Niche 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:

Unit 11 - Slovenia

4. Learning objectives:

• To improve formal oral expression with visual support.
• To develop strategies to describe trends using data and graphs.
• To synthesize 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 (either emerging or rediscovered) that is particularly successful within a niche tourism segment and present the factors behind its growth orally. Choose a growing tourist destination (city, region, or country) associated with a specific tourism niche. Working independently and using any AI tools you wish, research statistical and qualitative information to analyse its recent development. Prepare a 5-minute oral presentation with visual support to be delivered in class, including:

1) A description of the tourism niche and the destination.

2) The customer profile and the destination’s main competitors.

3) Recent tourism statistics and growth data represented visually.

4) The main factors behind the destination’s growth.

5) Predictions and future prospects for the destination.

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 practicing 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.

Writing a report with AI

1.   Typewrite the yardstick report you wrote for Chido Tacos!

2.    Look for 2 or 3 machine translation systems (e.g., Google Translate, DeepL, and/or Microsoft Translator) and translate your composition into your mother tongue.

3.    Evaluate whether the translated text makes sense and make a list of errors, classifying them into categories (and subcategories, if possible), such as:

-Focus on form vs meaning: fluency or well-formedness of the target text (e.g., errors in grammatical agreement, word order, collocation, punctuation, etc.) vs adequacy if the meaning of the target text is not consistent with that of the source text, including cultural references or register.

-Word order errors: incorrect word order at phrase or word level.

-Mistranslations: incorrectly translated word, wrong gender, number, or case.

-Omissions (e.g., words from the source text have been omitted from the target text) vs additions (e.g., words not in the source text have been added in the target text).

4.    Try to fix problems in the translated text following the post-editing guidelines posted on this blog on 25/11/2024.

5.    Translate the post-edited translated text back into English using the same MT systems and compare this back-translation with your first version in English to identify your own mistakes.

6.    Pre-edit your English texts, correcting your own errors and following the pre-editing guidelines posted on this blog on 25/11/2024.

7.    Translate the pre-edited English texts into your mother tongue again using the same MT systems.

8.    Compare:

-The initial source text in English and the pre-edited source text in English.

-The initial target text in your mother tongue and the post-edited target text in your mother tongue.

9.    Think about the whole process and implications (including practical and ethical considerations). Discuss orally or write a reflective essay.

AI as your presentation coach: Exploring different ways to organize ideas

Objective

Before preparing a two-minute oral presentation, you will use AI to explore different ways of organizing your ideas. The goal is not to change what you want to say, but to think more carefully about how you can structure your speech to make it clearer, more engaging, and easier to follow.

Step 1: Create your own structure (no AI)

Choose a general topic (e.g. sports, holidays, music, technology, food, etc.).

First, write down keywords and key concepts only. Do not write complete sentences or paragraphs.

Then, organize your ideas into a structure for a two-minute presentation without using AI.

Step 2: Ask AI for three alternative structures

Once you have selected and organized your ideas on your own, ask an AI tool to suggest three different ways of organizing the same keywords and concepts.

Compare your original structure with the AI-generated alternatives. At this stage, the focus is no longer what to say, but how to organize, justify, and improve your discourse.

Step 3: What did the AI do differently?

Work with a partner. Show your partner your original keywords and the three structures suggested by the AI.

Discuss the following questions:

• Which structure was most logical?
• Which one was easiest to remember?
• Which one sounded most natural for a presentation?
• Which ideas did the AI move or prioritize?

Be prepared to share your conclusions with the class.

Step 4: Identify the organizational pattern

Together with your partner, decide whether any of the AI-generated structures follow one of these patterns:

• General idea → Specific aspects → Conclusion
• Past → Present → Future
• Problem → Causes → Solutions
• Problem → Causes → Effects
• Advantages → Disadvantages → Opinion
• Facts → Examples → Conclusion
• Personal experience → Reflection → Advice
• Compare → Contrast → Preference
• Personal opinion → Reasons → Conclusion

You may find that different AI structures follow different patterns.

Step 5: Choose and justify

Select the structure that you think works best and explain why. Use some of the following sentence starters:

• I chose this structure because...
• It is easier to deliver because...
• The audience can understand my ideas better because...

Step 6: Can you improve the AI?

The AI structure may be good, but can you make it better? Together with your partner, evaluate whether you can:

• Remove unnecessary sections
• Change the order of ideas
• Add examples
• Simplify the structure

Remember: AI can suggest ideas, but you are the one who decides how to communicate effectively.

Final reflection

At the end of the activity, be ready to answer:

What did you learn about organizing a presentation, and how useful was AI in helping you improve your structure? 

Welcome to English Level 2

Welcome to the academic year 2026-27. In this introductory session, you will be required to complete two production tasks.

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

-Actually
-Career
-Despite
-Nevertheless
-If she/he had 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 on. Provide arguments for this pyramidal discussion until the entire class produces a consensual ranking.

Activity Staff Selection

A luxury hotel in Barcelona is selecting a new General Manager. 

The choice is between two candidates:

Candidate A

o  Hotel Management Experience: 

-Worked as a hotel manager at a four-star boutique hotel with 10 rooms for the past seven years.

-Successfully managed a team of 12 staff members, ensuring high guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.

-Implemented effective customer service strategies and handled high-profile events.

 o  Education: 

-Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management.

o  Additional Skills:

-Strong leadership and conflict resolution abilities.

-Solid knowledge of hospitality operations and guest relations.

 Candidate B

o  Digital Marketing Skills:

-Worked as a digital marketing manager at Marriott International for two years.

-Created successful online campaigns, increasing the company’s bookings and online presence.

-Holds certifications in social media marketing and digital advertising.

 o  Education:

-Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

-Master’s degree in Digital Marketing.

 o  Leadership Experience:

-Led a team of digital marketers, coordinating campaigns and analyzing performance metrics.

o  Additional Skills: 

-Creativity and adaptability in digital environments.

-Proficiency in data analysis tools and digital trends.

1. The class is divided into two groups. One group will support Candidate A, and the other will support Candidate B. Within each group, decide which student will perform the following roles:

o  Lead Debater: Presents the main arguments.

o  Researcher: Uses AI tools to find supporting data and examples.

o  Rebuttal Specialist: Prepares counter-arguments against the opposing team.

2. Review the profiles of Candidate A and Candidate B thoroughly. Each group should identify the key points that support their candidate. Consider aspects such as:

o  Experience vs. potential: The value of experience in hotel management versus the potential of digital marketing skills.

o  Long-term success: Which skills are more likely to contribute to the hotel’s long-term success.

o  Adaptability: The ability of each candidate to adapt to changing trends in the tourism and hospitality industries.

3. Use generative AI to:

o  Generate potential scenarios and outcomes for each candidate.

o  Find case studies or examples of similar situations in real hotels or resorts.

o  Create visual aids or presentations to support arguments.

4. Debate execution: Each team presents their opening statements, outlining the main reasons their candidate should be selected. Take turns presenting your arguments and counter-arguments.

5. Reflection: Discuss what you have learned and how you can improve your own performance and the effectiveness of your arguments. Consider aspects such as:

o  Clarity and coherence: How clearly and logically the arguments have been presented.

o  Use of evidence: The effectiveness of using AI-generated data and real-world examples to support arguments.

o  Team collaboration: How well the team members have worked together and supported each other.

o  Persuasiveness: The ability to convincingly argue why your candidate is the better choice.

Source: OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com

Adapted from: Donaire, J. A., Puntí Brun, M., Zerva, K., Camprubí Subirana, R., & Galí Espelt, N. (2025). De la tiza al chip: el uso de la inteligencia artificial en las aulas. Universitat de Girona.

English 2 Final Project - Stage 4

Once you have described the product/service's features, examined customers' views, and analysed the main strengths and weaknesses (as well as the opportunities and threats, optionally), you must make specific improvement proposals based on your findings, to conclude. It is not necessary to address all problems arising from the analysis, but the most relevant ones should certainly be addressed.

Present your improvement plan in a structured format, reporting on the methodology you followed, cross-referencing to data from previous stages, and citing 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, 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/

Activity SWOT

Step 1. The Manager of Sunshine Hotels has conducted a SWOT analysis of this hotel chain, but the different aspects have been jumbled accidentally. Classify each aspect into four categories: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Aspects:

1. Prime locations
2. High operating costs
3. Expansion into emerging markets
4. Excellent customer service
5. Economic downturns
6. Limited online presence
7. Sustainability initiatives
8. Diverse amenities
9. Seasonal dependency
10. Intense competition
11. Partnerships with travel agencies
12. Changing travel regulations

Step 2. Match each one of the aspects above with its corresponding explanation below. Discuss and justify your choices.

Explanations:

1. The cost of maintaining high standards and diverse amenities is significant, impacting profit margins.
2. Revenue is highly dependent on peak tourist seasons, which can lead to fluctuations in income.
3. New travel restrictions or regulations can affect international tourist arrivals.
4. The hotel chain is known for its exceptional customer service, which leads to high customer satisfaction and repeat business.
5. Economic instability can reduce travel spending, impacting occupancy rates.
6. Sunshine Hotels are located in popular tourist destinations, attracting a high number of visitors.
7. The hotel chain has a weak online marketing strategy, leading to lower visibility compared to competitors.
8. Offers a wide range of amenities, including spas, gyms, and conference facilities, catering to both leisure and business travelers.
9. Forming alliances with travel agencies can increase bookings and brand visibility.
10. There is potential for growth by expanding into emerging tourist destinations.
11. The hotel chain has implemented eco-friendly practices, which can attract environmentally conscious travelers and reduce operating costs.
12. The hotel industry is highly competitive, with new entrants and existing competitors constantly vying for market share.

Step 3. Reflect on what you learned from the activity and discuss how conducting a SWOT analysis can be beneficial in your future career in tourism and hospitality.

Source: Microsoft. (2025). Copilot [Large language model]. 

English 2 Final 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.

It is mandatory to present an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses, while the opportunities and threats can be analysed optionally as well if you wish to aim at a higher qualification.

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

Inclusive tourism workplaces

Watch these videos. They illustrate different roles of women within the tourism industry:

-Las Kellys: https://youtu.be/MBBDSPT879Q

-Celebrity Cruises: https://youtu.be/vux_5Hyb_wQ

Reflect on the following questions:

1. How can tourism contribute to gender equality?

2. What are the most pressing issues that affect women in the tourism industry?

3. Are education and training equally provided for tourism managers and employees?

4. Are women represented in tourism policies and in this sector's decision-making spaces?

5. Is the tourism sector truly inclusive for all professionals? And for all tourists?

For more information, you can also read UNWTO's Global Report on Women in Tourism: 

https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284420384

Elevator pitch

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 share your own elevator pitch.

3. Watch the videos recorded by your classmates and make constructive comments. 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. Considering the feedback provided by your classmates on your own videos, you can produce an enhanced version of your elevator pitch if you wish. 

English 2 Final Project - Stage 2

Once you've chosen your product/service, 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 as a follow-up to Stage 1 on the Forum. 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

Jobs & Careers

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 in 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. To practice some interview questions, spin the wheel: https://spinthewheel.app/0QJPxkTGYA

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

Good luck with your job hunt!