Application Of Needs Analysis In Business English Teaching

With the fast development of world economy in the recent ten years, China is in urgent need of a multitude of interdisciplinary talents who are not only equipped with business knowledge but also competent in English. In order to satisfy the needs of socialist market economy, the new version of the Syllabus for English Majors (2000) promulgated by the Ministry of Education sets clear goals and specifications for the cultivation of English talents. This poses an unprecedented challenge to English teaching, in particular, Business English teaching.Business English, or English for Business, is regarded as the most important branch of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), an approach to language teaching based on learners'needs. Problems in Business English teaching, such as monotony in forms and in contents, have, to some extent, frustrated students'motivation. A thorough needs analysis can help people define problems in language teaching. However, for a long time, needs analysis proves to be an overlooked procedure in Business English teaching in China. This thesis aims to analyze English majors'needs for the sake of both teaching and learning practice. Based on a current concept of needs analysis put forward by Dudley Evans and St John, the author has selected 30 third-year and fourth-year English majors in Shandong Normal University. Relevant data was mainly collected through interviews. The content of the needs analysis involves learners'preferences, motivation, evaluation of course designs, expectations of teachers'qualifications and their opinions in identifying textbooks. Results indicate that English majors have distinctive needs for Business English learning.Needs analysis, on the one hand, can provide reliable information about students'learning needs for English program designers, on the other hand, it offers suggestions to teachers in setting teaching goals, choosing teaching methods and using textbooks. Besides, it may help students identify their learning goals, thus improving their learning efficiency. Given that the talents of Business English is gaining popularity in the job market than ever before, it is believed to be of significance to investigate what should be catered in Business English for English majors in China so as to serve as a reference in cultivating versatile talents of English.