1
Perceptions of English Language Use at Tourist
Hotels in Taiwan
Instructor: Dr. Pi-Ying HsuPresenter: Wei – Ting Chien
Date: Oct 8, 2009
2
Citation
Shieh, W. (2009, May). Perceptions of English Language Use at Tourist Hotels in Taiwan. Paper presented at the 26th International Conference on English Teaching and Learning, Hsinchu, R.O.C.
3
Contents Introductio
nFramework of the studyMethod
sResults
Reflection
4
Introduction
A good command and fluent use of English is an essential key to assuring the success of the hospitality service
(Shieh, 2009)
5
Introduction
Hospitality Management Departments require students to take a half-year to one-year off-school internship to gain field experiential learning experiences
(Shieh, 2009)
6
Purpose
to examine the perceptions of university seniors on the hotel English use upon completing their required one-year internship
7
Research QuestionsWhat are the English language needs that students perceived during their internship?
Listening
Speaking Writing
Reading
Job reportsGuests’ enquiries
Professional articlesBusiness CorrespondenceWork Manuals
Business CorrespondenceBusiness EmailsFormsMessages
Dealing with enquiries
8
Research Questions
How well do the students perceive concerning their English language performance during their internship?
11 22 33 44
Reading Listening Writing Speaking
9
Research Questions
What workplace English that the students perceive as high in needs yet low in their performance?
Speaking skills
10
FrameworkHotel English Proficiency Assessment
LanguageCompetency
PragmaticCompetency
StrategicCompetency
Psychophysio-logical Skills
(Bachman, 1989., Douglas, 2000)
•Vocabulary•Grammar•phonology
•Appropriate locutions
•Illocutionary utterances
•Communication
•Interpersonal
•Modes
•Medium
11
MethodsParticipants Hotel management major
Requirement 1 year internship at international hotels
Departments Front OfficeHousekeeping DepartmentFood & Beverage Division
Instrument Questionnaire survey(80 distributes, 73 returned)
12
Methods
Questionnaire(constructed with
HEPA)
Demographic information
Self-assessed language
performance
Importance of linguistic
skills
13
Results
14
Results
x
y
15
Results
16
Results
17
Results
18
Results
< 2.5 < <2.00 3.00
19
Results
> <- 34
High Low
20
Reflection
What important criteria of curriculum should be much concerned in Hotel English courses of hotel management department?
How do English teachers help students improve their workplace English proficiency to be already to enter the workplace?
21
Thank you!