What is up with English: A Needs Analysis for Music Students

Abstract

The use of English throughout the whole world as an international language and English as a lingua franca (ELF) make it a necessity to learn English at a level competent enough to build an effective and appropriate communication. In this respect, this research aims to investigate the needs of Turkish music students in English courses at a state university in Turkey. The study was designed as a descriptive study and the participants were chosen by using convenience sampling. Needs analysis questionnaire was administered to the students and focus group interviews were conducted with both the students and the instructor. The qualitative data from the questionnaire and interview were analyzed by using constant-comparative method derived from grounded theory with coding procedures. The quantitative data in the questionnaires were presented with the frequencies. The findings indicate that the learners seem eager to learn English and need English for communication and academic purposes. Nevertheless, they may not have the necessary qualifications and strategies as a language learner. Some pedagogical suggestions will be presented for language instructors and policy makers.