Catalan language for international students in Barcelona

Interested in learning Catalan?

Try these resources and have fun:

https://parla.cat/?lang=en

International students begin intensive introductory Catalan courses at the UB - Current events - University of Barcelona

Júlia Riera (@dailycatalan) • Fotos y videos de Instagram

You can also request a free language exchange with a local CETT student.

Enjoy!

Sustainable Solutions Report

1. Type of activity

Non‑assessable compulsory activity: collaborative written production in small groups in class.

2. Active methodology

• Task-based learning.
• Analysis of real cases.

3. Teaching unit

Sustainable tourism and ethical practices.

4. Learning objectives

• To apply key knowledge about sustainability in tourism.
• To develop collaboration, analytical, and critical‑thinking skills.
• To write a structured report using formal language and specific vocabulary.

5. Activity description

In groups of 2 or 3 students, you will analyse a real case of a destination and its sustainability issues, and you will write a structured report proposing improvement ideas from an ethical and responsible perspective. In class, we will explore the case of Goa’s sustainable evolution as a tourist destination, and a sample report on Goa will be provided as a reference.

To begin, we will watch some short introductory videos on tourism in three Southeast Asian destinations: Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia. In groups of 2 or 3 students, you will need to choose one of these three destinations, and you will have access to audiovisual materials through the virtual classroom. You must carry out a quick initial diagnosis of the main challenges with the support of GenAI tools, using real sources (news, articles, official websites, etc.). Then, you will collaboratively write a report of up to 450 words in which you will propose realistic measures to reduce the negative impacts of tourism on the selected destination. Once you have finished, each group must upload the report to the virtual campus as a practical assignment. The report must follow this structure:

1. Title.
2. Executive summary (50 words).
3. Introduction.
4. Proposals (divided by areas: social, economic, environmental).
5. Conclusion.
6. Recommendations.

6. Tasks to complete

• Selection of the case and short guided research.
• Brainstorming and discussion of sustainable proposals in the three areas.
• Collaborative writing of the structured report.
• Text revision and improvement using digital tools.
• Submission of the written report.
• Final oral reflection with the whole class evaluating the process, including the advantages and limitations of using GenAI.

7. Use of AI

• Research: ChatGPT or Copilot to explore possible sustainability challenges in each destination.
• Visual generation: Canva to add optional simple visual support.
• Written expression: Grammarly or Quillbot to review the text and improve style.

8. Learning resources

• Reference websites: UNWTO, Sustainable Travel International, National Geographic, official tourism portals.
• Reports and press articles, travel blogs, short videos.
• ChatGPT, Grammarly, Canva (optional).
• Sample report as a base example.
• Extracts from the book English for International Tourism. Upper Intermediate.
• Audiovisual resources in the virtual classroom (extension activities).

9. Assessment tasks

The group report must be uploaded to the Forum on the virtual campus.

10. Assessment criteria

A non‑assessable indicative evaluation will be made of the following aspects: language use, task achievement, topic development, active participation and collaboration within the group, and responsible and reflective use of GenAI tools.

11. Remarks

• Activity designed as practice for assessable written tasks.
• As a follow‑up activity, short oral presentations of the executive summary (2-3 minutes per group) may be carried out in class, if time allows.

Season’s Greetings & Best Wishes for the New Year

Cheers to a wonderful holiday and an amazing year ahead!

Battle of Destinations: Digital Presence & Online Reputation

1. Type of activity

• Mandatory assessment: Critical analysis activity in class (small groups).
• Optional assessment: Portfolio (individual).

2. Active methodology

• Task-based learning.
• Analysis of real cases.
• Portfolio.

3. Teaching unit

Digital tourism & social media

4. Learning objectives

• To identify and compare digital promotion strategies.
• To develop critical analysis skills for digital messages and user reviews.
• To summarise information and represent it visually.
• To work collaboratively on research and idea presentation.
• To improve written expression.

5. Activity description

In groups of 2 or 3 students, you will analyse the digital communication of two real tourist destinations, comparing their presence on social media and online reputation through reviews and brand image. In class, choose two tourist destinations (cities, regions, or countries) that have an active presence on social media and a significant number of user reviews (Tripadvisor, Google Reviews, etc.). With your group:

1) Analyse the type of content published on Instagram, TikTok, or other platforms: what formats do they use? What tone or style? What target audience do they seem to have?

2)     Collect real user opinions and assess the overall tone (positive, neutral, negative).

3)     Make a critical comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of each destination’s digital communication and online reputation.

4)     Create a comparative visual infographic summarising the key points (using Canva, Genial.ly, or similar).

5)     Print your work as a poster for an exhibition of all infographics in the classroom during the next session, and discuss them orally in a class debate.

Afterwards, you may write or record a final reflection for your individual portfolio, evaluating the activity and explaining how you used AI tools (what was used, how, and why).

6. Tasks to complete

• Research on social media and review websites.
• Debate and selection of the most relevant points.
• Visual design of the infographic with clear sections (images, data, real quotes, icons…).
• Print the infographic as a poster for display and discussion in the next class.
• Final evaluation and reflection.

7. Use of AI

• ChatGPT or Copilot: Help with formulating comparison questions or identifying patterns in reviews.
• Grammarly or Quillbot: Review short texts for the infographic.
• Canva or Napkin: Collaborative creation of the infographic.
• Google Gemini or Claude: Classify reviews according to user sentiment.

8. Learning resources

• Official social media accounts of tourist destinations.
• User review platforms: Google Reviews, Tripadvisor, Booking.
• Canva, Genially, Figma, Piktochart (visual creation).
• ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grammarly.
• Extracts from the book English for International Tourism. Upper Intermediate.

9. Assessment tasks

• Group poster with comparative infographic.
• Optionally, oral evidence (3 minutes) and/or written evidence (150-200 words) for the individual portfolio.

10. Assessment criteria

• Infographic poster: Non-graded indicative evaluation of the following aspects: language use, task achievement, active participation and collaboration within the group, responsible and reflective use of AI tools.
• Portfolio (optional): Oral evidence (3% of final grade) and/or written evidence (3% of final grade) based on these criteria: task achievement, creativity, argumentative ability, and critical thinking. For oral evidence, fluency and pronunciation will also be assessed.

11. Remarks

• It is advisable to limit destination selection to a predefined list to avoid repetitions.
• Infographics can also be shared in the collaborative space of the virtual campus instead of printing them.

Hotel Branding Pitch Challenge

 1. Type of activity 

• Mandatory assessment: Group presentation (pairs).
• Optional assessment: Portfolio (individual).

2. Active methodology

 

• Task-based learning.
• Flipped classroom.
• Simulation.
• Gamification.
• Portfolio. 

3. Teaching unit 

Hotel branding & customer experience 

4. Learning objectives

 

• To improve formal oral expression with visual support.
• To develop a coherent hotel brand proposal.
• To practice persuasive and descriptive language in professional contexts, integrating visuals to reinforce the message.
• To improve formal written expression. 

5. Activity description 

In pairs, you will design and present a boutique hotel proposal aimed at a professional audience (investors or agencies). On your own and using any AI tools you choose, create a fictional boutique hotel (urban, rural, luxury, eco-friendly, etc.) and prepare an oral pitch of no more than 5 minutes to convince a professional audience of its potential. In class, you must present: 

      1)     The brand name and identity.

2)     The distinctive concept.

3)     Key services.

4)     Target audience and customer experience.

5)     Location and visuals. 

You will vote for your favourite proposal at the end of all the presentations, explaining your reasons orally, which will be shared with the rest of the group. The winning proposal will receive a prize. 

Afterwards, you may write a final reflection for your individual portfolio, including a summary sheet and evaluation of the activity, also explaining how you used AI (what was used, how, and why). 

6. Tasks to complete

 

• Brainstorming: concept, name, values, aesthetics.
• Writing descriptive texts (facilities, services, value proposition).
• Creating visuals and digital supports.
• Public presentation.
• Final evaluation and reflection.
• Pitch challenge: voting and justified selection of the preferred proposal. 

7. Use of AI

 

• Concept creation: ChatGPT or Copilot for generating name lists, style inspiration, brand values.
• Writing: service descriptions with support from Grammarly or DeepL Write.
• Visual generation: Canva or Bing Image Creator for mockups, logos, visual aesthetics.
• Reflection: text review with Grammarly. 

8. Learning resources

 

• Hotel brand websites, Booking, Tripadvisor
• Canva, Bing Image Creator, Unsplash
• ChatGPT, Copilot, Grammarly, DeepL Write
• Extracts and examples from the book English for International Tourism. Upper Intermediate 

9. Assessment tasks

 

• Oral presentation (5 minutes per pair).
• Digital visual support (minimum 1 logo + 2 visuals + 1 textual description).
• Optionally, individual written portfolio evidence (summary sheet with the proposal + reflection and evaluation of 150–200 words). 

10. Assessment criteria

 

• Oral presentation: Oral 1 (6% of final grade) based on these criteria: language use, thematic development, communication resources, fluency, and pronunciation.
• Portfolio (optional): Written evidence (3% of final grade) based on these criteria: task achievement, thematic development, creativity, argumentative ability, and critical thinking. 

11. Remarks

 

• Avoid “cliché” hotels and aim for innovative or niche ideas.
• Visuals should not be overly cluttered but clear and aligned with the brand.
• The tone should be professional yet creative.

Desafío creativo: Branding hotelero

1. Presentación: En pequeños grupos, los estudiantes diseñan y presentan una propuesta de hotel boutique dirigida a un público profesional (inversores o agencias).

2. Objetivos de aprendizaje:

-Mejorar la expresión oral formal con apoyo visual.

-Desarrollar una propuesta coherente de marca hotelera.

-Practicar el lenguaje persuasivo y descriptivo en contextos profesionales, integrando elementos visuales para reforzar el mensaje.

 3. Descripción de la actividad:

Por vuestra cuenta y con las herramientas de IA que queráis, cread un hotel boutique ficticio (urbano, rural, de lujo, ecológico, etc.) y preparad un pitch oral de máximo 5 minutos para convencer a un público profesional de su potencial. En clase debéis presentar:

1)   el nombre e identidad de la marca,

2)   el concepto diferencial,

3)   servicios destacados,

4)   público objetivo y experiencia del cliente, y

5)   ubicación y elementos visuales.

Al finalizar todas las presentaciones, tendréis que votar por vuestra propuesta favorita y explicar oralmente los motivos, que se pondrán en común con el resto del grupo. La propuesta ganadora obtendrá un premio.

4. Tareas a realizar:

-Lluvia de ideas: concepto, nombre, valores, estética.

-Elaboración de textos descriptivos (instalaciones, servicios, propuesta de valor).

-Creación de elementos visuales y soportes digitales (mínimo 1 logotipo + 2 elementos visuales + 1 descripción textual).

-Presentación oral en público (5 minutos).

-Valoración y reflexión final.

-Desafío pitch: Votación y selección justificada de la propuesta favorita.

 5. Uso de la IAg:

-Creación conceptual: ChatGPT o Copilot para generar listas de nombres, inspiración de estilo, valores de marca.

-Redacción: descripción de servicios con apoyo de Grammarly o DeepL Write.

-Generación visual: Canva o Bing Image Creator para crear bocetos, logotipos, estética visual.

 6. Recursos de aprendizaje:

-Webs de marcas hoteleras, Booking, Tripadvisor

-Canva, Bing Image Creator, Unsplash

-ChatGPT, Copilot, Grammarly, DeepL Write

 7. Observaciones: Se recomienda evitar hoteles “cliché” y buscar ideas innovadoras o de nicho de mercado. Los elementos visuales no deben ser excesivamente recargados, sino claros y alineados con la marca. El tono debe ser profesional pero creativo.

Tourism Hotspot Analysis

 1. Type of activity:

• Mandatory assessment: Group presentation (in pairs).
• Optional assessment: Portfolio (individual).

2. Active methodology:

• Task-based learning.
• Real case analysis.
• Flipped classroom.
• Portfolio.

3. Teaching unit:

Tourism trends & global destinations

4. Learning objectives:

• To improve formal oral expression with visual support.
• To develop strategies to describe trends using data and graphs.
• To synthesise information.
• To structure a presentation.
• To improve formal written expression.

5. Activity description:

You will work in pairs to analyse a currently booming tourist destination (emerging or rediscovered) and present the causes of its growth orally. Choose a growing tourist destination (city, region, or country). On your own and using any AI tools you wish, search for statistical and qualitative information to analyse its recent evolution. Independently prepare a 5-minute oral presentation with visual support to be delivered in class, including:

1) Description of the destination,
2) Growth data represented visually,
3) Causes of its rise, and
4) Predictions.

Afterwards, you may write an individual reflection for your portfolio, including a summary sheet and evaluation of the activity, also explaining how you used AI (what was used, how, and why).

6. Tasks to complete:

• Information search and selection of significant data.
• Development of a structured oral script.
• Design of visuals (graphs, images, maps).
• Public presentation.
• Final evaluation and reflection.

7. Use of AI:

• Research: ChatGPT for preliminary data and trend ideas.
• Script generation: Structuring ideas in writing and practising oral text with tools like Grammarly or Copilot.
• Visual generation: Creating graphs and visuals with Canva or Flourish.
• Reflection: Text review with Grammarly.

8. Learning resources:

• Official websites: UNWTO, Eurostat, Google Trends, etc.
• Tools: Canva, Flourish, Google Slides
• AI: ChatGPT, Copilot, Grammarly
• Excerpts from the book English for International Tourism. Upper Intermediate

9. Assessment tasks:

• Oral presentation (5 minutes per pair).
• Digital visual support (minimum 2 data graphs + 1 relevant map or image).
• Optionally, individual written portfolio evidence (summary sheet with script or outline + reflection and evaluation of 150-200 words).

10. Assessment criteria:

• Oral presentation: Oral 1 (4% of final grade) based on these criteria: language use, topic development, communication resources, fluency, and pronunciation.
• Portfolio (optional): Written evidence (3% of final grade) based on these criteria: task achievement, topic development, argumentative ability, and critical thinking.

11. Remarks:

• Avoid reading the text directly from the script.
• Originality of the chosen destination will be valued.
• Visual support must reference reliable sources.