A Content Analysis of the English Language Development Courses in Bangladeshi University English Departments

Syllabus, as one of the most important tools of teaching-learning, must contain necessary contents. A clearly designed, well-presented syllabus with the contents following the best practices in the field is a prerequisite for effective teaching. To analyze the contents of the syllabi of English language development courses of Bangladeshi university English departments, this study prepared a checklist of an ideal syllabus following the relevant literature and theories. The study has found that the contents in those syllabuses are presented in a haphazard way. They cannot the meet most of the criteria of an ideal syllabus in terms of contents. Most of them have only some learning topics or items as contents; and names of some books as materials. Regarding the other aspects like goals and objectives, assessment, rubric, teaching-learning methodologies, types of useful materials etc., the syllabuses present a very poor scenario. In the presentation and organisation, a linear fashion is found seemingly without any grading.