Needs analysis for language program development and administration

Abstract

Needs analysis, or needs assessment, is a well- established line of inquiry in the field of second language teaching and learning (Brown, 2009; Long, 2005), particularly in the sub- field of English for academic and specific purposes (Bocanegra- Valle, 2016; Brown, 2016; Flowerdew, 2013). It has been defined as “the systematic collection and analysis of all information used for defining and validating a defensible curriculum” (Brown, 2016, p. 4), which means using empirical methods to identify learning needs that, in turn, influence curriculum design. This approach generally results in a language curriculum that is accepted by stakeholders as it sat isfies their primary learning and teaching requirements.