Students must have a competence of the English language corresponding at least to an intermediate level (i.e. B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

The course focuses on developing the specialised language needed by those working in the tourist industry. The course aims to provide students with the tools for effective communication within the field of International Tourism. By the end of the course, students will have strengthened their English language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) from an intermediate to an upper-intermediate level, covering also business-related topics, e.g. human resources, marketing and branding, leadership and management, cultural awareness. The focus of the course will be on the most recurring structures and genres of English for Tourism, in relation to which written and spoken texts and discussion topics will be set. Students will also be able to communicate in Business English and create presentations, write emails, participate in meetings, make phone calls, and perform other significant tasks related to business management, deepening their knowledge of British and American work culture.

The course covers a series of topics concerning English for Tourism that will be presented, discussed and explored insisting on the specialised vocabulary and most recurring genres in the tourist industry. All skills, spoken and written, productive and receptive, will be practised, with insights into vocabulary and grammar that will help students reach an upper-intermediate level of competence of the English language (i.e. B2 level of the CEFR for languages). The lessons will primarily focus on communicative activities (i.e. tasks, discussions, problem-solving). In particular, the relevant topics discussed will be as follows:
(1) International Tourism: The history of tourism; Tourism trends and motivations; Advertising and marketing; Vocabulary and conversational/technical phrases in marketing; Dealing with figures and statistics; Designing tours; Dealing with customer complaints and improving customer service; Attractions, activities and accommodations; Business travel; Niche and cultural tourism; Tourism and the environment; Tourism and technology.
(2) Business English: Creating business presentations; Writing business emails; Making business phone calls; Participating in business meetings and performing other relevant tasks required in business management.
(3) English Language: Question forms, conditionals, phrasal verbs, reported speech, verb tenses in the B1+/B2 level, passive tense, articles, pronunciation of regular verbs in the past form.
(4) English Culture: American and British work culture - time, business practices, communication styles, etc.

• 1.  (A) Strutt, Peter English for International Tourism (Upper Intermediate) Pearson, Harlow, 2013
• 2.  (A) Powell, Mark In Company 3.0 (Intermediate) Macmillan, London, 2014

Reference grammars:
Students can have a look at the following reference grammars if they feel their level of competence in English might not be sufficient enough to use the study materials with confidence:
- Murphy, Raymond (2019). English Grammar in Use (5th edn.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Mann, Malcolm / Taylore-Knowles, Steve (2008). Destination B2: Grammar and Vocabulary (with Answer Key). London: Macmillan.
- Foley, Mark / Hall, Diane (2012). MyGrammarLab (Intermediate B1-B2). Harlow: Pearson.
- Bell, Jan / Thomas, Amanda 2015. Gold (First). Harlow: Pearson.

• Interactive and participatory lectures and presentations, assignments, and use of multimedia. Since the classes are interactive and require active and continuous participation in spoken discussion, students' attendance is encouraged. Students unable to attend the classes are invited to contact the professor (well in advance of the exam session in which they intend to take the exam) for clarification on the use of the study materials.

• The exam consists of an interview to ascertain in depth the theoretical and methodological background based on the course syllabus, and the ability to apply it to a case study selected by the student. The oral exam focuses on the preparation of a PowerPoint in English (to be sent in 2 weeks before the date of the exam to antonio.fruttaldo@unimc.it) relevant to the topics of the course, through modes, tools and methodologies used in the field of Tourism. The oral examination will consist of the discussion of this presentation and will be aimed at testing the students' adequate acquisition of theoretical and methodological knowledge and autonomy of analysis as well as the adequate ability to express themselves in English, motivating their theses and hypotheses.

English

English