A Case Study in General English Learning Needs Analysis

This is a case study in general English learning needs analysis. This study focuses on the situation of one person's English learning and using who is a freshman in a common college majoring in medical imaging engineering over a period of five years. This case study consists of three stages. At first, the research summarizes the learner's present English skills through self-assessment questionnaire and English test. Secondly, it analyzes the situation of college English teaching by teacher's interview and classroom observation. After two-year study, the learner also finished the self-assessment questionnaire on English competence. Finally, the author observes the object's English use at workplace based on the framework of needs analysis by Hutchinson & Water (1987: 59). The results of the study show that college English teaching should have bridged the gap between the present English abilities of the learner and the English needs of the situation in which he will work, but it failed. Therefore, it's necessary to supplement ESP (English for Specific Purposes) course, especially EOP (English for Occupational Purposes) course after general English learning. In addition, it's essential to make a profound and comprehensive learners' needs analysis before college English course designed.