An English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Course for Nursing Students in Jordan and the Role a Needs Analysis Played
Saleh Freihat, Khalaf Al-Makhzoomi

Abstract
Needs analysis is essential for designing any language course for learners. The aim of this study was to explore the learning needs of 20 participants, all of whom are nineteen-year old first year university Jordanian students. These were (five males and fifteen females) enrolled in Isra University Faculty of Nursing Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree nursing program during the Fall semester of the academic year 2010-2011. The researchers used three procedures, primarily nursing faculty and students interviews, observation of performance tests in labs, where participants performed lab procedures for their instructors, and clinical observations, where participants did the same procedures on actual clients in nursing homes and hospitals and needs analysis in the form of a 23- questionnaire (or survey) to gather data about the participants' learning needs. Based on the findings of the needs analysis, the researchers developed a language course to respond to their area of greatest difficulty: communicating in Arabic and in most cases, in English with clients, colleagues, nursing supervisors and the teaching staff of nurses in clinical settings. Materials for the ESP course were drawn form relevant health care communication sources (Bradley & Edinberg, 1982; Purtilo, 1990; and Davis, 1998). A series of in-class presentations and videotapes with particular emphasis on role-plays were adapted form the same sources to reinforce the course content and develop health care communication skills in participants in English since they are usually prepared to communicate with clients, colleagues and nursing teaching staff of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds at work in and outside Jordan. The course proved useful in helping participants to do so. It is recommended that further studies be conducted to satisfy diverse medical students' English language requirements in diverse medical professions (250 words).

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