Needs Analysis: English Courses for Bachelors of Engineering in Pakistan

Author(s) : Ameer Sultan , Ayaz Afsar , Shahid Abbas

Abstract:

The importance of communication skills could not be undermined in any field of life but its role in the field of Engineering and information technology is crucial. It is very difficult for young engineering students to shape their thoughts in second language. The task becomes more difficult when the students have to write for specific purposes like TOR, technical reports, proposals, memos and letters. Needs Analysis is the first step towards developing curriculum. It could be used to bring improvements in existing syllabus/methodology. The research was conducted to analyse the target needs of the Bachelors of Engineering students in Pakistan and to identify the gap between present syllabi and the needs of the students. The research was conducted in five engineering institutions of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The data was collected though questionnaires and class observation. The findings of the study indicate the wants of the students regarding English courses. It also reveals that teaching/ learning situation in the classrooms of English courses for engineering students.

Keywords: Need analysis, English courses, Engineering