A needs analysis for a Japanese high school EFL general education curriculum

Abstract

Program evaluation is a systematic way to improve and account for programmatic actions that involves procedures that are useful, feasible, ethical, and accurate for the intended users of the evaluation process and findings (Patton, 1997). The current evaluation was motivated by an emerging need from the primary intended users for curriculum improvement and clarification of goals and objectives of a private Japanese high school’s English language program. A needs analysis survey was conducted with students and full-time teachers, and the results were triangulated with national curriculum guidelines. Needs discrepancies and problems were identified and solutions to the problems and discrepancies between groups were offered. The final recommendation section proposed program goals and improvements that were presented to the school.