INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN IN FOSTERING TOURISM SPECIALISTS' COMMUNICATIVE AND COGNITIVE ABILITIES

Abstract

Currently, since the tourism industry's rapid growth, there is a need to make some changes in the education programs. In particular, the focus is on the effective use of various tools and approaches that contribute to the education system in the tourism industry to increase students’ communicative and cognitive skills. The authors researched 2nd-year students in the speciality "6B11101 - Tourism" for this work. This research work lasted 3 months and covered 70 students. Two groups of students were formed: a control group (receiving standard teaching methods) and an experimental group (receiving a particular teaching program to improve communicative and cognitive skills). The research’s primary goal was to improve tourism students’ communicative and cognitive skills and enhance their English language knowledge. For this reason, a unique teaching manual was created, and critical thinking strategies were used. The pre-test and post-test results were obtained during the research work, in order to realize and compare the results of the students. The methods used were recognized as effective in improving the communicative and cognitive abilities of tourism students. The teaching manual which was created during the research enables English teachers to apply it in the education programs of tourism specialists and can be used as practical work for tourism students.