WHAT ENGLISH DO YOU NEED? COURSE DESIGN FOR EPP

Abstract

It is well known that, first and foremost, ESP teaching requires determining learners’ needs and, thereby, engaging in the development of materials and in the adoption of methods that favour needs-driven response on the learners’ part. Following this practice, the present paper discusses how a course of English for Pharmaceutical Purposes (EPP) was designed for its implementation at the University of Calabria, Italy. The five stages of the design, namely, analysis of learning needs, syllabus design, materials design, implementation of appropriate pedagogy and learners’ perception of catered needs are described in detail. In the first stage, a survey was conducted with the tertiary students enrolled in the course. Results on learners’ needs were applied consistently to the following stages of the design, as shown in the sample EPP activities presented. Overall, findings on learners’ perception of catered needs shed light on the importance of enacting the role of needs analysts as ESP practitioners.

Keywords

• ESP
• Needs Analysis
• Course and Materials Design
• Task-based Language Teaching.