From Needs Analysis to Course Design: A Case of Hotel English in Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study is to find out the English language needs of workers in
Nigerian hotels so that appropriate language structures could be developed to enable
them perform well in their job specific situations. This researcher went out to find how language is used in hotel situation. A total of hundred questionnaires were distributed in 15 hotels and 96 people responded and returned the questionnaires. In the course of the distribution of the questionnaire, the members of staff were observed while on duty and the managers were also interviewed. From the findings, it was discovered that most hotel staff are untrained for the job and that there is need for in-service training for all the staff from time to time. There is also need to emphasize the listening and speaking skills for effective communication in the tourism and hospitality industry as visitors in Nigeria hotels are from different linguistic background and the nation is also a multi-lingual one with English as its official language.

LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research Vol. 5 2008: pp. 43-60