esp course design (1) (1)

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ESP COURSE DESIGN FOR HOTEL

EMPLOYEES

ESP methodology is characterised by the use of

tasks and activities reflecting the students

specialist areas.

efore plunging into this course, it is important to say that we have based its design

on an English for Specific Purposes Strategy. Firstly, we will specify some generalconsiderations about the course. Secondly, the results of the needs analysis will be

analysed in order to identify the students current knowledge, hopes and needs. Thirdly, we

will specify the objectives of the course and. Fourthly, we will focus on just one unit of the

course to provide an example of what the course would look like and how it should be

planned. For this purpose, we will focus on the conceptualization of contents to be taught,

the materials to be used, the planning of the lesson and the unit evaluation.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Level of the students: Pre-Intermediate level

Type of course: English for Tourism

A course designed for a group of Hotel employees

We have been hired by the owner of a five-star Hotel, in which the employees claimed in

their CVS that they have an advanced level of English but they actually dont. As a matter

of fact, the owner of the hotel has discovered that his employees do not know the specific

language for communicating with English-speaking tourists.

B


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NEEDS ANALYSIS

Current Proficiency Level of the Students:Intermediate level.

Field knowledge: A2 level.

The learners can understand sentences and frequently used expressions, related to

areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic and personal family

information, shopping, local geography, employment):

They can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct

exchange of information on familiar and routine matters;

They can describe -in simple terms- aspects of his/her background, immediate

environment and matters on areas of immediate need.

Motivation: After analysing the Needs Analysis questionnaires, we arrived at the

conclusion that most learners want to learn English because its essential for their jobs.

However, most of them are not trying to improve it, as they claim that they do not have

enough time to do it. Nevertheless, they all agree that the skill they need to improve the

most is speaking, since it is crucial when communicating with foreign tourists at work.

Moreover, they expect to achieve more fluency when speaking in English, not only for this

job but also for their lives. They also expect to acquire specific vocabulary related to the

field of tourism, so that they can deal with particular situations that they may encounter

with at work (e.g: when showing a tourist the different areas of the hotel, when booking,when having to clarify possible doubts that the tourist may have, etc). Finally, most of

them believe that the best way to learn English is through speaking.

Learning strategies, methods and styles students have already experienced: Most of them

had had English just at school. The teaching methods they are accustomed to are quite

behaviourist and teacher-centred. Most of them did not have the opportunity to study

English in context.

Job Requirements: The owner of the hotel wants the employees to be able to communicate

with foreign tourists in an appropriate and fluent way in different situations. What is more,he wants the employees to make the course in the least time possible, because holidays

are coming and they need to be ready before that time comes.

Learning Requirements: As ESP teachers, we want the students to be able to communicate

properly in particular situations at the hotel. As we have a short period of time to do so, we

will focus on teaching them how to deal with these communicative situations, rather than


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looking for fluency. What we want to make sure of is not only that the employees acquire

the ability to understand the tourists needs, but also that the employees can communicate

with the tourists efficiently.

Desirable knowledge: B1 Level.

The learner can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar

matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.;

They can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where

the language is spoken;

They can produce simple connected texts on topics that are familiar or of personal

interest;

They can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly

give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Deficits in knowledge:

After analysing the needs analysis questionnaires, we could say that the employees have

difficulties in communicating orally. What is more, they do not have the specific vocabulary

to communicate or understand the foreign tourists fully. As we can see in the graphs, they

feel that they do not have enough knowledge in most of the skills, especially in speaking.


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0%

12%

38%

50%

0%

Pronunciation

Very Good

Good

Ok

Weak

Very Weak

0%

12%

50%

38%

0%

Knowledge of Vocabulary

Very Good

Good

Ok

Weak

Very Weak

0%

12%

62%

13%

13%

Knowledge of Grammar

Very Good

Good

Ok

Weak

Very Weak


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12%

12%

38%

25%

13%

Listening

Very Good

Good

Ok

Weak

Very Weak

0% 0%

25%

50%

25%

Speaking

Very Good

Good

Ok

Weak

Very Weak


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Possible target situations of language use:

Welcoming an English-speaking tourist at the hotel;

Showing the areas of the hotel and the requirements or rules of each area;

Explaining the basic rules of the hotel and the rooms;

Answering phone calls;

Answering letters and e-mails;

Suggesting places to visit in the city, like restaurants, museums or entertainmentactivities.

12%

25%

63%

0% 0%

Reading

Very Good

Good

Ok

Weak

Very Weak

12%

25%

37%

13%

13%

Writing

Very Good

Good

Ok

Weak

Very Weak


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FORMULATION OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

GENERAL GOAL

At the end of this ESP course, the learners will be able to communicate efficiently in

specific situations at work with English-speaking tourists;

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

To be able to:

Complete a register;

Take a message by phone;

Take a booking;

Deal with a telephone;

Deal with a complaint;

Describe a building;

Write an email describing a hotel;

Writing an email of confirmation;

Check in a guest;

Recommend places to visit;

Change a booking;

Explain a bill;

Confirm a reservation.

CONCEPTUALIZATION OF CONTENTS

The content that we will focus on is Confirming a reservation by replying a letter.

NECESSARY SKILLS TO DEVELOP:

Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing.

NECESSARY COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE TO ACHIEVE:

The ability to reply a letter in English in order to confirm a reservation at a hotel.

NECESSARY GRAMMATICAL COMPETENCE TO DEVELOP


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Simple Present and Present Continuous. However, as learners already have background

knowledge about these tenses, we would suggest just reviewing them before plunging

into the activities.

NECESSARY FUNCTIONS AND SITUATIONS LANGUAGE IS GOING TO BE USED FOR

Functions: Language is going to be used for giving/confirming information through a

formal letter. In order to do this, the teacher/s will need to present the appropriate letter

format for this purpose, apart from presenting the necessary expressions of formality and

politeness corresponding to this genre.

Situation: Language is going to be used for replying a letter formally, so as to confirm a

hotel reservation.

TIME AVAILABLE (CLASS LENGHT AND COURSE LENGTH)

Time available to develop this unit: three hours.

Amount of lessons per week: Three lessons of three hours per week.

Course length: Three months.

INFORMATION FROM NEEDS ANALYSIS (PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE, MOTIVATION, JOB

REQUIREMENTS, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH)

Taking into account the previous needs analysis, we have decided to focusthis unitprimarily on productive skills, providing students with a communicative context. Besides,

they will be able to learn the specific vocabulary, such as expressions of politeness, so as

to build up their self-confidence before performing the productive tasks.

APPROACH TO BE FOLLOWED

Learner-centred approach, Content-Based Approach, Task-based approach.

SELECTION OF MATERIAL, PLANNING OF THE COURSE AND COURSE EVALUATION


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Sea View Hotel

39 Beech Grove

Brighton BN2 3PD

TEL: 044 487 877

FAX: 044 095 894

Email: [email protected]

20th November 2013

Dr. Nicola Talbot

Flat A, 87 Moonmouth Drive

Oxford

OX5 2CG

Ref: Guest questionnaire

Yours for ever,

With love,

Andrew Miller

Hotel Manager

Dear Dr Nicola Talbot,

Thank you so much for completing our questionnaire during your stay at our hotel

last month.

We always appreciate hearing from our clients. Your comments are great for us to

continue improving our accommodations. We should like to say we are sorry for the

problems that you mentioned. The service you experienced is unusual and not the

standard of our hotel. Please find enclosed a complementary voucher for a night in

one of our luxury hotels as compensation.

Once again, we are so sorry for any inconvenienced caused during your stay and we

hope that you will give us another chance to serve you.


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esp course design (1) (1)

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