Surachestpong, Issares (2016) A Needs Assessment of Intensive Language Teaching at the ADF School of Languages. Other Degree thesis, Victoria University.

Abstract

This research study is a needs assessment, undertaken within the Proactive Form of Program Evaluation, of the intensive teaching of Languages Other than English at the Australian Defence Forces School of Languages (LANGS). The participants in this research were drawn from adult students (past and present) on the Persian and Thai [Defence’s Group 3 languages – General Language (GL) Curriculum] Courses, teachers from these courses, non-teaching staff and one external stakeholder. My research aimed to conduct a needs assessment based on current practices of the General Language Curriculum delivery using a proactive form of evaluation (Owen 2006) as a framework. The prime purpose was to establish a set of needs so that I might create a thriving and sustainable intensive language teaching context at LANGS; these needs led to the formation of a list of 24 recommendations for future action. A qualitative methodology was employed and an inductive data reduction approach (Ling et al., 2014) applied in the analysis of data, collected through document analysis and in-depth and focus group interviews. The results are reported as a case study that includes an extensive number of vignettes. The data analysis revealed that LANGS’ operations accorded with theories of organisational behaviour. It highlighted the importance of the collaboration between participants, coupled with resources and facilities that dictated LANGS’ individual outcomes and organisational outputs, and which reflected its entrepreneurial focus.

Search Google Scholar

Repository staff login