Open AccessLANGUAGE NEEDS ANALYSIS FOR WORKING ABROAD: A CASE-STUDY IN THUA THIEN HUE PROVINCE
Author(s) -
Nguyễn Ngọc Bảo Châu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
xã hội và nhân văn
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2615-9724
pISSN - 2588-1213
DOI - 10.26459/hueuni-jssh.v129i6b.5703
Subject(s) - needs analysis , curriculum , foreign language , vocational education , task (project management) , process (computing) , computer science , everyday life , knowledge management , psychology , mathematics education , pedagogy , human–computer interaction , political science , management , economics , law , operating system
Needs analysis is the first essential step of designing a language curriculum [26]. Needs analysis provides a mechanism for obtaining a wider range of input in the contents, design, and implementation of a language program. The process identifies general or specific language needs so that they can be addressed while developing goals, objectives, and content for a language program. In this study, we aimed to explore the language needs analysis for labor export. We regarded foreign language for labor export with a view that all decisions in instructions are based on the learners’ reasons for learning. As a case in point, we studied the language needs for labor export of laborers in Thua Thien Hue province. A task-based needs analysis approach [17] was utilized due to its methodological cogency. 45 laborers who were working abroad participated in our study. Five were interviewed and 40 were surveyed to elicit the foreign language needed for everyday life tasks and occupational domains. The results outlined export laborers language needs in regards to everyday survival (i.e. language at the supermarket, hospital, etc.) and vocational tasks (i.e. understanding employer’s requests, interacting with customers/clients, etc.). The findings of this study inform the design of an English language curriculum for labor export and serve as the basis for reviewing and evaluating existing language programs for labor export. The research also affords implications for future designs of task-based needs analysis.