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2023/2024

First Foreign Language I, English

Code: 101164 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2500894 Tourism FB 1 A

Contact

Name:
Eric Ortega Fernández
Email:
eric.ortega@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

To check the language/s of instruction, you must click on "Methodolody" section of the course guide.

Teachers

Eric Ortega Fernández
Laura Macià Valero

Prerequisites

1. TOURISM DEGREE: The students on the Tourism Degree will have to accredit a B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) by the end of their studies.

There are no specific entry requirememts but level B1 of the CEFR is recommended.

2. TOURISM DEGREE IN ENGLISH: The students on the Tourism Degree in English will have to accredit a C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) by the end of their studies.

There are no specific entry requirements, but a B2 level of the CEFR is recommended.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The main objective of the first course is to enable students to consolidate and widen their range of knowledge, including English pertinent to the tourism sector and of a more general nature so that they can accredit a B2 level at the end of their studies if they are studying the Tourism degree, and a C1 if they are studying Tourism in English.

At the end of the first course they should be able to:

  • Follow the discourse of conferences, debates and more informal interactions.
  • Maintain conversations in formal and informal register, correctly interpreting the interjections of other speakers.
  • Participate in debates and discussions on issues of general interest or specifically related to tourism using the standard language for either type of communication (using correct vocabulary, giving examples, etc.)
  • Relate facts or events experienced personally or reported by others.
  • Convey feelings, express needs or give instructions without difficulty.
  • Write emails in formal (requests for information, etc.) and informal contexts (emails to acquaintances, etc.).
  • Produce texts about actions, trips and events – chronologically arranged with clear, concise descriptions of the most relevant aspects.
  • Create a promotional brochure for a tourism destination.

Skills

  • Develop an appropriate degree of accuracy (grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary usage, register, etc.) and fluency (production speed, ability to express ideas and develop speech).
  • Develop strategies and skills to understand authentic written texts and oral presentations.
  • Develop strategies to continue to learn independently outside the classroom.
  • Develop the ability to function efficiently and with an appropriate degree of linguistic precision both in the field of tourism and in everyday situations.
  • Be able to correctly use reference material necessary for autonomous language learning: dictionaries, grammars, online applications, etc.

 


Competences

  • Communicate orally and in writing in three foreign languages within the tourism field and others related to it.
  • Develop a capacity for independent learning.
  • Implement business communication techniques used by tourism organisations: internal, external and corporate.
  • Self-assess the knowledge acquired.
  • Use communication techniques at all levels.
  • Work in a team.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Develop a capacity for independent learning.
  2. Identify grammar resources used in companies as an aid to communication, in two foreign languages.
  3. Identify vocabulary resources used in companies as an aid to communication, in two foreign languages.
  4. Know and use two foreign languages in dealing with tourism-related matters.
  5. Self-assess the knowledge acquired.
  6. Use communication techniques at all levels.
  7. Use the idiomatic expressions typical of the tourism sector in two foreign languages.
  8. Use two foreign languages in specific real-life contexts.
  9. Work in a team.

Content

1. DEGREE IN TOURISM: The students who are studying the Degree in Tourism will have to accredit a B2 level by the end of their studies.

2. TOURISM DEGREE IN ENGLISH: The students who are studying the Tourism Degree in English will have to accredit a C1 level by the end of their studies.

 

1. CONTENTS FOR THE DEGREE IN TOURISM

In the process of learning a language, all skills and abilities are continually evolving and interrelating in an organic way. However, for the purposes of these programmes, linguistic content has been divided into linguistic functions, grammar content and lexical content.

Linguistic functions

  • Give a monologue on topics of general interest and about the tourism sector.
  • Manage a variety of conversations (beginnings and endings, give explanations, check understanding, give and respond to compliments).
  • Express agreement.
  • Make suggestions.
  • Maintain conversations on both general and tourism topics.
  • Narrate past events.
  • Talk and write about the future (plans etc).
  • Describe people, tourists, journeys, travellers, places and activities.
  • Compare places and services (hotels, cities, regions, etc).
  • Manage written communication in a variety of situations both formal and informal.

Grammar Content

  • Narrative tenses.
  • Question forms.
  • Future time clauses and conditionals.
  • Perfect and progressive aspect.
  • Obligation and permission.
  • “used to” and “would”.

Self study

  • Prepositions of time and place.
  • The use of the article.
  • Nounsand quantifiers.

Lexical content

Lexical content is general as well as related to the field of tourism:

  • Adjectives to describe people and places.
  • Challenges.
  • Skills.
  • Expressions with “make”, “get”, “face” “up” and “as”.
  • New technologies.
  • Animals and the natural world.
  • Holidays and travel.
  • Trends in tourism.
  • Leisure activities.
  • New tecnologies in the tourism sector.

Self study

  • Travel and transport.
  • Hobbies, sport and games.
  • Science and technology.
  • The media.
  • People and Society.

Writing tasks

  • An opinion article.
  • A descriptive article with data.
  • An informative text giving guidelines.
  • Promotional text.

 

2. CONTENTS FOR THE TOURISM DEGREE IN ENGLISH

Linguistic functions

  • Expressing emotions.
  • Speculating.
  • Making decisions and reaching conclusions.
  • Analysing, judging, assessing and comparing.
  • Expounding on a topic.
  • Negotiating and reaching decisions.
  • Introducing points in an argument.
  • Discussing suggestions.
  • Persuading.
  • Emphasizing.
  • Selling oneself.
  • Being polite.

 Grammar 

  • Phrasal verbs and multi-word verbs.
  • Cleft sentences.
  • Inversions with negative adverbials.
  • Tense and aspect.
  • Grammatical structures to express courtesy.

Lexical content

  • Globalisation.
  • Cities and urbanisation.
  • Feelings.
  • Advertising and emotions.
  • Statistics and data.
  • Money and enterprise.
  • Careers in tourism.
  • Tourism resources.

Written tasks

  • Reports.
  • Articles.
  • Descriptions.
  • Promotional texts.
  • Formal emails.

Methodology

Language of instruction
Tourism in Spanish/Catalan: English
Tourism in English: English

 

The teaching methodology prioritises the students’ learning process over theoretical presentations by the teacher. Input is provided from both graded and authentic materials and the students are encouraged to engage with the material through guided practice in all four skills, with freer interactive and communicative activities to advance oral communication skills.

The teacher will use one or more of the following methodologies depending on which he or she considers to be most suitable for the material and the students in each session:

  • Presentation and practice of grammar and vocabulary.
  • Discovery learning and noticing techniques.
  • Task-based learning in pairs and groups.
  • Problem-solving exercises in pairs and groups.
  • Role plays.
  • Text or listening based debates (e.g. TED talks). 
  • Revision games with kahoot and other applications. 
  • Modelling from sample texts for writing.
  • Strategies to promote self-correction and autonomy in writing.
  • Live learning projects.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Classes 56.5 2.26 8, 4, 1, 7, 2, 3, 6, 5, 9
Non classroom-based 55 2.2 8, 4, 1, 7, 2, 3, 6, 5, 9
Type: Supervised      
Tutorials 8 0.32 1, 5
Type: Autonomous      
Activities 10 0.4 4, 1, 2, 3, 5
Theory 10 0.4 8, 4, 1, 7, 2, 3, 5

Assessment

1. DEGREE IN TOURISM: The students who are studying the Degree in Tourism will have to accredit a B2 level by the end of their studies.

2. TORISM DEGREE IN ENGLISH: The students who are studying the Tourism Degree in English will have to accredit a C1 level by the end of their studies.

 

1. EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR THE DEGREE IN TOURISM

Continuous Assessment 

80% attendance is required in order to be eligible for the Continuous Assessment.

Continuous Assessment activities:

  • Essays. The student will be required to produce between 3 – 5 written texts over the course of their studies (rewritings of writings may also be used).
  • Final Project. It will be carried out throughout the course and it will exhibit the four language skills. This project will be done at home and in class.
  • Reading Record.
  • Mini tests.
  • Self-assessment forms..
  • Various self-produced documents.

The students will be able to take advantage of the mid-term tests to produce activities that will form part of their portfolio, such as mini-tests or listening or reading comprehension.

  • Oral Activities. Throughout the course, the student will produce a minimum of one oral activity (or a maximum of two), either individually or in a group, and in the form of monologues, presentations, videos etc.
  • Mid-Term Tests. Halfway through the course, the students will have two mid-term tests; a writing test (one or two tasks) and a speaking test (one task). These will be similar in format to the final exam.
  • Attitude and participation. Effort, attitude, and participation will also be evaluated.

Final exam for C.A: the productive skills of writing and speaking are assessed.

The exam is on the same dayas the final exam.

  • The continuous assessment activities represent 60% of the final mark.
  • The final exam represents 40% of the final mark.

Passmark: 6 is the pass mark.

Single Assessment

Students who opt not to do the continuous assessment have the right to do a final exam of the two productive skills – speaking and writing. This has to be requested directly in Gestiò Acadèmica at the beginning of the course.

A mark of 50% in each skill, and an overall global mark of 60%, is required to pass the course.

The final mark of the subject will be the final mark of the exam.

Resit

The resit will consist of an exam of the two productive skills - speaking and writing. 

A 60% is required to pass the final mark will be the final mark of the exam.

 

2. EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR THE TOURISM DEGREE IN ENGLISH

Continuous Assessment

80% attendance is required in order to be eligible for the Continuous Assessment.

Continuous Assessment activities

Continuous assessment activities include:

  • Essays. The student will be required to produce between 3 – 5 written texts over the course of their studies (rewritings of writings may also be used).
  • Final Project. It will be carried out throughout the course and it will exhibit the four language skills. This project will be done done at home and in class.
  • Oral Activities.Throughout the course, the student will produce a minimum of one oral activity (or a maximum of two), either individually or in group and in the form of monologues, presentations, videos etc.
  • Mid-Term Testing. Half way through the course, the students will have two mid-term tests; a writing test(one or two tasks) and a speaking test (one task). These will be similar in format to the final exam.
  • Attitude and participation. Effort, attitude and participation will also be evaluated.

Final exam for C.A: the productive skills of writing and speaking are assessed.

The exam is on the same day as the final exam.

  • The continuous assessment activities represent 60% of the final mark.
  • The final exam represents 40% of the final mark.

Passmark: 6 is the pass mark.

Single Assessment

Students who opt not to do the continuous assessment have the right to do a final exam of the two productive skills – speaking and writing. This has to be requested directly in Gestiò Acadèmica at the beginning of the course.

A mark of 50% in each skill, and an overall global mark of 60%, is required to pass the course.

The final mark of the subject will be the final mark of the exam.

Resit

The resit will consist of an exam of the two productive skills - speaking and writing. 

A 60% is required to pass the final mark will be the final mark of the exam.


Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Attitude and participation 10% 0 0 1, 6, 5, 9
Final Project 14% 5 0.2 8, 4, 7, 2, 3, 6, 5, 9
Final exam 40% 2.5 0.1 8, 7, 2, 3
Mid-term test 12% 1 0.04 8, 4, 1, 7, 2, 6, 5, 9
Speaking and writing activities 24% 2 0.08 8, 4, 1, 7, 2, 3, 6, 5, 9

Bibliography

Course book

  1. Course book for students who are doing the Tourism degree. Empower B2 (CUP)
  2. Course book for students who are doing the Tourism Degree in English. Cutting Edge Advanced New Edition (Pearson)

English for Tourism

English for International Tourism Upper Intermediate (Pearson) Peter Strutt

Highly Recommended (Oxford) Trish Scott and Alison Pohl

Dictionary

http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com (amb pronunciació)

Grammar

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/

http://www.autoenglish.org/

https://www.englishclub.com/

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/

Vocabulary

https://elt.oup.com/student/oefc/tourism2/?cc=global&selLanguage=en&mode=hub

https://elt.oup.com/student/oefc/tourism3/?cc=global&selLanguage=en&mode=hub

http://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/t-glossary.html

http://www.englishformyjob.com/ell_hotelindustry.html

http://www.englishformyjob.com/ell_traveltourism.html

Listening

http://www.elllo.org/

https://es.englishcentral.com/videos

https://www.ted.com/

https://es.lyricstraining.com/

http://howjsay.com/

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

Listening -British English:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/

https://www.youtube.com/user/bbclearningenglish

https://www.facebook.com/bbclearningenglish.multimedia/

https://www.voicetube.com/channel/bbc/5

http://bbcworldservice.radio.net/

Listening -American English:

http://www.npr.org/

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/

Listening -Australian English:

http://www.australiaplus.com/international/learn-english-video-courses/

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/learn-english

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/chinese/learn-english/series/%E6%BE%B3%E5%A4%A7%E5%88%A9%E4%BA%9A%E5%B9%BF%E6%92%AD%E8%8B%B1%E8%AF%AD%E8%AE%B2%E5%BA%A7

Writing

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/sitemap/

Exam preparation

http://www.examenglish.com/

http://wuster.uab.es/ctestpractice/

Tourism themes

http://www.tandtpublishing.co.uk/latest-travel-and-tourism-industry-news.html

https://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/hotels-and-travel-lodgings

http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Articles

https://www.facebook.com/Future-Tourism-183808708656225/

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

http://www2.unwto.org/en

http://www.coolkidfacts.com/geography/

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

 

 


Software

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