Redesigning common compulsory foreign language courses in higher education: A needs-based approach

Date

2026-2-18

Author

Uğurlu, Mustafa

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This study focuses on the improvement of Common Compulsory Foreign Language (CCFL) courses offered in English within Turkish higher education. Research indicates that many universities do not have a structured roadmap for these courses, and that instructors often rely heavily on coursebooks. These materials are not always appropriate for students’ needs and frequently function as unofficial syllabi. Although the Council of Higher Education (CoHE) defines course objectives, there is no national standard regarding weekly class hours, teaching content, or instructional materials. To examine these issues, this study employed a needs analysis to identify the needs of EFL students and instructors. The study was guided by Nation and Macalister’s (2020) course design model and aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Data were collected through online surveys and semi-structured interviews with university students and English language instructors. Based on the findings, a course design model was developed to reflect the realities of CCFL classrooms in Türkiye and to address the identified needs through a model that promotes more effective and context-sensitive language instruction. This framework is intended to provide a basis for efforts to standardize CCFL courses while maintaining adaptability across diverse institutional contexts.

Subject Keywords

Common compulsory foreign language courses, Course design model, Language learning and teaching, Material design, Needs analysis

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/118502

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis