UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO AT CAROLINA

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

SYLLABUS

Course Title

: Conversational English for Tourism

Code

: INGL 3031

Credits

: Three (3) credits

Contact Hours

: 45 hours per quarter-term

Pre-Requisites

: INGL 3101-3102 or INGL 3103-3104

Description

: This course is designed to develop accuracy and fluency

in oral English in the future tourist guide. The focus is on
tourist related vocabulary and topics: geography, history,
cultural aspects, and more.

Objectives

: Upon completion of INGL 3031, the student will:

1. identify the sounds, intonation and rhythm of the
English language.
2. identify the phonemes that offer difficulty to Spanish
speakers.
3. identify grammar related to pronunciation differences.
4. identify special vocabulary and idioms of the English
language.
5. engage in a variety of tourist related conversational
situations.
6. be able to converse about the Puerto Rico tourism
industry.
7. be able to answer questions about Puerto Rico tourist
zones.
8. be able to use courtesy expressions.
9. be able to use correct vocabulary when dealing with
difficult clients and/or dealing with inquiries.
10. be able to identify and describe the historical sites
and monuments of Old San Juan.
11. feel less inhibited in speaking the English language.
12. prepare a research presentation about a festival or
historical figure of Puerto Rico.

13.

Information and
Technology Literacy

Textbook

demonstrate an awareness about the requirements

and contributions of people with special needs.

: The student will:

1. use information resources efficiently and responsibly.
2. demonstrate proficiency in retrieving, organizing,
evaluating, synthesizing and managing information from
various resources.
3. examine and compare information to evaluate its
legitimacy, accuracy and point of view.
4. use technological resources (such as the Internet and
email) to search for and manage information.
5. understand the ethical and legal aspects of the use of
information.
: Jones, L. (2007). Welcome: English for the travel and
tourism industry (2nd ed.). Cambridge University
Press.
The textbook is a required resource for this course.
Professors may give open-book quizzes for which the
textbook is required in order to receive a grade.
Photocopies of the book will not be accepted.

Outline of content and distribution of time

Topic

Time (approximate)

I. Grammatical structures
A. Verb tenses
B. Word order
C. Subject-verb agreement
D. Pronoun consistency

(10 hours)

II. Oral activities

(15 hours)
A. Role-playing dialogues using the language of the tourism industry.
B. Skits using the tourism environment.
C. New vocabulary and idioms usage.
D. Discussion about assigned topics such as: greeting people, courtesy expressions,
dealing with inquiries and difficult clients, tourists needs, places to go, dining, night
life, charging, giving information, touristic zones of Puerto Rico.
E. Researched oral presentations on different festivals and/or distinguished Puerto
Ricans.
F. Field trip in Old San Juan with brief oral presentations on historical monuments
and sites.

III. Writing assignments

A. Situational conversations
B. Summaries of tourism-related topics

(5 hours)

IV. Reading Assignments

(5 hours)

V. Information and technology literacy

(10 hours)
A. On-line library catalog
B. Databases
C. How to prepare an oral presentation tutorial
D. PowerPoint presentation
Instructional Strategies:
A. Oral presentation
B. Collaborative work
C. Writing activities
D. Reading assignments
E. Information literacy workshops
Resources:
A. Textbook
B. Spanish-English dictionary
C. Library resources
D. Internet
E. Computer programs
F. Puerto Rico Tourism Company
G. Puerto Ricos Natural Resources Department
H. Puerto Ricos Conservation Trust
I. Puerto Ricos Hotel Association
J. Puerto Ricos Convention Bureau
K. Private Tour Operator Companies
Criteria for Evaluation:
The final grade will be based on the following criteria:
1. Class attendance and participation. (20%)
2. Quizzes related to vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and
composition skills. (15%)
3. Partial and final examinations. (20%)
4. Research oral presentation. (5%)
5. Field trip to Old San Juan. (5%)
6. Written summaries. (10%)
7. Brief oral presentations (skits, dialogues, etc.) (25%)
Total=100%
Grading System:

100 - 90
89 - 80
79 - 70
69 - 60
59 - 0

A
B
C
D
F

Bibliography:
1. Avils, C., & Martnez, P. Desorden dficit de atencin (DDAH). Hato Rey, Puerto
Rico: Publicaciones Puertorriqueas, Inc., 2006.
2. Beaver, A. A Dictionary of Travel and Tourism Terminology. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 2002.
3.
College Oral Communication. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006.
4. Jacob, M. & Strutt, P. English for International Tourism. Longman, 2002.
5. Jennings, G. R. Do I or Don't I Teach Them? (Benefits and challenges as well as
pedagogical and ethical issues of educating tourism students in English when
English is not their first language) Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism,
1(4), 35, 2001.
6. Jones, D. English Pronouncing Dictionary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
2004.
7. Jones, L. Welcome: English for the Travel and Tourism Industry. (2nd ed.).
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
8. Kozyrev, J. Talk It Over! Listening, Speaking, and Pronunciation 3. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 2002.
9. Leaney, C. In the Know: Understanding and Using Idioms. New York: Cambridge
University Press, 2005.
10. Martin, A., & Davies, S. An Evaluation of the Language Skills in Scottish Hotels.
Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 5 (1), 4-15, 2006.
11. Nieves, R. Inclusin desde varias perspectivas. Hato Rey, Puerto Rico:
Publicaciones Puertorriqueas, Inc., 2006.
12. Thompson. ADA compliance guide. Washington, D.C.: Thompson Publishing Group,
2007.
13. Those Descriptions Were Pulp Fiction. Travel Weekly: The Choice of Travel
Professionals (00494577), (1686), 87-87, 2003.
14. Wright, A., Betteridge, D. & Buckby, M. Games for Language Learning. New York:
Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Online Resources:
Puerto Rico Tourism Company
http://www.gotopuertorico.com
Welcome to Puerto Rico
http://www.welcometopuertorico.com
Additional Resources:
Bienvenidos Magazine - Ongoing editions
Qu Pasa! Magazine - Ongoing editions

Assorted brochures from Puerto Ricos major tourist attractions

LAW 51
Students who are receiving services from any vocational rehabilitation program must
notify the professor in order for the professor to meet their particular needs. An alternate
evaluation will be provided for them. As part of the class, students and professor will
promote an inclusive environment for students with special needs and will demonstrate
an awareness of their requirements and contributions.
Prof. Mara Luna
May, 2008