Assessing the English Language Needs of the Senegalese Professionals Working in Business and Tourism Sectors in Saint-Louis, Senegal

The role of English as an international language has made its teaching a growing field. Despite its unofficial status in countries like Senegal, English is used in all fields of activity. Specialization of content in English-teaching curricula is currently increasing, and authors agree that English is not to be studied simply for its own sake, but rather for its communicative uses. EFL teachers are expected to help students develop fluency in English and become familiar with the English specific to their content area, which is the main reason why the field of ESP (English for Specific Purposes) developed in contrast with General English. Specialists have been exploring learners’ needs in ESP in many parts of the world, because, as Munby (1978), Hutchinson & Waters (1987), and Dudley-Evans & St. John (1998) point out, needs analysis is of primary importance in teaching ESP. However, in Senegal, there has been less research focusing on the students’ learning needs. Senegalese students in content areas notice when they become job seekers that their level of English is lower than the labor market’s requirements. Using a qualitative approach, this study addresses that issue. It explores the role English plays in professional domains and assesses the learning needs for the professionals working in the fields of Business and Tourism. The purpose of this study is to help reduce the gap that currently exists between the English instructional programs and the job market’s requirements in order to produce graduates that meet the labor market’s expectations.