Curriculum Design Based On Need Analysis For Business English Majors Of Independent Institute

With the deepening of economic globalization, especially after China’s accession to the WTO, the international business activities have become increasingly frequent. The demand of the talents both fluent in English and familiar with the practical knowledge of the business rapidly increases. Simple English language and culture graduates can not fully meet the actual needs. Many institutions including independent institutes have established Business English major or direction gradually responsive to new talents cultivation mode to adapt to the market changes. In the way of professional construction and talents cultivation, the curriculum is the key, and a variety of needs analysis is critical to curriculum. Different colleges have different geographical conditions, talents cultivation design, needs of students and faculties. Independent institutions have more characteristics of their own especially. Designing the scientific Business English major curriculum to meet the students and society’s actual needs to cultivate practical talents is the key to successful talents. Business English is one of the branches of English for special purpose (ESP). It has not only some traits like ESP but also its own features which are worthy to study. The curriculum is the way to realize professional training objectives and occupies a very important position in teaching. It is not only necessary to consider the students’present actual situation and their future career development, but also reflects the evolving needs of the society.Based on needs analysis and the case study of Engineering and Technology College of Yangtze University, this article aims to explore the present situation and problems of Business English major curriculum and gives some suggestions. The article mainly uses questionnaires, qualitative analysis, literature research, complemented by a variety of interviews.The article firstly investigates the actual needs of the higher grade students and their evaluation of Business English curriculum design, including their employment goals, specific job positions, learning motivation, the most approving business courses and teacher type, their most lacking skill and ability, and their evaluation of the current business curriculum etc. Then a questionnaire survey has been conducted to the previous Business English graduates to understand whether their learning in college can meet the actual working needs. These include their actual job position, the requirements of knowledge and ability in working, the evaluation of curriculum design and suggestions, the frequency and difficulty of using English in various activities. Finally, the author interviews some employers face to face or on telephone. The subjects are mainly recruitment personnel chiefs. In addition, in order to investigate widely, online recruitment announcements as a supplement are collected and analyzed.The result of the research shows that the needs analysis of course setting is very important. There is a gap between present Business English curriculum of students and employers’ actual needs. Some students can’t have comprehensive judgment of themselves, thus their job orientation are not scientific and objective. By the above questionnaires, interviews and research, the author draws the following conclusions. Curriculum should be renewed continually as the market is developing. The output ability of English is highlighted especially about business negotiation and writing. Students’ professional business knowledge and practical skill need to be strengthened, such as some terms and documents. Many employers require that the students should be familiar with the foreign trade process before stepping into society. In addition, internship can’t be neglected to cultivate students’practical and comprehensive ability. Finally, based on the results, the author proposes a revised curriculum design and talents cultivation program for Business English majors of Engineering and Technology College of Yangtze University, hoping to be beneficial to the talents cultivation of independent institutes...