From Needs Analysis to Curriculum Design: The Implementation of a Self- study ESP Curriculum to Enhance Communicative English Ability of Ticket Sellers of Public Bus Service

Abstract

This study aims to investigate functional English language’s needs of public bus ticket sellers and to develop a Self- study English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Curriculum package to enhance communicative English ability of bus ticket sellers  in the northern part of Thailand.  86 bus ticket sellers were randomly selected for  the needs analysis, and 30 ticket sellers for the implementation of the Self- Study ESP course. The research instruments used were a needs survey questionnaire, a needs focus-group interview, a situational analysis observation, a preliminary functional English test, an Functional Communicative English performance test, a follow- up interview and reflection. Based on needs analysis results, a Self-Study ESP Curriculum package was developed. The results show that the ticket sellers realized the importance of English for their job, wanted to improve functional English speaking and listening the most.  They preferred learning by themselves with learning aids.  Additionally, the ticket sellers’ communicative English ability significantly increased after the implementation of the Self- Study ESP curriculum. In conclusion, the Self- Study ESP Curriculum package is effective in enhancing the ticket sellers’ communicative English ability.