Overall objectives:

1 - This course aims at the acquisition and improvement by students - proficient users - of linguistic structures so that their knowledge of the English tongue in its various competences may be improved at an advanced level within the scope of the fields of tourism and leisure.
2 - Entirely taught in English, this course is intended to help students develop specific skills, namely in promoting the study and analysis of specific terminology and discursive practices of the tourism and leisure domains, whether in tourism and recreational related texts and documents, specialized press or user manuals. Students will be required to participate in a variety of communicative activities to promote their self-confidence in their use of English in tourism and leisure industry related situations.

Syllabus:

1 - Tourism and Leisure Industries
1.1 - Distribution Network: Links in the Tourism Chain
1.2 - Destinations
1.3 - Transportation
1.4 - Accommodation
1.5 - Food and Beverage
1.6 - Marketing and Advertising
1.7 - Reservations and Sales
1.8 - Planning and Organisation of Activities
1.9 - Events and Recreation
2 - Skilled Interpersonal Communication
2.1 - Visitor/Travel Agent Communication
3 - Professional Communication: International/National Tourism Chain
3.1 - Professional Activities
3.2 - Market Survey, Tender, Receipt
3.3 - Assessing Tourist Destinations
3.4 - Tourism Policy and Regulations
4 - Socio-Cultural Exchanges
4.1 - Planning a Guided Tour
4.2 - Local Community Support
4.3 - Local Traditions and Cultures
4.4 - Key Historical/Natural Sites
4.5 - Regional Routes/Walking Trails
5 - English Grammar Revision, consolidation and acquisition of grammar items: - Nouns - Adjectives - Adverbs - Nominal Groups - Verbs - Coordination and Subordination - Relative Clauses - Inversion and Emphasis

Literature/Sources:

Jacob, M. and P. Strutt, , 1993 , English for International Tourism (Upper-intermediate Level), , Longman,
Bloomer, A. , 2005 , Language in Use ? A Coursebook , Routledge,
Vince, M , 1994 , Advanced Language Practice , Heinemann,
Fletcher, J , 1998 , Tourism: Principles and Practices , Pearson Education
Hayward, P , 2002 , GCSE Leisure and Tourism , Heineman,
Carter, R. and M. McCarthy , 2006 , y, Cambridge Grammar of English: A Comprehensive Guide - Spoken and Written English Grammar and Usag , CUP
Collins, V , 1996 , The Authentically English Dictionary for the Tourism Industry , Authentically English

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
Classes are of the expositive, theoretical-practical type. The presentation of the syllabus material is achieved through constant lecturer-student-lecturer interaction. Students will use the coursebook (English for International Tourism), alongside authentic material from stakeholders in the tourism industry. During classmeetings, they will develop their oral production as well as their written work in English, both through individual work and pair work, in order to consolidate the topic under discussion, to stimulate critical thinking, impartial analysis and clear presentation of results. Only English will be used for communication purposes. In terms of assessment, Assessment - Type A was chosen from the Assessment Regulation of Madeira University. Hence, students are assessed during the semester in two written partial exams (Exam 1: 40% + Exam 2: 40%) and in an oral component (20%), in which their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills will be tested at upper-intermediate.