Assessment of ITP Learners’ English: A Needs Analysis

Abstract

This study is to seek out learners’ needs of International Training Program (ITP) English course (batch 58) at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in India. Thirty participants involved in the survey come from nine different countries. The questionnaire-based survey is designed with a focus on two main categories: Target situation analysis (TSA) and Present situation analysis (PSA), which is based on the adaptation of the theoretical frameworks of Dudley-Evans and St John (1998) and of Hutchinson and Waters (1987). The result of TSA has shown that Office job and Social communication are learners’ main purposes for this English course. Two most important elements that the learners expect to develop from this course are oral communication and listening skills, and linguistic knowledge of grammar and pronunciation. Meanwhile, the finding of PSA has indicated vocabulary as their most difficult element. The majority of learners perceive that they are at the third current level of English proficiency, whereas speaking skills are most frequently used in the workplace. Finally, this study has indicated the proportional relation of the elements of PSA to those of TSA. The overall finding contributes to the design for a proper English specific course for learners’ needs in the future.