The Role of Needs
Analysis in English for Specific Purposes
Gusti Astika
This article discusses the role of
needs analysis in ESP. Teaching ESP should not be considered as a different
kind of teaching the language but rather as an approach as it is also based on
the commonly held belief of teaching language for communicative purposes. The
problems that ESP teachers have are similar to those of teachers of English for
general purposes although there are some additional problems that may lie
beyond methods and pedagogy especially those related to non-linguistic matters.
Students’ needs are discussed from different angles and the theoretical basis
of needs analysis is derived from the ideas of communicative competence
proposed by Hymes (1972) and Canale
and Swain (1980). Different approaches to needs analysis and its importance are
also discussed. Finally, a model of framework for needs analysis as a basis for
syllabus design is presented.
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Astika, G. (1999). The role of needs analysis in English for specific purposes.
TEFLIN Journal, 10(1), 31-47.
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