Browsing by Author "Vargas Gonzalez, Johanna del Carmen"

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    Using Authentic Materials to Enhance Tourism Students' Speaking Skills
    (Universidad Bolivariana del Ecuador, 2025-10-08) Sánchez Román, Jorge Luis; Vargas Gonzalez, Johanna del Carmen; Campoverde López, Johnny Segundo
    This study examines the challenges tourism students face in communicating in English during internships and proposes strategies to enhance their speaking skills. Speaking is essential in the tourism industry, enabling professionals to interact confidently in real-life scenarios such as hotel check-ins, restaurant service, and giving directions. The study emphasizes communicative teaching methods, including role-plays, authentic materials, and image-based discussions, to create an engaging learning environment. Assessment plays a key role in identifying students' strengths and areas for improvement, using authentic evaluation methods such as real-world tasks and projects. A placement test classified students' proficiency levels, while interviews with industry professionals provided insights into students’ practical language application. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative data to gain a deeper understanding of students' needs and industry expectations. The sample consists of 40 second-semester tourism students at Instituto Tecnológico Superior “Vicente Rocafuerte,” as this is the stage when they begin internships. Findings suggest that targeted speaking activities and continuous assessment enhance students' confidence and competence, aligning their skills with industry requirements. By implementing structured speaking activities and real-world assessments, educators can better prepare students for professional success, ultimately improving the quality of service in the tourism sector.