NEEDS ANALYSIS

BUSHRA AHMAD
M.A. ELT I SEMESTER
16ETM05
 WHAT IS NEEDS ANALYSIS
• A technique/procedure/tool

• Especially useful in ESP

• Systematic collection and analysis

• Aids syllabus designing

• Helps address learners’ needs

 DEFINITION
1. “Needs Analysis is

• a procedure

• for collecting information

• about learners and classroom activities

• to design a syllabus.”

-David Nunan (1988)

 CATEGORISATION OF NEEDS
Hutchinson and Waters (1987) proposed the following
categorisation of needs:
NECESSITIES

TARGET NEEDS LACKS

WANTS
NEEDS
PSYCHOLOGICAL

LEARNING
ATTITUDINAL
NEEDS

MATERIAL
 TECHNIQUES
1. PARTICIPATORY: Source of information – learners
• Questionnaires
• Personal interview
• Observation
• Informal consultation
• Tests

2. NON-PARTICIPATORY: Source of information – target situation

• Case studies
• Authentic data collection
• Analysis
 FEATURES/ADVANTAGES
• Adds purpose and energy to learning

• Helps in time management

• Identifies common needs

• Highlights learners’ strengths and weaknesses

• Enables focused teaching and learning

• Prepares for real-life situations

 FEATURES/ADVANTAGES
• Basis for material production

• Sets goals for the course

• Helps find required language skills

 DISADVANTAGES
• Needs not predictable in EGP courses

• Time consuming and impractical

• If conducted after onset of course, it cannot contribute to

syllabus designing
• Not possible to meet needs of all learners
THANK YOU