Creating a Healthy Development in ELT through a Needs Analysis of Students

Abstract

University of Computer Studies, Yangon (UCSY) under the Department of Higher Education (HE), Ministry of Education, has already changed its education system according to the credit hour system. Coinciding with the new course path, new syllabuses and new curricula have been introduced in undergraduate level in academic year 2018-2019. Computing students have to learn English as a compulsory subject in university for two academic years. This research is aimed at investigating English needs and expectations of the first year students of UCSY in order to create a healthy development in ELT providing intended learning outcomes. The two questionnaires were used to collect data by following the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) in computing data. The students' questionnaire including the multi-option question patterns and five point likert-scale questions was used for exploring students' English proficiency level, needs, wishes and learning attitudes. The teachers' questionnaire also consisted of a limited number of scaled questions. The participants were 187 First Year Students and 11 English teachers of UCSY. The findings showed that speaking and listening are the most important skills that students need to improve. The participants stated the high level of their expectation in ELT and teachers' proficiency in all items. Overall, although both students and teachers revealed their positive attitude in the new program, some students do not reach the outcome level that they desire, except reading skill addresses (57.8% totally improved). Subsequently, based on the findings of the data analysis, researchers discussed shifting teaching technique rather than redesigning the current program in order to match the students' needs and wants. It is recommended that communicative language teaching (CLT) integrated with a teaching model is attuned to the present needs of the students in creating an effective and healthy environment in ELT.