This study focused on analyzing the process and results of an on-going needs analysis in an English course for aviation refueling operators in Soekarno- Hatta airport in Indonesia. It was hoped that the real-life experience might be of use for preparing other EOP courses. The data comprised needs analysis conducted before and during the course. Data of the pre-course needs analysis were collected from interviews, observation, and relevant company documents. During the course further observation and communication with the participants provided additional data for needs analysis, data that could not be collected before the course as well as new data. The present situation, target situation, and learning situation of the aviation refueling operators were analyzed both during the pre-course needs analysis and the needs analysis during the course. A syllabus devised from the result of precourse needs analysis was carried out during the course, although there were data gap which were about each participant English abilities, motivation, cultural background, technical and semi technical vocabularies, and input from customers. Those data gap were later bridged in the needs analysis during the course. Other data collected in needs analysis during the course were about adjustments made
during the course: the adjustments of time allotment, the topic sequencing by necessity, the material and the teaching methods. In addition, new needs of Aviation Refueling operators were also figured out in the needs analysis during
the course. This need was beyond AROs work which was not related to refueling. This study also discussed the reasons why there was data gap, which were mainly because of the inaccurate methods of delivery in the pre-course needs
analysis. There were insights gained in the needs analysis during the course. They were about the scheduling, the importance of having a special permission, and the syllabus designing. In short, this study shows that an EOP class is very much needs oriented. This experience has shown us why ESP is always related to needs analysis. |