A MULTIDIMENSIONAL NEEDS ANALYSIS OF A ONE-TO-ONE WORKPLACE ESP COURSE: A CASE STUDY IN THE GREEK PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION

Ioanna Kiapekaki

Abstract


This study presents a multidimensional needs analysis (NA) of a one-to-one online Business English course for a mid-level technical supervisor at the Greek Public Power Corporation (PPC). While the course was initially framed as English for General Business Purposes (EGBP) using a standard B2+ coursebook, this research identifies a critical mismatch between generic "carrier content" and the "real content" required for technical supervision. Utilizing a framework that integrates Target Situation, Present Situation, Learning Needs, Strategy, and Means Analysis, data were collected through a mid-course semi-structured interview and analyzed thematically. The findings reveal that the learner’s primary communicative demands, specifically technical fault reporting and international coordination, were underserved by the general curriculum. Consequently, the study proposes a genre-based pedagogical intervention centered on a "Status-Cause-Action" discourse framework. The results underscore that effective ESP in corporate settings must move beyond standardized materials to integrate authentic workplace genres and systematic vocabulary retrieval practice. This case study provides a practical roadmap for practitioners to bridge the gap between general proficiency and specialized professional competence in high-stakes technical environments.

Keywords


needs analysis, ESP, workplace English, target situation analysis, strategic competence

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v11i1.6600

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