Needs Analysis And Curriculum Design Optimization

With the first batch of full-time TEFL postgraduates' enrollment in the year 2009 and the deepening new curriculum reform in secondary schools in China, TEFL postgraduate program is taking on prominent features in fostering pre-service EFL teachers with theoretical, practical and specialized abilities. In order to achieve curriculum optimization, this thesis aims at curriculum optimization on the basis of satisfying social and individual learning needs, thereby improving teaching and establishing the full-time TEFL postgraduate curriculum centered on needs analysis.Based on the needs analysis theories and the two models of John Mundy's and Hutchinson&Waters', this thesis, discusses the correlation among curriculum design, individual learning needs and social needs according to questionnaire surveys. The design of the questionnaires is based on the Hutchinson&Waters's needs analysis model while it covers the general and specific features of such kinds of questionnaires in different papers. The data is collected and processed by Microsoft Excel.Survey shows that curriculum designs in most universities are based on the reshaping or adaptation of existing ones, rather than the social and individual learning needs. This thesis investigates both the employers and the pre-service teachers in the program and discovers the social and employers' needs of personnel cultivation and the individual's needs of curriculum design as well. Problems concerning teacher belief, curriculum modules, materials, methodology and teaching practicum are also emerged. According to the survey, the current curriculum design can hardly meet both the social and learners'needs.This thesis finally discusses principles for curriculum optimization and a feasible curriculum module. Meanwhile, solutions to the above problems concerning teacher belief, curriculum modules, materials, methodology and teaching practicum are also put forward. It is concluded that both the learning needs and social needs of the full-time TEFL postgraduates can be achieved through optimization of curriculum design.