English Language Needs for Fashion Designing and Cosmetology Students in TVTC

Introduction
The data was collected through an online-questionnaire using Qualtrics. The main aim
behind collecting the data was to help answering the research question: What are the specific
English language needs for fashion designing and cosmetology students in The Technical and
Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) in Saudi Arabia. This was an important question to
be answered in order to improve the current English curriculum. The questionnaire was sent
through WhatsApp and Twitter and was answered by 12 participants, all graduate from
TVTC Cosmetology and Fashion design in Saudi Arabia vocational colleges. I created a
twitter account for the survey and sent it to the official twitter accounts of TVTC in eight
cities that includeDwadmi, Alkharaj, Almadinah, Alahsa, Jeddah, Tabook, Meccah, Buraidah
and Taif. I also sent it to a WhatsApp group of my previous students who are all graduates.
Participants answered the questionnaire anonymously and the survey technique was Simple
Random Sample commonly abbreviated as SRS. According to this method, participants were
chosen randomly from TVTC colleges .It was noted that four participants out of twelve did
not complete the survey for unknown reason.
Presentation of Results
Participants answered questions about their English-major related needs that whether
these needs are present in their current English curriculum or they have to find other sources
to fulfil these needs. The first part of the question was about general background questions,
for example, English proficiency level, major, are they graduates or students and so on and so
forth.
The second part of the questions, aimed to survey their weakest English skill, between
the four options of Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. Then they were asked about

their views if these weaknesses were met in the curriculum. Also, it aimed to survey the
existence of major-related English in the curriculum. The third part was about their future
work environment needs in relation to what they have learned in TVTC’s English curriculum.
The open questions were included in the survey for participants to comment on problems not
covered by the questionnaire.
Eight out of twelve participants answered the questionnaire (66%). 62.50%
cosmetology and 37.50% fashion design students who have graduated from TVTC.
The satisfaction rate showed that 50% of participants were satisfied with the English
course (Chart 1). Although, 50% of participants acknowledged that they rarely learn any new
major-related terminology in the English course they study in TVTC.
37.50% of the participants agreed on writing and speaking being the two weakest
English skills. 37.50% were weak in writing and 50% in speaking. They also mentioned that
they unlikely to use other sources to develop this skill other than the English course in TVTC.
Listening reported a relatively lower rate, with 25.00% of respondents considered listening
the weakest English skill and 0% respondents for reading, but 62.50% reported that
sometimes they use extra sources to improve their reading skill. To develop the skill of
listening, 37.50% responded that they sometimes use other sources to learn more about major
related topics in English by listening to audios and watching videos from other sources than
the TVTC English curriculum, like YouTube.
The participants also answered three questions regarding their expected work
environment. To understand the needs in a major related content in the English curriculum,
While 62.50% were cosmetology graduates, 0% wanted to work in a beauty salons. 50%
would like to work in an academic career as teachers in TVTC colleges. 37.50% would like
to work as freelance designers and 12.50% chose other careers without specifying .The