ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES NEEDS ANALYSIS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Authors

  • Rachida Moussaoui Faculty of Arts and Humanities, El Jadida, Morocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v11i4.6990

Keywords:

English for Specific Purposes, needs analysis, higher education, ESP course design

Abstract

The present paper explores English for Specific Purposes (ESP) needs analysis in higher education. It examines the theoretical development of ESP, from early approaches such as register and rhetorical analysis to skill-centered and learning-centered perspectives. The paper highlights the distinction between ESP and General English and focuses on differences in objectives, content, and learner needs. It also reviews major frameworks of needs analysis, such as Target Situation Analysis, Present Situation Analysis, and Learning Situation Analysis, as well as influential models proposed by Munby, Hutchinson and Waters, and Dudley-Evans and St-John. Furthermore, the present review discusses empirical studies on ESP needs analysis and identifies gaps in existing research. It also informs ESP curriculum design in higher education contexts.

Author Biography

  • Rachida Moussaoui, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, El Jadida, Morocco

    Rachida Moussaoui is an English language teacher and researcher in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching. She holds a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and Language Studies from Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, and a Doctorate from Chouaïb Doukkali University, El Jadida. Her research trajectory has focused on addressing language learning and teaching needs across different educational contexts. Her Master's research examined needs analysis within the field of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), while her doctoral research investigated the use of Project-Based Learning (PBL) to develop learners' speaking skills in English. Her broader research interests include English for Specific Purposes, needs analysis, Project-Based Learning, speaking skills, and innovative approaches to English language teaching. She has been teaching English since 2019 and is a member of the Moroccan Association of Teachers of English (MATE).

References

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Published

2026-09-07

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 4 (2026)

Section

Articles

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