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!