Determining the Academic English Language Needs of
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the academic English language
needs of computer science students at HiLCoE College. The target needs were
specified in terms of the four macro skills and the most common language
activities under each macro skill.
Questionnaires were designed and distributed to two different groupsinstructors
of computer science courses and students of computer science at
the college. Interviews were conducted with the instructors and students to
cross check the responses obtained through the questionnaires. With these
instruments, the subjects of the study were asked to indicate the degree of
importance of the macro skills and language activities to students of computer
science in the college.
The findings revealed that the receptive skills - listening and reading are the
most important skills followed by writing and speaking respectively. The
findings have also shown that the main language activities under each macro
skills are: a, Listening -listening to lecture, listening to teachers’ explanation
and listening to class discussion, b. Speaking- asking questions, answering
questions and Participating in group discussion, c. Writing- making lecture
notes, writing other assignments and writing test answers d. Reading – reading
lecture notes, reading text books and reading hand outs.
An analysis of the course book in use was also carried out to see whether it was
relevant to the needs of the learners. It was found out that it largely fails to
meet the needs of the learners in that the findings of the analysis did not
correspond to the identified needs of the learners.
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Keywords
Academic English Language Needs of