The Importance of Needs Analysis in Designing an ESP Course for Dentistry Students at University of Ghardaia

Abstract

The present research examines how needs analysis (NA) contributes to the development of an effective ESP programme for dentistry students at the University of Ghardaia. More specifically, it aims to identify the specific language needs and challenges that dentistry students experience when they study English for dental purposes. To this end, a mixed-methods design was used by distributing questionnaires to dentistry students and ESP teachers while observing classroom activities. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and presented through graphs and pie charts while qualitative data were analysed automatically. The major findings showed that dentistry students acknowledge the significance of English for their field because of how globalisation and international dental research and practice operate. Students experience challenges with various language skills, which involve reading scientific documents and understanding complex dental terms, writing academic papers and interacting in professional situations. The study findings established that students' academic performance and comprehension abilities depended on their linguistic competence. Students expressed a need for dental ESP materials because they do not know dental vocabulary, and they have not experienced real dental language learning. The study recommends an ESP curriculum based on a comprehensive NA, which should include dental English materials and discipline-based language training and interactive teaching methods to support student academic and professional success in dentistry.

Keywords: English for Specific Purposes (ESP), Needs Analysis, Dentistry, ESP Course Design, Language Needs, Linguistic Competence, Dental Terminology