Exploring the English learning needs for vocational school learners: students and teacher perceptions

Abstract

The current study explores the needs analysis for students taking English Subject in Maritime Fishing Vessel Engineering, in vocational School. As a part of government commitment to improve education in developing specific skill, the vocational school has been given much attention in order to graduate the student who may function well in workplace. However, this effort is not in line with the system has offered in school. The need analysis is functioned to describe the students’ needs in the real classroom so that the system can be informed to have a better improvement. To do this, the descriptive qualitative was undertaken focusing on multiple realities of the groups of student and teacher. The need analysis included the necessities, lacks, wants and learning needs of Maritime students. The finding shows that students need more specific English learning to support them improving in specific skills. The results also suggest that within school level realize some problems are existed which may inhibit the effectiveness of ESP practices in English classroom. This finding can be useful for school and the educational system to provide the better ESP program in vocational school level.

Keywords: ESP, need analysis, English for maritime