An investigation of occupational English language needs of Turkish police officers

Abstract

This study investigated the occupational English language needs of police officers working in various departments of the Turkish National Police Organization (T.N.P.O.). Most police officers are graduates of the Police Academy, a four-year university equivalent program located in Ankara. To study at the Police Academy, students must first complete either a high school or one of the four Police Colleges. Although the intensive language training in the Police Colleges is often considered adequate for most officers' needs, those officers who come from other backgrounds are often left behind. Even in the case of the Police College graduates, all their English language training is based on the principles of General English, and does not necessarily prepare them for the occupational-specific language needs they face on the job. This study set out to explore therefore, exactly to what extent the officers' English language training is in fact adequate, and also to determine the particular language skills and genres required in various departments of the T.N.P.O. Data, in this study, were collected by means of a questionnaire administered to 25 police officers, and six interviews conducted with six police officers from various departments of the T.N.P.O. The departments were determined on the basis of their having been identified in the questionnaires as the departments requiring the maximum amount of English skills from their personnel. This study revealed that the officers feel that an occupational English course should be designed specifically for Turkish police officers. Such a course should directly focus on meeting police officers’ English language needs according to departments they work in, as each department is found to have different requirements