Needs Analysis Workshop Notes and Photocopiables

We need to know before we design a course for our students is:

• What students need
• What students want

These two things are often very different from each other! This comes down to two processes:

• Needs analysis (here used to mean the students being asked questions about themselves and the language)
• Diagnostic testing (finding out how much you agree with what they just said)

 Interesting ways of diagnostic testing are dealt with in ‘First Lessons’ Needs AnalysisThis will be split into two questions:1. What do we want/ need to know about them?2. How can we find it out? 1. What do we want/ need to know about them?We can brainstorm and organise suitable questions they should/ can be asked by several schemes:a)      By question wordb)      By skills and languagec)      By timed)      By place a)      By question word What- e.g. What exactly do you do in English in your job?WhenWhichWhere- Where do you use English?- In meetingsWho- e.g. Who do you speak English with- native/ non-native speakers?How- e.g. How formal does the English you use need to be? How much- e.g. How much homework can you do?How long- e.g. How long have you been studying English?How often- Do you watch English language films?How far- Do you want/ need to go with your English?How many b)      By skill and language Which skills do you use/ need/ lack most? c) By time Past/ present/ futuree.g. study/ use of English/ exposure to English d) By placeInside work (see above)/ outside work (e.g. travel/ films/ TV) Discussion point: See ‘Suggested Needs Analysis Question list’ for one possible result of this brainstorming. Is there anything you would add/ take away from this list for the students you usually teach? 2. How can we find it out?a) Before classb) During class a)      Before classThis can be done by giving them a form to fill in or by asking them questions in the level test and making notes to be passed onto the teacher b)      During classThe method depends on the situation:·        In 1-to-1, you can simply ask them the questions and write down the answers. For this, a reminder list of possible questions (see Bus Needs 2) and a format for writing down the answers (see Interview Form) are useful. ·        In group classes, they can ask each other the questions or negotiate a syllabus. To ask each other the questions, the teacher will need to give them some help by brainstorming some categories of questions such as those given above. They will then need a format to write them down on (see Interview Form again). Negotiating a syllabus can be done by giving them a list of things to prioritize, and then ask them to agree together on those priorities in ever larger groups (a pyramid ranking debate).  Discussion point: Look at the examples of needs analysis forms given and decide how you and when you could use them- written/ spoken, group class or only 1 to 1? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each form?
Suggested Needs Analysis Questions List