Information collection & exchange

es
g
ol 
ch 
y
ing can be carried out through a series of interviews and conversations with 
eag
s,
director, the head of the English department, your Peace Corps program manager, 
r V
n
ents. 
asking your questions you may want to make it clear that you are not ev
rself so that you can serve your s
l 
m
ity
th
ost effective way 
kills will come into play as you both gather information and set the framework 
our colleagues and supervis r. 
students before your firs classes will enable you to get an idea of 
not need a detailed analysis at this point, but it would be good to know how 
is will help you itch 
ur la gua e at n appropriate level 
ay for you o ga
e y
r s den ' attitudes towards 
ptions of what they need from you. If past records of students' 
ou build a pic re f w
t to expect in the 
ey understand and how capable they are of handling English. 
football? (past) 
u do when you leave school? (future) 
u do this evening? (future) 
nt clues about your students' ability to use 
er
In 
qu
ational educational system? 
Fo
 Ex
step in your job. 
For those of you who are teaching English as a secondary project, perhaps by tutoring coworkers or 
coaching their children, a needs assessment will help you establish a purpose for your classes. It may also 
help you dis
a
unwarranted sense of failure. 
 Ass
sin needs in scho
Mu
of our fact-find
l 
coll
ue the schoo
othe
olu teers and your stud
In
aluating or passing judgment. 
un
Your purpose is to inform you
possible. Your cross-cultural s
choo com
in e m
for a good working relationship with y
o
Creating the opportunity to talk to your
t
their level of English. You do 
much they understand when you talk to them. Th
p
yo
n
g
a
in your classes. These talks will also be a useful w
t
ug
ou
tu
ts
learning English and to explore their perce
performance in English are available, these will also help y
tu
o
ha
classroom. 
This informal approach to assessing levels is particularly effective with primary school children. These 
children are usually friendly and delighted to meet an American. Take advantage of their friendliness to talk 
to them and to assess their level of English. A few questions about their names, ages, brothers, sisters and 
omes will help you ascertain how much th
h
When you are asking these questions, remember to use different tenses. For example: 
1. What class were you in last year? (past) 
2. When did you learn to play
3. What will yo
4. What will yo
5. What's your favorite subject? (present) 
6. Who's your best friend? (present) 
7. How long have you been at this school? (present perfect) 
8. How long have you been learning English? (present perfect progressive) 
isten carefully to the answers you get. They will give you importa
L
v b tenses in English. 
conducting a needs assessment in a school you are looking for answers to the following general 
estions: 
1. What do your students expect from an English class? 
2. What are the English language requirements of your school and of the n
3. What materials are available? 
r each of these general areas, you will have a specific set of questions.