Abstract:
This study attempts to analyze the learning needs of Abu Dhabi police officers for designing an ESP course. The study suggests a learning-centered approach to developing an ESP course frame work for Abu Dhabi Police Cadets by following the language course frame work offered by Hutchinson and Waters (1987) the study starts with defining ESP and explains its features and types. The study also compares and contrasts ESP and EGP. The study discusses needs analysis comprehensively; it highlights needs analysis history and types. The study explains the role of needs analysis as a first step in designing ESP course. Then the study adopts three types of needs analysis (Present Situation, Target Situation and learning needs) to find out the actual needs of the cadets.
The study adopts analytical and descriptive method.For data collecting a questionnaire was used.For evaluating and assessing trainees' level and competence in English a test was employed. After collecting the data it was analyzed statistically by using SPSS.
The participants included two groups of stakeholders: fifty former police cadets and thirty current police cadets.
The analysis of the results showed that the current course at Abu Dhabi Police School is ineffective and inappropriate because it doesn't meetthe police cadets' actual needs. The study at the end and based on these results and findings suggested an ESP course framework to be adopted and to replace the current general English course.
