jueves, 2 de octubre de 2025

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 synthesize information.
  • To structure a presentation.
  • To improve formal written expression.

5. Activity description:

You will work in pairs to analyze 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 analyze 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 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.

lunes, 15 de septiembre de 2025

Welcome to English level 2

Welcome to the academic year 2025-26. 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 with. Provide arguments for this pyramidal discussion until the entire class produces a consensual ranking.

viernes, 11 de abril de 2025

Happy Easter, Limerick & CETT Students!!!

The Virtual Language Exchange Limerick-CETT has ended, but new friendships have emerged.

Happy Easter, everybody!!!

miércoles, 19 de marzo de 2025

English Level 2 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 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, reporting on the methodology you have followed, 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/

sábado, 8 de marzo de 2025

Gender equality in the tourism sector

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?

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

miércoles, 5 de marzo de 2025

Activity SWOT analysis

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]. 

martes, 4 de marzo de 2025

English Level 2 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 this blog.

You can provide your classmates with peer feedback by filling in this form: 

https://forms.gle/6ZtCRLZmyUGUjFDf6