English for Pharmacy Students: A Needs Analysis for Instructional Material Development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24252/Eternal.V102.2024.A3Keywords:
English for Specific Purposes (ESP);, pharmacy students;, needs analysis;, instructional material development;, mixed-methods research;, academic and professional communicationAbstract
The ability to use English effectively in professional and academic settings is essential for pharmacy students in today’s globalized health and pharmaceutical industries. However, many pharmacy programs still rely on general English courses that do not reflect the specific communicative tasks and discourse practices required in the pharmacy profession. This study aims to analyze the English language needs of pharmacy students as a basis for developing relevant instructional materials. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 80 undergraduate pharmacy students, four lecturers, and two professional pharmacists through questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were interpreted through thematic analysis. The findings reveal that pharmacy students need greater competence in reading and writing scientific texts, mastering technical vocabulary, and developing speaking skills for patient counseling and professional collaboration. The results emphasize the importance of designing English for Specific Purposes (ESP) materials that are context-based, skill-integrated, and aligned with real-world pharmacy communication. The study contributes practical insights for ESP curriculum designers, material developers, and English instructors in health-related disciplines.
Downloads
References
Astika, G. (2015). The Role of Needs Analysis in English for Specific Purposes. TEFLIN Journal - A Publication on the Teaching and Learning of English, 10(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v10i1/31-47
Belcher, D. D. (2004). 8. Trends in Teaching English for Specific Purposes. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 24, 165–186. https://doi.org/10.1017/S026719050400008X
Basturkmen, H. (2010). Developing Courses in English for Specific Purposes. Palgrave Macmillan.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). SAGE.
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (3rd ed.). SAGE.
Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research Methods in Applied Linguistics. Oxford University Press.
Dewi, K. M. C., & Santosa, M. H. (2025). Exploring English for pharmacy: A systematic literature review of pedagogical trends and challenges. Indonesian Research Journal in Education (IRJE), 9(01), 335-346. https://doi.org/10.22437/irje.v9i01.39773 (Online Journal Universitas Jambi)
Flowerdew, J. (2012). English for Research Publication Purposes. In The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes (pp. 301–321). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855.ch16
Hewings, M. (2002). English for Specific Purposes: Editorial. English for Specific Purposes, 21(3), 209–210.
Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for Specific Purposes: A Learning-Centred Approach. Cambridge University Press.
Hyland, K. (2006). English for Academic Purposes: An advanced resource book. Routledge.
R. (1989). English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Language Teaching, 22(03), 150.
Long, M. H. (2005). Second Language Needs Analysis. Cambridge University Press.
Laili, R. N., & Nashir, M. (2023). An analysis of pharmacy students’ English language needs. Eduvelop: Journal of English Education and Development, 6(2), 114-124. https://doi.org/10.31605/eduvelop.v6i2.2116 (Online Journal Systems Unsulbar)
Fatmawati, A., Nurpahmi, S., & Nur, M. J. A. (2020). DEVELOPING ELT READING SKILLS MATERIAL FOR PHARMACY AT UIN ALAUDDIN MAKASSAR. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on English Language Education (ICONELE) 2020.
Flowerdew, J. (2012). English for Research Publication Purposes. In The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes (pp. 301–321). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855.ch16
Hewings, M. (2002). English for Specific Purposes: Editorial. English for Specific Purposes, 21(3), 209–210.
Jordan, R. R. (1989). English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Language Teaching, 22(03), 150.
Nurpahmi, S. (2014). English for Specific Purposes: Integrated Approach (A. Sardian Maharani Asnur (ed.)). Alauddin Universisity Press.
Nurpahmi, S. (2017). ESP COURSE DESIGN: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH. In Lentera Pendidikan (Vol. 19, Issue 2).
Nurpahmi, S., & Hasriani, H. (2021). ELT MATERIAL FOR BIOLOGY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT STUDENTS: WHAT ARE THE STUDENTS’NEEDS? English Language, Linguistics, and Culture International Journal, 1(2), 73–84.
Nurpahmi, S., Kamsinah, K., & Ningsih, N. (2020). Need Analysis of English For Math Instructional Material. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.12-10-2019.2292207
Paltridge, B., & Starfield, S. (2012). The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes. In The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855
Paltridge, B., & Starfield, S. (2012). The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes. In The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855
Richards, J. C. (2001). Curriculum Development in Language Teaching. Cambridge University Press.
Solihati, T. A., & Rahayu, N. (2020). A study on students’ needs in learning English for pharmacy (A starting point to design innovative syllabus). English Review: Journal of English Education, 9(1), 125-134. https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v9i1.3785 (Distant Reader)
Srinawati, W. (2019). Need analysis of English for pharmacy students at Medical Vocational High School of Prof. Dr. Moestopo. In International Conference on Environmental Awareness for Sustainable Development (ICEASD & ICCOSED 2019). DOI: 10.4108/eai.1-4-2019.2287287. (EUDL).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright notice:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access)
