Identification of ESL Target Needs of Business Stakeholders through Needs Analysis for Programme Development

Abstract

Needs analysis in ESL curriculum development is an essential starting point in the design, revision, and development of syllabi or curricula. Stakeholders play a vibrant role in the process of needs analysis. Hence, the input in the process by prospective stakeholders is pivotal for curriculum concerns. It is important to identify what ESL competencies are expected from graduate employees once they are employed by the employers in the field of business. This study concerns the identification of Target Needs in respect of English language skills of the prospective graduates of the private sector business entities with the ultimate objective of ESL programme development. The sample of the study included 46 business stakeholders across the country and the Target Needs factors included the five English language skills; listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar. The results indicated the frequent use of English language by the business stakeholders in business context. Further, it was revealed that all the five language skills are important but reading, writing, and speaking skills are the major priorities. As per respective mean values indicated in the analysis of target needs, the existing English language competencies of graduate employees were moderate in all the five language skills but speaking, writing, and grammar skills had lower moderate mean values.