Analysis of language needs of english literature majors: A non-native context study

Abstract

The present research was conducted to investigate the language needs of English literature students in Iran. In this study two groups of participants filled in the related questionnaires which dealt with the investigation of their language needs. The first group (N=224) was junior and senior students of English literature from Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Razi University of Kermanshah, and Azad University of Kerman. The second group (N=52) was former English literature students who were teachers and/or translators in Kerman and Kermanshah at the time. The second group was chosen to verify if the expectations of the current students as regards their future needs were realistic. The results of the analysis of the data revealed that the current English literature students used English for academic purposes mostly. The most important future function of English language for current English literature students was for teaching purposes. Results revealed that the future expectations of the current English literature students were in accord with reality.