Webinar – Needs Analysis & Language Learning: Unlocking Opportunities for Successful Language Programs

Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 10-11:30 AM Arizona (UTC-7)

To see what time it starts where you are, click here.

Needs analysis is essential to language programs and a central topic of study inquiry in the areas of second and foreign language learning, and languages for specific and academic purposes. The formulation of curricula, the layout of a syllabus, the identification of language learning objectives and results as well as the selection of language learning materials or the design of learning tasks can all be informed by an assessment of the target and current needs of the students. Likewise, the analysis of language teachers’ and language program administrators’ needs can help to uncover additional gaps and necessities that may affect instructional strategies and course design.

This webinar aims to familiarize newcomers with the concept of needs analysis while offering valuable insights to experienced teachers. It will begin by defining the key constructs of “needs” and “needs analysis”. It will then provide a concise overview of the historical evolution of needs analysis and its pivotal role in shaping language programs across diverse learning contexts. After that, the focus will be placed on the practicalities of conducting an effective needs analysis, exploring the key steps in the process, identifying the participants, and examining the methods and instruments that have proved to be useful for collecting and analyzing needs data. Examples of needs analysis studies from current literature will be put forward to delve into the principles of needs analysis in real-world contexts, and also to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges of the process. To enrich the discussion, webinar participants will be invited to share their views and contribute their own experiences in the field.

Bio:

Ana Bocanegra-Valle is Associate Professor at the University of Cadiz (Spain) where she teaches Maritime English at graduate level (English for navigation) and postgraduate level (English for the shipping business, English for port management and logistics). Her main research interests include Maritime English, ESP/EAP methodology and education (mainly needs analysis and materials design), and ESP/EAP discourse. She has been the Editor-in-chief of the ESP journal Ibérica for eight years and is at present Book Review editor for two international journals (ESP Today and Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics). She has published articles and book chapters in prestigious journals and publishing houses and has served as peer reviewer for several journals both in Spain and abroad. She leads the research group Languages applied to communication in academic and professional settings at the university, and is at present participating in the national R&D+i project Genre networks for science communication and dissemination online. Her latest books are Applied Linguistics and Knowledge Transfer: Employability, Internationalisation and Social Challenges (Peter Lang, 2020), and Ethnographies of Academic Writing. Theory, Methods, and Interpretation (co-edited, John Benjamins, 2021, and winner of the 9^th edition of the “Enrique Alcaraz Research Award” conferred by the European Association of Languages for Specific Purposes).