A MULTIDIMENSIONAL NEEDS ANALYSIS OF A ONE-TO-ONE WORKPLACE ESP COURSE: A CASE STUDY IN THE GREEK PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION

Authors

  • Ioanna Kiapekaki English Teacher, Second Chance School Business English Instructor, PPC, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v11i1.6600

Keywords:

needs analysis, ESP, workplace English, target situation analysis, strategic competence

Abstract

This study presents a multidimensional needs analysis (NA) of a one-to-one online Business English course for a mid-level technical supervisor at the Greek Public Power Corporation (PPC). While the course was initially framed as English for General Business Purposes (EGBP) using a standard B2+ coursebook, this research identifies a critical mismatch between generic "carrier content" and the "real content" required for technical supervision. Utilizing a framework that integrates Target Situation, Present Situation, Learning Needs, Strategy, and Means Analysis, data were collected through a mid-course semi-structured interview and analyzed thematically. The findings reveal that the learner’s primary communicative demands, specifically technical fault reporting and international coordination, were underserved by the general curriculum. Consequently, the study proposes a genre-based pedagogical intervention centered on a "Status-Cause-Action" discourse framework. The results underscore that effective ESP in corporate settings must move beyond standardized materials to integrate authentic workplace genres and systematic vocabulary retrieval practice. This case study provides a practical roadmap for practitioners to bridge the gap between general proficiency and specialized professional competence in high-stakes technical environments.

Author Biography

  • Ioanna Kiapekaki, English Teacher, Second Chance School Business English Instructor, PPC, Greece

    Ioanna Kiapekaki is an experienced English language educator with 15 years of teaching practice. She is currently completing her M.Ed. in TESOL at the Hellenic Open University, specializing in the Teaching of English as a Foreign and International Language. Her extensive professional background includes delivering Business English courses internationally, having taught in diverse contexts such as Chile, China, and Ukraine. For the past four years, she has specialized in corporate language training at the Greek Public Power Corporation (PPC) and has also taught at Schools of Second Chance (SDE). Her research focus lies in English for Specific Purposes (ESP), adult education, and the communicative demands of technical professional environments.

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Published

2026-03-22

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

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