Job Discussion Forums

[shrewsyj]

Hi all

I'm off to teach staff at a resort in Thailand fairly soon and was just wondering whether anyone knows of any good materials/coursebooks for teaching English within this kind of context?

I'll basically be doing a lot of fluency work with the staff in relation to their various areas of work (restaurant/hotel/etc) but would like to back it up with a coursebook that would help them with general English too.

Any advice much appreciated.

[sojourner]

Shrewsji,

Start off with "English for Specific Purposes", by Tom Hutchinson and Alan Waters. It'll give you some useful ideas on needs analysis, course design,teaching materials, teaching methodologies, and evaluation.

Do a google search on " hospitality English learning and teaching", etc.

Back in the UK, go to a bookshop that specialises in ESL/EFL - there might be some stuff on "hospitality English".

In Bangkok, there is (was ?) a very good bookshop called Language Media Book Centre. It was once near Siam Square, but recently moved .(I hope that it hasn't closed down, completely !). Do a google search to find out where they are now. When I was there 12 months ago, I noticed a wide range of books/audio-tapes dealing with ESP-type topics.

Also, check out the following pertinent thread from Dave's ESP Teacher Forum: http://forums.eslcafe.com/teacher/viewtopic.php?t=6090

Good luck !

Peter

[phantombedwetter]

Shrewsji,
My school has done a great deal of work in the hospitality industry in Krakow. We used the OUP series 'High Season' which covers hotels, restaurants and tourism in general.

However, we found that students want general English more than the regimented unit structure so the lessons tend to be chatty, topic based meetings more than ploughing through the book.

They want to chat to the guests about life in England and the US rather than role-playing 'Basil Fawlty-esque' difficult customer scenarios.

I think you can take it as a given that, in Thailand, they will already have enough English for the basics like;
'Another beer, sir?'
'One or two eggs?'
'Would you like the full, naked, body to body, oil massage?'

[Dedicated]

Presumably the students will be working in the hotel/travel/tourism industry..............

You could try "Welcome!", which is English for the travel and tourism industry, published by Cambridge. This is pre-intermediate - intermediate, and the language skills are developed through a wide-range of work-related tasks. Good authentic content and contexts with modular organisation for flexibility.

Or " Be My Guest", (Also Cambridge) which is from elementary level to pre-intermediate, and focuses on the hotel industry. Good for situations in which hotel employees meet guests.

Longman have a couple of useful books : "Test Your Professional English series : Hotel and Catering by Alison Pohl.

Also English for International Tourism, which goes from Pre-Int up to Upper Intermediate level. (Recommended by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Exams Board)

[shrewsyj]

thanks for your replies guys, this is a massive help!