Syllabus revision; a needs analysis study

Abstract

Needs analysis is considered be one of the key aspects in Curriculum and Material design. The central aim of need analysis is to discover the content areas that learners have to learn, the sections which learners did not learn yet, and the domains that learners want to learn that corresponds roughly to learners’ needs, lacks and wants respectively. Needs assessments and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) are inextricably linked. Thus, a needs analysis is designed to identify the needs, wants and lacks first level undergraduates of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya who follow the course; English for Social Sciences. The purpose relies on comparing the needs of the students and the needs addressed in the existing syllabus with the primary objective of making recommendations to revise the current syllabus that use to teach the course. A sample of students was selected, and a questionnaire is used as a data collection tool. Meanwhile, a written essays of students were assessed to comprehend their current proficiency level. The course content was analyzed to determine the current needs addressed in them. In addition to the accessed needs of the students, at the end of the study, a considerable number of pitfalls were found in the existing syllabus and the necessary recommendations have indicated. It is crucial to determine the specific needs of the students while prioritizing their objectives of learning English language. The course materials should design systematically without deviating from the predetermined objectives. At the same time a key consideration should be given to the duration of the course and the materials should tailor according to the schedule.