Investigation of The Needs of Higher Education Tourism Students for English

Year 2018, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 18 - 28, 01.02.2018

Davut Uysal Saadet Pınar Temizkan Nazmi Taslacı

Abstract

This research intended to carry out a needs analysis for English language at higher education tourism students in Turkey. Therefore, a questionnaire was developed, and then its validity was confirmed. The participants of this research were 393 tourism students from 26 universities in Turkey. The data gathered through the developed questionnaire were submitted for a descriptive analysis. The results revealed the following findings; a- the English language education presented at tourism related departments is not satisfactory, b- the English text books chosen in line with the principles of general English language education do not satisfy the tourism students’ needs c- tourism students are not adequately trained about their language needs regarding their future career d- English language classes should be re-evaluated and redesigned with regards to content and teaching methods for more fruitful learning, elistening and speaking skills in English courses should be given more importance, f- course contents should be re-designed under the principles of English for Specific Purposes. It is hoped that the findings of this study will contribute to new EFL curriculum designs, text book developments to facilitate English teaching and learning at Tourism departments at higher education institutions in Turkey

Keywords

Needs analysis, Tourism students, ESP

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