A Study Of The Needs Analysıs Of Englısh Preparatory Class Students At Unıversıty Level And The Evaluatıon Of Readymade And Non-Readymade Teachıng Materıals

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to identify the needs of the preparatory program students whose departments are English Language Teaching (ELT) and American Culture and Literature (AMER) in one of the foundation universities in Ankara, Turkey and in the light of the findings of the needs analysis, in-depth evaluation of readymade and non-readymade teaching materials is aimed. The study was designed as a practitioner research and both quantitative and qualitative research techniques were used. A sample of 44 students, 2 lecturers from American Culture and Literature Department, 2 lecturers from English Language Teaching Department and 4 EFL instructors from English Preparatory School of the institution participated in this study. The quantitative data were obtained through a needs analysis questionnaire which was applied to the participating students. As for the qualitative data, semi-structured interviews were administered to the lecturers and instructors stated above. Since the research also aims to investigate to what extent readymade and non-readymade teaching materials meet the target EFL learners’ needs, Cunningsworth’s (1995) checklists were employed to gather qualitative data about New Headway Fourth Edition pre-intermediate and intermediate coursebooks and non-readymade materials given by curriculum development unit of the institution. The results of the study revealed that a skills-based syllabus should be followed for the target students and it is utmost important to emphasize productive and academic skills, but the current materials meet these needs to some extent. From the findings, it came out that both curriculum and testing and evaluation component of English preparatory program need to be revised.