A Needs Analysis of Postgraduate ESP Students Majoring in Hospitality Management in Iran

Abstract

The present study aimed at running a needs analysis concerning the needs and requirements of postgraduate ESP students majoring in hospitality management in Iranian universities. To do so, a descriptive survey was designed in which the data was gathered through interviews and the needs analysis questionnaire which was developed and validated for the purpose of the study. The participants of the study consisted of 20 PhD candidates and 30 master’s students majoring in hospitality management in Iranian universities. The data gathered by means of the questionnaire were subjected to descriptive analysis and based on the results obtained, the most common issues stated by students were (a) the present status of the English language educational system is not satisfactory; (b) the general English textbooks do not meet the students’ needs; (c) students’ motivation for the English language is not boosted; (d) the number of hours dedicated to the English language is not adequate; (e) undue emphasis is paid to grammar which has led to the students’ learning frustration; (f) the first and the most important needs for the English components are reading comprehension, writing, and translation, vocabulary and essay writing skills are highly required by the postgraduate students; (g) the content of the specialized English textbooks must be more relevant to the students’ fields of study and specialized English courses should be taught by the ESP instructors. There is the hope that the findings and results of the present study help EFL curriculum designers and textbook developers to enhance English language instruction at universities in general, and in hospitality management discipline, in particular.