| dc.description.abstract | This dissertation explores the linguistic needs of Afrikaans-speaking
lecturers at an English-medium, Historically Black
University. The concept of learner needs is briefly discussed,
and the various aspects of a needs analysis are examined. The
importance of a needs analysis as part of the planning of a
remedial language course (or any other language course) is
emphasised, and the limitations of needs analysis are pointed
out.
The usefulness of Error Analysis as a tool within an analysis of
needs is pointed out. It is shown how an error analysis may be
used to help establish the learners’ present needs and ‘lacks’
with regard to the target language. The Error Analysis hypothesis in briefly presented, and the notion of error is discussed.
Research on course design and remediation for adult learners is
reviewed. Here, the importance of needs analysis as an important
preliminary step in course design, is emphasised.
A needs analysis is conducted using a questionnaire and follow-up
interview with a group of Afrikaans-speaking lecturers at an
English-medium university. This is done in order to establish
their perceived linguistic needs English. An Error Analysis of
the lectures presented (in English) by these lecturers is
undertaken to obtain more information about the substantive
linguistic needs (or ‘lacks’) of these lecturers. Errors of a
linguistic nature (morphology, syntax, sentence structure, and
lexis), are identified and classified.
The dissertation considers the implications of these perceived
and substantive needs for a remediation course for Afrikaans-speaking
lecturers at an English Medium University. The
dissertation concludes by making recommendations with reference
to possible techniques which may be employed in a remediation
course, and a concise outline of a possible remediation course
for Afrikaans-speaking lecturers at an English-medium university,
is given. | en_US |
