AN EVALUATION OF AN ENGLISH COURSE FOR HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION

ABSTRACT 

This research evaluates the current BLE 2052 English for Hospitality Purposes (EHP) course, which is one of the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses offered in University Utara Malaysia (UUM) in the Faculty of Communication and Modern Languages. The aim of this study is to investigate  the current language needs of the students and to determine whether the course meets  the actual needs of the hospitality management students in terms of course objectives,  course content, teaching and learning materials, teaching methodology, time allocation and evaluation system. This study involves four teachers and sixty students of UUM and relied on data gathered from three different sets of questionnaires and interviews. The valuable data gathered 

from the questionnaire were described in terms of frequency counts and percentage and presented using tables and charts while data collected from the interview was analyzed and summarized in a descriptive manner. The findings revealed that there are some minor weaknesses in the EHP course in terms of course content, usage of materials and teaching methodology as identified by the respondents. It was found that there is a gap between the skills taught in the course and the skills required in the hospitality industry. Secondly, the students lack confidence in using appropriately the language even after having  completed the EHP course. The findings therefore indicate the need to revise some aspects of the course based on the current needs of the students as well as the needs of the industry. These would enable the students to be well equipped with the necessary skills needed to function effectively in the hospitality industry.

 

TITLE           i 

DECLARATION OF ORIGINAL WORK      ii 

ABSTRACT          iii 

ABSTRAK          iv 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT        v 

TABLE OF CONTENTS        vii 

LIST OF FIGURES         xiii 

LIST OF TABLES         xvi 

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS        xvii 

 

1.1 Introduction          1 

1.2  BLE 2052 English for Hospitality Purposes Course Description   2 

1.3 Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)      4 

1.4 Statement of Problem         6 

1.5 Objectives of the Study        7 

1.6 Research Questions         8 

1.7 Significance of the Study        9 

1.8 Limitations of the Study         10 

1.9 Data Collection         10 

1.10 Data Analysis         11 

2.1  Introduction          12 

2.2 Curriculum Evaluation        13 

2.3 Definitions of Curriculum Evaluation     14 

2.4 Purpose of Curriculum Evaluation       16 

2.5 Approaches to Curriculum Evaluation       17 

2.6 Types of Curriculum Evaluation       18 

2.6.1 Formative versus Summative       18 

2.6.2 Product versus Process       21 

2.6.3 Quantitative versus Qualitative      21 

2.7 English for Specific Purposes (ESP)      22 

2.8 English for Academic Purposes (EAP)      24 

2.9 English for Occupational Purposes (EOP)      25 

2.10 Needs Analysis         26 

2.11 Curriculum Design and Syllabus       28 

2.12 Stages of Curriculum Design        29 

2.13 Review of related studies        33 

3.1 Introduction          38 

3.2 Pilot study          38 

3.3 The Respondents         39 

3.3.1 The Students          40 

3.3.2 The Teachers         41 

3.4  Instrumentation         41 

3.4.1 Questionnaire         42 

3.4.1.1 Third Year First Semester Students†Questionnaire   42  

3.4.1.2 Fourth Year First Semester Students†Questionnaire  44 

3.4.1.3 Teachers†Questionnaire      46 

3.4.2  Interview         48 

3.5 Data Analysis          48 

 

4.1  Introduction          50 

4.2  Analysis of Third Year First Semester Students†Questionnaire   51 

4.2.1    Educational Background Information of the Students   51 

4.2.2  Analysis of the English for Hospitality Purposes (EHP) Grades  53 

4.2.3  Frequency Usage of Language      53 

4.2.4  Proficiency Level of English Language     54 

4.2.5  Students†Needs             55 

4.2.6  Course Objectives        57 

4.2.7 Course Content        59 

4.2.8  Teaching and Learning Materials      61 

4.2.9 Teaching Methodology       63 

4.2.10 Time Allocation        64 

4.2.11 Evaluation System        65 

4.2.12 Problems Encountered       66 

4.2.13 Overall Perception        69 

4.3      Analysis of Fourth Year First Semester Students†Questionnaire   70 

4.3.1    Educational and Background Information of the Students   71 

4.3.2    Job Needs in relation to English Language     74 

            4.3.3    Usefulness of the EHP Course       79 

            4.3.4    Problems Encountered in the EHP Course     81 

 4.3.5    Problems Encountered during Practicum      83 

4.4 Analysis of the Teachers†Questionnaire       83 

4.4.1 General and Educational Background Information of the Teachers  84 

            4.4.2    Students†Needs        86 

            4.4.3   Course Objectives        87 

            4.4.