A Needs Analysis of English for Specific Purpose Course for the Personal Assistants (PAs) to HoDs of University Departments

Abstract

Language is an essential tool of communication. The English language is a lingua franca that is regarded as the most important source of communication worldwide in all spheres of life. English has taken center stage in every aspect of human life, whether it be in business, academics, or entertainment. The main objective of this study is to make an analysis of the needs of teaching English for specific purposes for the personal assistants (PAs) to HoDs of various university departments. 20 personal assistants (PAs) to HoDs of various departments from two different universities in Faisalabad, Pakistan, i.e., the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and Government College University Faisalabad, were chosen as the sample for the study in this investigation. The data has been elicited with a semi-structured questionnaire, and the elicited data is analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. The data shows that for the PAs to successfully carry out the tasks entrusted to them, speaking and listening skill development is essential. E-mail writing is an essential component of their jobs. Similarly, writing business letters is a common and frequent practice. Likewise, speaking English and English grammar are the most significant skills used by the personal assistants to conduct their official responsibilities; therefore, it is recommended that, in light of the findings of the current research study, an ESP course be designed and taught to the personal assistants to HoDs of university departments in order to help them cover up their English language proficiency and carry out their assigned duties more effectively.