Stakeholder needs in English for Legal Purposes (ELP) for Sri Lankan Undergraduates

Abstract

Studies on needs analysis in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) have focused their attention on identifying contradictory stakeholder needs. This study is aimed at identifying needs of stakeholders with regard to the preferred content of an English for Legal Purposes Course (ELP) for Sri Lankan law undergraduates. Needs of 104 stakeholders in two university English courses (i.e. law undergraduates, law lecturers, English lecturers, Heads of Departments of Law and a Course Coordinator and lawyers) were collected using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Stakeholder needs were identified in terms of necessary language skills required in both learning and target situations. The mean values of the law undergraduates' responses were calculated, and in order to measure whether there is a significant difference in the mean values of the undergraduates of each academic year One Way ANOVA tests were carried out. Further, data collected from open-ended items of the questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were analysed qualitatively by grouping related responses and identifying patterns of stakeholders's responses. The results of this stakeholder needs analysis include necessary language skills, preferred activities and non-linguistic needs such as teaching methodology, materials and assessment. This study would provide an empirical basis for curriculum planning for an ELP course and a foundation for tailor-made language course for Sri Lankan law undergraduates.