Developing an ESL Curriculum Based on Needs and Situation Analyses: A Case Study

Abstract

Needs analysis is important in terms of students’ involvement in every phase of educational process. It is necessary to know about learners’ objectives, language attitudes, expectations from the course and learning habits in order to design an efficient curriculum. However, it is not only the learners who play an important role in developing a curriculum. There are other factors relevant to the design and implementation of language programs or curricula. At this point, situation analysis is needed. The purpose of this paper is, then, to explain how to conduct needs and situation analyses for developing an English as a second language (ESL) curriculum. The results of observations of ESL students, questionnaires given to the student participants, and interviews conducted with three ESL teachers indicate the variety of needs of students. Based on those results, implications are provided for faculty designing ESL curriculum in community colleges.