Tailoring English for pharmaceutical purposes: Insights from a needs analysis

Abstract

Developing an English for Specific Purposes [ESP] course necessitates a focused approach during the needs analysis phase, as it aims to address the specific language skills required by a particular community of practice. This study conducted a targeted needs analysis to support the development of an English for Pharmaceutical Purposes [EPP] course within an EFL context. As a part of an action research project, the researchers identified learning outcomes derived from this preliminary phase of ESP course design. To achieve this, semi-structured interviews were conducted with faculty members at a pharmacy faculty, alongside a document analysis of existing EPP syllabi from Turkish universities and pharmacy-specific English coursebooks. The findings from interviews reveal that, given the EFL context, certain English for Academic Purposes [EAP] skills are critical in addition to the language competencies needed for pharmaceutical contexts such as pharmacy stores, pharmaceutical companies, international collaborations, international hospitals, and pharmaceutical laboratories. Additionally, the context-driven learning outcomes identified through document analysis can assist ESP practitioners in selecting domain-specific topics and tasks for EPP syllabus design, while also integrating them with interview-based learning outcomes. Recognizing the context-specific nature of ESP, the proposed learning outcomes aim to provide ESP practitioners with a practical framework for designing tailored courses.