NEEDS ANALYSIS IN ENGLISH ORAL COMMUNICATION OF THAI TOURIST GUIDES

Abstract

This study investigated the needs in English language oral communication for Thai tourist guides in terms of necessities and lacks. Three types of instruments were used to conduct the needs assessment; questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and field observation checklists. The subjects of this study were 1) Thai tourist guides, 2) native English speaking tourists visiting Thailand, and 3) instructors currently teaching the English language course for Tourism. The findings revealed that for the necessities in speaking skills, Thai tourist guides reported that using basic expressions and general vocabulary, with correct use of idioms, and technical terms, were the most necessary while speaking English language and performing their duties. For listening skills, understanding various English accents, basic expressions, and determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary were the most necessary in performing their duties. In terms of lacks, the native English speaking foreign tourists reported similar main areas of English language oral communication lacks of Thai tourist guides. These included use of technical terms and correct idioms for speaking, and determining the meaning of unknown vocabulary, and understanding the various English accents for listening. The usage of correct grammar for speaking, and cross-cultural knowledge for listening which were reported to be in the top three main areas of lacks were considered the lasts by Thai tourist guides.