Target Needs Analysis of Tertiary-level English for Specific Purposes Curriculum Design from the Perspective of Taiwan’s Business Community

Abstract

With increasingly intense competition nowadays, job seekers require proficiency in general English as well as English for specific purposes (ESP). ESP should be learned and practiced as an essential part of employment preparation. This study will be conducted using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to analyze ESP curriculum design for tertiary education’s needs from the perspective of the business community in order to build competitive English abilities for learners to prepare them to enter the workforce. There are four main criteria considered in this study: ESP basic training, ESP communication skills, English proficiency certificate coaching, and ESP career specialism. Under these criteria, there are alternatives listed for business experts to assess the critical ESP needs of learners’ curriculum design. The data is drawn from human resource professionals, bank managers, and directors from various enterprises. This study determines target ESP curriculum design needs. This research helps colleges and ESP practitioners to understand employers’ needs. Also, faculty can design the curriculum by referring to the results as needed. Educational institutions may learn from the initial needs analyses from business perspectives, and continue to implement needs analysis through tweaking lesson planning and through being more flexible and better at figuring out our students’ needs and how best to meet them. This study also aims to assist students to strengthen their potential job-seeking qualifications in order to ensure they have a smooth career path. Discussions regarding the implications of the findings are also provided.