Investigation of The Needs of Higher Education Tourism Students for English

Yıl 2018, Cilt: 1 Sayı: 1, 18 - 28, 01.02.2018

Davut Uysal Saadet Pınar Temizkan Nazmi Taslacı

Öz

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

Anahtar Kelimeler

Needs analysis, Tourism students, ESP

Kaynakça

• Afzali, K. and Rezapoorian, D. (2014). Pragmatic aspects of English for tourism course books and ESL learners pragmatic needs: A Speech act theory perspective. Elsevier 98:52-59.
• Berwick, R. (1989). Needs assessment in language programming: from theory to practice. In R. K. Johnson (Ed.), The second language curriculum. (pp. 48-62). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Boonyawattana, P. (1999). Needs analysis of English in the tourism business. Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai University.
• Brindley, G. P. (1989). Needs assessment in language program design. In R. K. Johnson (Ed), The second language curriculum. (pp.63-78). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Demirkol, Ş. and Pelit, E. (2002). Türkiye`de turizm eğitimi sistemi ve Avrupa Birliği sürecinde olası gelişmeler. Ticaret ve Turizm Fakültesi Dergisi, 2(5), 125-145.
• Dudley-Evans, A. and St John, M. J. (1998). Developments in English for specific purposes: a multidisciplinary approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Ekici, N. (2003). A needs assessment study on English language needs of the Tour Guidance students of Faculty of Applied Sciences at Baskent University. Master's Thesis, Baskent University.
• Gatehouse, K. (2001). Key issues in English for Specific purposes (ESP) curriculum development. Internet TESL Journal, Vol VII, No. 10. Retrieved January 2, 2016, from http://iteslj.org/Articles/Gatehouse- ESP.html
• Hutchinson, T. and Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Keyoonwong, S. (1998). A survey of needs and wants of English in tourism career in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai University
• Kınsız, M. (2005). Mesleki yabancı dil eğitiminin sürdürülebilir gelişmeye katkıları. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal
• Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 1(13), 259-270.
• Nunan, D. (1988). The learner-centred curriculum. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Richterich, R., and Chancerel, J. L. (1980). Identifying the needs of adults learning a foreign language. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
• Robinson, P. (1991). ESP Today: A Practitioner’s Guide. Great Britain: Prentice Hall International English Language Teaching.
• Xhaferi, B. (2010). Teaching and Learning ESP Vocabulary. Biblid, 229-255.
• Vellas, F. and Becherel, L. (1995). International Tourism, MacMillan Business, London.
• West, R. (1994). Needs analysis in language teaching. Language Teaching, 27, 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0261444800007527