ADDRESSING STUDENTS PROFESSIONAL NEEDS IN FOUNDATION LEVEL ENGLISH COURSES AT PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN BANGLADESH

In the throes of globalization, Bangladeshi society, especially urban community has evolved from an EFL to an ESL community as English has gained major currency as a criterion for evaluating an individuals success in the current job market. Recognition of this fact is the mandatory teaching of English for twelve years in primary and secondary education levels, which however has proven to be inadequately effective for various reasons. Consequently, even after studying English as a mandatory subject for the first twelve years, students are ill equipped with basic proficiency in the language. Private universities, which exist to shoulder the burden of educating the increasing number of potential university goers that public educational institutions fail to accommodate, therefore run English language foundation courses to increase students communicative proficiency in their everyday academic or professional lives. But how are these courses designed? Who designs them? How are students needs assessed? How do course designers and teachers match the needs of the students with the needs of the market? And do actual outcomes from the course fulfill the needs of the students? Our paper will deal with these questions while mapping the process of setting course goals in a foundation level listening and speaking course at Independent University, Bangladesh. The research will involve an analysis of the principles and methods of needs analyses that are conducted. The paper will conclude with some suggestions on building a more reflective course content that effectively addresses students needs._____________________________________________________________________________

Mithila Mahfuz teaches English language and Applied Linguistics at Independent University, Bangladesh. She previously taught at BRAC University. She has an M. A. in English (Linguistics) from English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, India and a certificate in teaching Business English from University of South Carolina. Her research interests include World Englishes and Cultural Studies.

Shaila Shams teaches English at Independent University, Bangladesh. She has an M.A. in Applied Linguistics with TESOL from University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. Her research interests include Second Language Acquisition, Language Socialization and Teaching Methodology.