Conducting Needs Analysis for an English for Specific Purpose Course for Agricultural Sciences

Abstract

Conducting a needs analysis is the very first step in designing English for Specific Purpose (ESP) course as well as maintaining the quality of the course to fulfill the learners’ needs. This research intends to highlight the procedures significant in conducting a needs analysis (NA) for designing English for specific purpose course for the ESL learners of B.S. (Hons.) agriculture sciences at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, (UAF) Pakistan. Data for need analysis were collected through a questionnaire, document analysis and test techniques. It was observed that the ESL learners of graduate level at University of Agriculture Faisalabad were taught general English courses which were not sufficient to fulfill their communicative needs. Therefore, there is a need of an ESP Agriculture science course. Suggestions have also been recommended to design ESP Agriculture Sciences course for these ESL learners.