needs may be
unrealistic Yousif Alshumaimeri 2009

Needs Analysis PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Needs Analysis PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Needs Analysis PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Needs Analysis

Yousif Alshumaimeri 2009

Yousif Alshumaimeri 2009

Yousif Alshumaimeri 2009

Yousif Alshumaimeri 2009

Yousif Alshumaimeri 2009

Yousif Alshumaimeri 2009

Yousif Alshumaimeri 2009

Yousif Alshumaimeri 2009

You might also like