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Humanities
- ISSN: 2155-7993
- Journal of Modern Education Review
Teachers’ Perceptions of Students’ Needs in University Foundation Program
Saeed Jameel Aburizaizah
(English Language Institute, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia)
Abstract: Carrying out a needs analysis (NA) is paramount for the implementation of any new curriculum where many stakeholders, such as students and teachers are called upon to be involved to probe their perceptions of such an enterprise. This study investigated teachers’ perceptions of NA in a Foundation English program in a Saudi context. Data of the study were collected using an online questionnaire administered to 85 teachers in men’s and women’s campuses. Results of the study indicated that teachers had conflicting views of NA, the curriculum and its implementation. For instance, teachers had different input on the importance of language skills their learners needed, priority of study topics, research and critical thinking skills. Teachers claimed that the course as it currently stood did not prepare their students to face the challenges of future careers, while others held a different opinion. Recommendations were made for teachers, in this very context and other similar-related contexts, to consider the need to design and adopt a new curriculum developed by teachers which should address the students’ evolving needs and wants.
Key words: curriculum, language skills, thinking skills, uses and usefulness of English, CNP
