We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Welcome to the academic year 2023-2024

In this introductory session, you're required to carry out two production tasks.

1. Written expression. Write a story in pairs using as many of the following words as possible:

-Actually

-Career

-Despite

-Regardless of

-Had she/he only known

Swap your texts with another pair after 10 minutes and continue writing them until you have contributed to all the stories. Use your imagination and be creative!

2. Oral expression. Rank the following concepts according to your personal priorities in life:

-Family

-Friends

-Health

-Money

-Politics

-Romance

-Sex

-Sport

-Studies

-Work

Make a list individually and then compare it to other students' choices to reach a consensus and create a single list. Once you've finished, join another pair to follow the same process and come up with a single list you all agree with. Provide arguments for this pyramidal discussion until the entire class produces a consensual ranking.

Virtual language exchange with Limerick University

Thank you for participating in the first virtual language exchange between Limerick University (Ireland) and CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy (Spain)

Greetings from the students of the Bachelor's Degree in Tourism and the Bachelor's Degree in Digital Business and Tourism Innovation!!!

Online tourism-related resources

Interested in travel issues? These are some very useful resources covering different aspects of tourism and freely available online:

-Travel Professors: https://www.youtube.com/@TravelProfessors

-Tourism Geographies Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/tourism-geographiess-podcast/episodes

-Tourism’s Horizon: https://tourismshorizon938.substack.com/archive

On the other hand, if you’d like to learn more about academic tourism, language tourism, and foreign language acquisition, you can also read my research:

-ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Montserrat-Iglesias/research

-Academia.edu: https://cett.academia.edu/MontserratIglesias

Enjoy!

Oxfordcett Language Exchange 2022-23

Thank you for participating in this year's virtual language exchange between Oxford College of Emory University (US) and CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy (Spain)

Greetings from Barcelona!!!

Research project: Stage 4

Now that you have described the product's features, examined customers' views, and analysed the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, you must make specific improvement proposals based on your findings, to conclude. It is not necessary to tackle absolutely all the problems that derive from the analysis, but the most relevant ones should certainly be addressed.

Present your improvement plan in a structured way, cross-referring to data from previous stages and referencing your information sources. Your suggestions may draw on multiple perspectives, e.g. sustainable development goals and environmentally-friendly policies, quality standards, experience design, human resources and corporate social responsibility, revenue management, etc. 

These are some resources that may inspire you.

-5 ways to lead in an era of constant change:

https://www.ted.com/talks/jim_hemerling_5_ways_to_lead_in_an_era_of_constant_change?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

-Two reasons companies fail - and how to avoid them:

https://www.ted.com/talks/knut_haanaes_two_reasons_companies_fail_and_how_to_avoid_them?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

-Interactive risk assessment tool:

https://www.innotour.com/innovation-tools/interactive-risk-assessment-tool/

-Innovation checklists:

https://www.innotour.com/innovation-tools/innovation-checklists/

-Innovation ability test:

https://www.innotour.com/innovation-tools/innovation-ability-test/

Research project: Stage 3

SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, and it is an essential component of your project. The following links will help you to find out more about how to do it:

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05.htm

http://esl-educate-school-learn.blogspot.com/2012/02/swot-analysis.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_6AVRGLXGA

The data you collected in the second stage will help to design this part of the project. The analysis can derive from customer reviews, opinions, or information from press articles, which will allow you to identify both internal aspects (strengths and weaknesses) and external aspects (opportunities and threats). Remember to mention your information sources.

As in the previous stages, you can post the text on this blog.

Research project: Stage 2

Once you've chosen your product, you must find 80-100 customer reviews from one or several sources -preferably the more recent, the better. It is very important to discard irrelevant comments.

Next, you ought to represent the customer reviews through at least two graphs, one of which must necessarily be a line graph or a bar chart. The reasons underlying those opinions must be analysed statistically. You'll refer to these data in subsequent stages of your project and need to mention your information sources.

You should share your statistical analysis on this blog. Don't forget to use the specific vocabulary for describing graphs and charts you learned at the beginning of the academic period! You can also check this website: 

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/advanced-c1-writing/describing-graph-trends-over-time

Research project: Stage 1

This project is an improvement plan based on a study of an existing tourist product that is close enough for you to investigate first-hand: a hotel, a theme park, a holiday package, etc. You must study the product, draw its real downsides and, using these downsides as a starting point, design an improvement plan. Continuous assessment students must carry it out in pairs, while final assessment students must do it individually.

The presentation must be 10-13 minutes long and will be followed by a few questions from the panel of examiners, adding up to a total of 15 minutes. Visual support is compulsory and it can be PowerPoint, Prezi etc.

Given the nature of this final project, you should choose a product that isn't too successful, so this way designing an improvement plan will be easier and more realistic. You can check out http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ or similar websites and pick a product which, in sight of the users' opinions, shows a need for improvement. Take into account that you'll need to look for 80-100 customer reviews. You can also choose a product based on your own experience (e.g. a hotel where you work or have stayed). However, you can't analyse Port Aventura, Hotel W, Ryanair, Horta maze, Carmel bunkers, Parc Güell or Tibidabo amusement park. Improvement plans for transport infrastructures aren't advisable either, since they're highly complex. Products shouldn't be repeated.

Post your product description on this blog, mentioning all the sources of information that you've used.

Elevator pitches. Guidelines

Follow these guidelines to work on your elevator pitches.

1. Use the following links to learn how to create and deliver an elevator pitch:

Tips: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/elevator-speech-examples-and-writing-tips-2061976

Tips & example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb0Yz_5ZYzI

2. Record and upload your own elevator pitch on Flipgrid using this link: https://flip.com/61d01d04

3. Watch the videos recorded by your classmates and make constructive comments. Video record your comments and upload them on Flipgrid using the same link. You can follow these guidelines:

-Comment on your classmate´s communicative skills.

Is the message clear enough?

Is the content adequate? Why/why not?

Is fluency ok? Why/why not?

What is the speaker's attitude? And what about his/her body language?

-Comment on your classmate´s language skills.

Is the language limited or rather varied?

Identify and comment on at least 3-4 grammar/vocabulary/pronunciation inaccuracies

-Make a general comment on a strong point and a suggestion for improvement.

What is the communication aspect you like the best?

What improvement suggestions would you make to enhance communication?

4. Watch the feedback provided by your classmates on your own videos. You can produce an enhanced version of your elevator pitch if you wish.

Job search tips

Read the following tips for job application.

1. Each CV should be adapted to the personality and style of the candidate, and always in line with the sector/post to which it is addressed. It is recommended that it is only one page long and that you include an introductory paragraph (see examples and templates at https://www.canva.com/). Following a chronological order isn’t a must and you can highlight the most relevant information in bold.

2. It is advisable for the CV to include a user name, link or icon of the professional social networks in which the candidate is. In this sense, both the content of the CV and the information included in these social networks (e.g. Linkedin, Hosco or Instagram) should be detailed, relevant and carefully elaborated.

3. The covering e-mail with which you will contact the company or accompany your CV must be accurate. It’s advisable to use a Gmail address with your name and surname.

4. You must attach your CV in pdf, which you should also revise in-depth, and provide clear contact details without being too personal (e.g. avoid your date of birth, address, age or marital status). In Spain it’s customary to include a picture of yourself, but not when applying abroad. You can also produce a video CV (see tips at https://www.thebalancecareers.com/tips-for-creating-a-video-resume-2064219).

5. Moreover, you can practice for job interviews by means of recorded video interviews (available at https://www.hirevue.com/, for example). You can record yourself answering questions.

6. Bearing the interview in mind, you can also work on your elevator pitch, which allows you to introduce yourself and summarise for up to 1.5 minutes some key aspects, such as who I am? what do I look for? and why am I applying? (see tips at https://www.thebalancecareers.com/elevator-speech-examples-and-writing-tips-2061976).

7. Most formal interviews nowadays take place in a relaxed atmosphere. Some interviews include unexpected code-switching into English to check oral skills. During the interview, you shouldn’t be vague and rather provide specific examples. Some questions you might have to reply to are what do you expect to find here? or why should we choose you instead of another candidate? You can also ask questions.

8. You should have a register of your applications. Be coherent and apply sensibly, for the right post/company. It’s important to have searched for information about the company well in advance and to be aware of the pros and cons.

Good luck with your job hunt!

Virtual exchange Limerick-CETT. Global guidelines

You can participate in a virtual exchange with business students from the University of Limerick (Ireland). The aims are the development of disciplinary, language, and cross-cultural skills. To be paired up with another student, you will need to fill in your name and email address in this document:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15fcgqmlK4vNrN7usjkKd4UjS0ybkBZivBcJ_Mrmrkko/edit?usp=sharing

You and your international partner must contact each other to arrange the first online meeting. You can invite each other via Teams or through any other channel which is convenient for both of you. You will do a writing task in English related to job applications and you will have to send it to your international partner for peer review. At the same time, you will receive a similar document in Spanish which you will have to read and correct, providing brief written feedback at the end. The task will help you to prepare for a job interview by writing 4 or 5 lines in each reply to these typical questions:

1. Why did you choose to study your current course?

2. What are you good at and not so good at?

3. What motivates you?

4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

5. Describe a time when you worked with others in a team.

6. Why do you want to work for us?

7. Why do you think you are suitable for the position?

8. What can you bring to the firm?

9. What do you expect from your placement with us?

10. You will work in another country if you are offered a placement with our company. How do you think you would cope with it?

You will need to arrange a minimum of 4 online weekly meetings with your international partners between 13 February and 10 March to discuss feedback and changes on your documents for at least 40 minutes in English and Spanish.

-Week 1 (20 min. in Spanish & 20 min. in English): Introduce yourself (background, interests/hobbies, university studies and anything you would like to share with your peer) Talk about job possibilities in your country/area. Ask your partner if there are any companies where it would be good to work. You will need this information to be able to do your writing task since you must send your partner your answers to the first 5 interview questions 4 days before your second online meeting. Important: Before you meet for the first time, prepare similar information about companies in Barcelona or in Spain with job opportunities for Irish business students.

-Week 2 (20 min. in English & 20 min. in Spanish): Talk about each other’s writing tasks providing and receiving feedback. You must send your partner the answers to the last 5 interview questions 4 days before your third online meeting.

-Week 3 (20 min. in Spanish & 20 min. in English): Talk about each other’s writing tasks providing and receiving feedback.

-Week 4 (20 min. in English & 20 min.) in Spanish): Explain to each other how you used their feedback. You can also talk about cultural differences between Ireland and Spain or any different topic both of you are interested in. Time to say goodbye

In order to receive 6% of your portfolio marks, you must provide evidence of online collaboration by sharing with your teacher screenshots of your meetings and one video recording, which will be your oral portfolio task (3%). As for your written portfolio task (3%), you must send your teacher a brief report of your virtual language exchange, as well as the final document with your answers to the interview questions, including the comments and feedback from your international partner.

You can provide your partner with feedback by filling in this grid and writing down at least a strength and a weakness you identified in his or her document:

	Poor	Fair	Satisfactory	V. good	Excellent
Linguistic use (grammar/vocabulary accuracy, range & adequacy)
Fluency & pronunciation (speech flow, intonation, stress & rhythm)
Task achievement (efficient achievement of communicative purpose, content relevance & extent)
Positive aspects:
Improvement areas:

Have a great virtual exchange!!