Perceptions of Li Yu Zhen’s language needs

OBJECTIVE SUBJECTIVE
(i.e. as perceived by sponsor) (i.e. as perceived by learner)

NECESSITIES To be able to speak and write To pass the test in order to be

fluently and coherently in accepted in her course of study
English

LACKS Speaking and writing skills Grammatical accuracy

WANTS The speaking skills needed to To be accepted by the university

communicate with the
university’s community.
The writing skills needed to
write academic materials
regarding the field (Chemistry)
METHODS OF ANALYSING NEEDS
INSTRUMENT ADVANTAGES
Questionnaires i) It can be sent fairly easily to a large
number of people
ii) Low cost
Interviews i) The interviewer is able to help the
respondent with linguistic clarification
and record their answers and
explanation
ii) Interviewer can pursue any
interesting new line of enquiry
iii)Able to have control on the focus of
the interview
Observation Direct observation of successful target
– level behavior and present
presumably defective performance
i) Access to real life context
Case studies i)The possibility of an in depth study
over a period of time
ii) the opportunity to appeal to the
students intuitions (his/her difficulties
and needs in more details compared to
oral interview or questionnaires)
iii) direct observation of students in the
classroom and study situation
iv) gain insight into students’ own
methods of learning
Tests Can have some idea of their present
level of ability, revealing which they
are already capable of performing and
where their deficiencies lie
Authentic data collection Accurate record of the source of the
(audio/video recording) data
Participatory needs analysis Students might be invited to take part
in a discussion on their needs and
wants and they will be able to make
recommendation as to what should
happen in the resultant course
DISADVANTAGES
i) Not many people would bother to
fill it in and return it
ii) The probability of the participants
to misunderstand the questions asked
is high
i) Can be very time consuming:
setting up, interviewing, transcribing,
analyzing, feedback, reporting
ii) can be costly
iii) different interviewers may
understand and transcribe interviews
in different ways
iv) Limited sample size
Establishing good relation may take
time
i) May only be distinct to the
particular context
ii) It may be difficult for the
participant to maintain their natural
state
Time consuming and the results may
not be generalizable
Test reliability and validity
i) Going through vetting process
May be difficult to determine what is
salient and useful and what is merely
interesting
i) Selecting and the setting up of
equipment
The data is only applicable to the
present context