Needs analysis of engineering students on the use of english for specific purposes

Abstract

The needs analysis for the use of English for Specific Purposes among students of Electromechanical Engineering of the Technological Institute of Mexico, Chihuahua subsidiary, constitutes the objective of the present study. On this research, theoretical concepts of several authors regarding needs analysis on language teaching are established, particularly on English for specific purposes, as well as the selection and adaptation of an instrument for data collecting specially crafted for this process in engineering. The collected data were processed by statistical means through specialized software, and the information of a qualitative nature complemented the patterns found in the descriptive analysis. The obtained results allowed to determine the main academic and professional needs of the students regarding the use of English for Specific Purposes, as well as the level of proficiency in which the current curricula provides solutions of said needs. The derived conclusions of the data analysis will make possible the improvement of the currently available curricula, as well as a stepping stone of further research.