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.
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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.