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Trab. Ling. Aplic., Campinas, 49(1): 275-292, Jan./Jun. 2010
PROMOVENDO AINTERAÇÃO FACE A FACEATRAVÉS DE WEBQUESTS: UM
ESTUDO DE CASO SOBRE INGLÊS COM PROPÓSITOS ESPECIFICOS PARA
TURISMO
FOSTERING FACE TO FACE ORALINTERACTION THROUGH WEBQUESTS:A
CASE STUDY IN ESP FOR TOURISM
JESUS GARCIA LABORDA*
ABSTRACT: Webquests have been used for some time to research a variety of topics. According to Lacina (2007), a webquest is an inquiry-based technology activity designed by Bernie Dodge and Tom March in which information is usually drawn from the Internet, and is a powerful instructional exercise both for teachers and students.Webquests enhance personal and experiential learning (WOODS et al. , 2004). This case study intends to illustrate the process and benefits of using webquests as a way to promote professional oral communication in training contexts. This paper reports on a study done at the Polytechnic University of Valencia during the 2006-2007 academic year of the use of webquests with sophomore students of Travel and Tourism. Three observations were carried out during November, February and May. The findings suggest the benefits of using webquests in the classroom for professional development and language achievement. Keywords: webquest; motivation; tourism; social construtivism.
RESUMO: Os webquests têm sido utilizados para pesquisar uma variedade de temas. De acordo com Lacina (2007), um webquest é um tipo de atividade de pesquisa baseada no uso da tecnologia. Desenvolvida por Bernie Dodge e Tom March, extrai informação de Internet e é um exercício institucional poderoso tanto para os professores quanto para os estudantes. Webquests também contribuem para a aprendizagem e experiência pessoal (MADEIRAS et al., 2004). Este estudo pretende ilustrar o processo e os benefícios da utilização de webquests em contextos de formação para promover a comunicação oral em âmbitos profissionais. Os resultados foram obtidos em um experimento desenvolvido na Universidad Politécnica de Valencia durante o curso acadêmico de 2006-2007 com os estudantes do curso de Turismo. Durante o experimento, os resultados foram analisados a cada três meses (novembro, fevereiro e maio). As conclusões deste estudo sugerem diversos benefícios da utilização de webquests em classe para o desenvolvimento profissional e aprendizagem da língua. Palavras-chave: webquest; motivação; turismo; construtivismo social.
INTRODUCTION
Tourism has become one of the most attractive areas of business in the last 25 years. Indeed, this is reflected in the increasing number of tourism colleges across Latin America and the world. Students and professionals in the field require constant information for
LABORDA — Fostering Face to Face Oral Interaction through Webquests...
bookings, transport, destinations and so on. First and foreign language communication in this field is especially important to cope with the international customers’ needs (LESLIE, RUSSELL & GOVAN, 2004; LESLIE, RUSSELL & FORBES, 2002; SEONG, 2001; PETZOLD & BERNS, 2000). Professional communication can be done by letters, memos and e-mails and telephoning but face to face communication is still very highly regarded when instant negotiations or information is required. Of course, very often oral information must be supported by the latest information accessed on the Internet. Therefore, students should be able to connect the use of Internet and their own speech. Typically, oral interactions in travel and tourism are found in professional meetings, negotiations, presentations, information exchange and face to face bookings with customers. This paper intends to show the efficacy and use of webquests in tourism studies to develop oral face to face communication and professional information search skills. Webquests are task-based research activities whose main purpose is to solve a problem by using the internet to obtain information. The typical webquest (as presented in the final appendix) is based on moving from one task to the following based on the information that is found on the net. For instance, when a student obtains some information, this information becomes the basis to continue the research. Further, this paper observed the types of in- class oral interactions between trainee students, their relation with the teacher, the problems and procedures in browsing and using the Internet. In-class interaction is done at three levels: Student to teacher, student to group (the class) and student to student. When implementing webquests in the classroom, it is necessary to pay special attention to a number of key issues: (a) students should be able to improve both their written and oral skills, (b) reading input is fundamental in building new knowledge, (c) browsing the Internet is necessary for the travel business today, and (d) oral communication may prevail over written communication under certain conditions. Webquests can be very realistic but require cooperation among students and the teacher.
1. RELATING WEBQUESTS AND THE TOURISM CLASSROOM PRACTICES
Webquests have been used in Business English for some time. However, it is necessary to support their use to promote oral communication and development in educational contexts such as English for Tourism. Two main aspects support the use of webquests: being a professional development activity and being a constructivist language learning approach.
1.1 Constructivist language learning and webquests
Constructivist approaches to language learning consider that when students receive input, processes of accommodation and assimilation lead to construction of new knowledge. Webquests accommodate the features of a constructivist language learning approach in the following sense:
a. Webquests provide opportunities for lexical and language use input through reading (BOSWELL, 2003; STINSON, 2003) that can be used to construct ideas
LABORDA — Fostering Face to Face Oral Interaction through Webquests...
any other comments that may foster conversation and meaning or information negotiation. As a consequence, students find positive social implications of what they learn for others especially if role plays are used as a reinforcing exercise for the oral interaction because part of the students may take the tourism professional role and the other part, the customer’s (who benefit from the information provided by a student to plan their trip and, in a way, enjoy an imaginary trip). e. Webquests allow the contextualization of language learning (so necessary in so- called “Content Based Language Learning”). If students learn the vocabulary in context, they tend to learn it better because the vocabulary becomes an active part of what they really need to know. f. Webquests require previous knowledge to learn (YOON, HO & HEDBERG, 2006; PATTERSON & PIPKIN, 2001). Students may not really understand the distinction between the different on-board classes if they have not learned previously that airplanes usually have different classes according to the services provided on board. In this way, previous knowledge is used as scaffolding for new foreign language learning (MACGREGOR & LOU, 2005). Additionally, the fact that students rehearse their practice, try them before the final task, and negotiate meanings with their classmates also permits the scaffolding of new knowledge based on the exposure to new language forms and personal thinking, hypothesizing and trying language forms. g. Webquests are also motivating (APPEL & GILABERT, 2002). Positive feedback such as understanding and being understood, a sense of achievement in performing the task, learning new concepts, contextualizing learning and having life-related learning are all constructive reinforcing aspects of learning.
1.2 Webquests as a professional development activity
Webquests require solving a problem, a method that is well accepted by university students (GOSSMAN et al. , 2007). Webquests should be realistic to be meaningful and lead to better learning (IKPEZE & BOYD, 2007; SEAMON, 1999). For instance, the fares obtained in the initial stages of a booking provide real quotes. In many circumstances, simulations through webquests have similar problems and working conditions that tourism professionals handle in their everyday life. For instance, if a travel agent needs to organize a conference in London, he or she will have to go through the same steps as indicated in the webquests one and two (see appendix). Webquests also have a professional training value as webquests facilitate real data that helps students to figure out how things (companies, bookings, prices, attractions, entertainment, Internet browsing and search skills and more) can be in real life and provide possible steps for how to approach their tasks and responsibilities in a real situation. For the teacher, webquests can facilitate the teacher’s job in the field since websites will provide the specialized information that the instructor generally lacks (after all, the instructor is not usually a professional in the field but a foreign language teacher). Consequently, teachers should take the responsibility to promote learning in ICT learning environments (YOON, HO & HEDBERG, 2006).
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1.3 Fostering oral production
As seen, webquests in tourism lead to experiential learning. Experiential learning is also enhanced when students are urged to work cooperatively (MASON, 2006, NAUGHTON, 2006; DE FREITAS, 2006) especially when including specialized communicative acts such as meetings, negotiations and presentations. Computers and specific websites can provide the necessary input that, when supported by images and other contextual clues, may be a little above the students’ proficiency level (what Krashen called “i+1”) (KRASHEN, 1997). Webquests should also be organized in such ways that students can have the opportunity to grasp vocabulary and expressions that are hardly ever a part of the syllabus. Additionally, it would be advisable to include sub-tasks that may include both formal and non-formal oral interactions.
2. IMPLEMENTING WEBQUESTS FOR TOURISM STUDENTS
According to McCauley and McCauley (1992), reading input benefits oral performance. The question is how to integrate this comprehensible and incomprehensible input into the student’s knowledge. It is also necessary to show the stages, effects on learning and how webquests promote student interaction. The following diagram suggests the stages to implement a webquest for Tourism students:
Stage Effects on learning Effects on oral development Webquest is presented to the students
Part of the language and structures are learned
Oral and written input is received from the teacher Students meet and assign roles
Cooperative work, task assignment, social interaction, motivation
If some part of this work is done in class they are likely to do it in L
Students seek information individually (but in contact)
Passive and active reading, structure and vocabulary learning, negotiation and support (through cooperation), professional development (getting to know the market)
New vocabulary is comprehended. It will probably be used in oral performance later
Previous organization and oral rehearsal Presentation in front of the teacher
Students have a meeting to propose the package (best done in class in front of the teacher)
Learners interchange information, social interaction, passive and active reading, structure and vocabulary learning, output after learning Feedback session
The group produces a report / booklet
Learners interchange information, social interaction, passive and active reading, structure and vocabulary learning, output after learning
The written output will be incorporated into the final presentation
Trab.Ling.Aplic., Campinas, 49(1), Jan./Jun. 2010
- Session (webquest) 1: (Appendix II): Booking a tour to three major destinations in Great Britain. Students were required to imagine themselves as travel agents. Students received basic information and needed to plan an imaginary itinerary together with the customer and to dialogue with two more classmates (as company assistants) and present all the information to the customer at the end_._
- Session (webquest) 2 : Given a destination, students would have to organize a full program for two days. The program would include the timetable, visits, local transportation and restaurants and entertainment. The final goal would be to choose an appropriate program for the accompanying persons of a two-day con- ference of the students’ choice. The final subtask would be a meeting with two other people of the same company also in charge of organizing this program.
- Session (webquest) 3 : Considering themselves as travel agency administrators, students would imagine that they had to prepare a trip around the world with five stopovers in English speaking countries (so that they mostly had to get the information in English and, whenever possible, avoiding their mother tongue). The final subtask would be a negotiation (or presentation) with a wealthy client.
3.3 Participants
The participants varied in number because attendance is not compulsory in Spain but run between 74 in the first observation, 60 in the second and 45 in the third (a 39% dropout rate). They were all students in the second year of English for Travel & Tourism at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (19 to 22 years old). In general, these students usually have a lower intermediate level but classes are of mixed ability. Most students in the college have a relatively low speaking ability while they usually excel in grammar and are quite good in reading. Thus, many instructors consider that the main goal in Travel & Tourism ESP is to facilitate the development of students’ oral skills. The classes in the study had 38 and 36 students (19 and 26 at the time of the last observation) which met once a week for two hours. Classes usually consisted of reading and speaking tasks but most reading and grammar was done at home. Conversations were generally those included in the book, and additionally speaking tasks might be given by the teacher.
3.4 Observations on collection procedures
Data was obtained from three sessions: one in Fall 2006 and from two classes in Spring 2007. The interaction between students–computer and student–student was observed and annotated. The total observation time was 6 hours and the total number of interactions was 60 (35–16–9). As a means of control of the students’ learning, classroom progress exams included expressions, grammar and vocabulary practiced or acquired through these webquests. However, the teacher considered solving the webquest a good evaluative task in itself. The criteria to evaluate the webquest exercises were: language use, communicative interaction, professional development and motivation. Additionally, at the end of each session there was a general discussion about possible common benefits and
LABORDA — Fostering Face to Face Oral Interaction through Webquests...
difficulties. Some students also volunteered to give a presentation of their findings to the whole class. Overall, students also had some written interaction among them and with the teacher (indicated in diagram 1). This communication was also used as input to trigger further oral interaction. This interaction was in the form of letters, emails, reports and summaries. However, most of this written communication was electronic and thus can be considered as another element for further studies.
3.5 Collection criteria
Among the criteria used to classify the observations and evidenced in the observation described in the following pages were:
- The activity and involvement shown by the students in the form of implication in the conversations, interest and motivation, conversation engagement, and leading role.
- The amount of time involved in active practice in the classroom.
- Language quality of the students’ production (especially considering the evolution along the period of observation).
- Commitment in completing the assignments (considering the available time and space as well as the technical resources and requirements).
3.6 Findings and discussion
The findings of this qualitative research will refer to two main aspects with the first looking at the use of websites to trigger face to face communication both in the information search and results presentation processes, and the second as a tool for professional development. A summary of language and task observations is included as Appendix I. Overall, students expressed their satisfaction with the type of tasks and the way to obtain real online information in the discussions after the sessions. Most students also acknowledged that they felt these sessions would be meaningful for both their college studies and professional careers although some mentioned that they believed the booking systems in airlines and travel agencies would be more sophisticated and difficult to operate. Almost all considered these webquest tasks a good means of training although very few of them had ever done any before.
3.7 Face to face communication
Session 1: Observations reported that students felt the pressure to finish the task from the beginning. Since most of them had never worked with most of the websites suggested in the outline of the task, understanding the new vocabulary was quite challenging. Of course, part of these new lexical items had been seen in previous classes but each website brought new words and expressions. Incorporating these into the oral interventions was quite difficult and students had to take many notes to prepare their final
LABORDA — Fostering Face to Face Oral Interaction through Webquests...
Session 3: Given the limited number of students that attend classes (45) by the end of the year, it is essential to mention that students in the classes tend to be either very motivated (and generally more proficient in L2) and those weaker students who believe they cannot miss classes in order to obtain the desired grade in the class. This situation leads to uneven student groupings in which generally a more skilled student usually works with a less proficient one. This would be the case to see whether weaker students may perform (or simulate to perform) at the same level as their counterparts. In session three, almost all the students (37) proved that the hypothetical first interview with a customer in which basic information for the trip is obtained was routinized, and that made it possible to have realistic conversations from the beginning of the task. In-group assistance was fluent since not only the more proficient students helped the others but also there was a real interchange of common ideas among them. L1 use was limited and most students ( groupings) interacted fluently in the information search. About two thirds of the students could organize the full trip and prepare a final presentation for the simulated board meeting. Most students enjoyed the volunteer presentations and suggested ways to improve the bookings, destinations, airlines, and so on. However, 11 students did not evidence the same improvement, partly because seven pupils had missed one or two of the previous webquests and partly because they did not acquire the necessary skills despite the extensive preparation done during the year.
3.8 Computer skills integration
At the beginning of the year, students reported diverse degrees of familiarity and comfort with computers. 80% of the students used computers to play, to communicate (synchronously and asynchronously), to browse the Internet and for academic writing. Only three of them had ever done a webquest and only one in English class in high school. Most felt that computers were challenging but a few mentioned anxiety in relation to computers. Only two reported that they felt stressed when working under time pressure. In general, students agreed on the positive effect of the Internet and information technologies in their professional field and careers. Session 1: Although about ten students had booked airline tickets or searched for information for their own trips, almost none of the Spanish students in the class had done it in English. Thus, one of the most important aspects was to watch that students used websites in English all the time. However, when the English and Spanish interfaces of the websites in use were similar, the teacher allowed students to check the meaning on the Spanish website, feeling that being able to make bookings in both languages was positive for the students’ own interest. In reference to the bookings for local hotels, pupils had to make Internet choices on companies (Econolodge, Holiday Inn, Best Western, and so on), buses (National Express) or trains (British Railways, Virgin). Usually each website had its own interface philosophy addressed to its own users and students could (and had to) interpret each one. They also had to learn the differences between types of rooms, train classes, and many other aspects. A large amount of time was devoted to this specific learning. They also had to work with currency converters and dictionaries. Overall, the Internet task was more sophisticated than they had expected at the beginning of the
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webquest but they also mentioned the importance of learning these practical things that are not usually taught in any other class. Session 2: As mentioned, the second webquest was linguistically a little simpler because it required less searches and the vocabulary both in the online readings and the interactions were not descriptive such as describing a city (which requires a higher competence than just for asking and answering simple questions). Besides, students only had to work with common daily tasks such as restaurants, local transportation, attractions and those tasks that usually require less ability in solving problems. This exercise mostly consists of collecting information that can usually be obtained through a choice of different websites with the same purpose (for instance, New York City has at least ten official websites with information of current activities, local restaurants, links to the city transport bureau, activities and more). In general, students could get more or less information and use a larger repertoire of websites. Session 3: The observations of this session indicated serious differences among different groups of students. While three groups could finish the tour around the world, one group could hardly prepare two stages. The reasons may be related to previous experience, as some groups included members that had little experience in the tasks because they missed part of the year or were not present on the day of the webquests. However, the observations showed that six out ofnine finished. Students not only integrated the resources used in previous webquests but also came up with their own. Overall, in the final follow-up session students showed positive attitudes and recognized the validity of webquests. Additionally, two students mentioned they had learned about travelling overseas especially in countries with which they had not thought they would have any connection. The findings indicate that students are interested in learning through computers. Participants were very active during these tasks and showed a genuine interest in learning to deal with semi-real problems such as timetables, designing budgets and recommending local activities while also eager to go on with their learning experiences out of class. The experiences described before show the students’ interest in designing different trips especially when they have the freedom to choose their own places and routes. Some students even recognized that they had used these skills learned in class for their own trips. Webquests permitted optimal simulations where there were a large number of professional oral interactions (interviews, presentations and meetings). Maybe if there had been two classes in synchronous communication, additional types of professional discourses could have been implemented such as teleconferencing, or by using programs such as Skype telephone calls could have been practiced. Although not a great emphasis was placed on correction, feedback in vocabulary, grammar, language use and pragmatics was provided in the sessions. Students also proved competent in short conversations on transport, lodging and destinations. Three or four mentioned that they had gained competence in this specific task although they believed that they would hardly ever have this type of interaction in their professional career. Conversations based on the information gathered through the webquests gave students time to think, opportunities to implement speaking strategies, knowledge of the language use necessary for the task and opportunities for performance and rehearsal. This allowed the internalization of the conversation in an appropriate safe context and a considerable reduction of anxiety towards speaking and opportunities for conversation.
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skills, observations indicate that more experienced students usually achieve more than their classmates because they take longer speaking turns, are more active, tend to assume more speaking risks and tend to engage with high proficiency students. When experienced students help the disadvantaged ones, both groups benefit from this cooperation. Overall, there is a need for further studies on oral development supported by the use of computers and the Internet in language for Specific Purposes that can support or reject the observations presented in this article.
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APPENDIX I: SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS
Date of observation
November 16 2006
15:00 – 17:00 hours
February 15 2007
15:00 – 17:00 hours
May 15 2007
15:00 – 17:00 hours Task Booking a tour to three major destinations in Great Britain
Full program for two days
A trip around the world
Some students had problems booking online. Bookings were interrupted when students found the timetable and prices.
Since many students get to interact simultaneously in the classroom, some were bothered by the noise and some were reluctant to do the exercise.
Some students browsed websites in Spanish and therefore did not get to read or deal with the lexis in English.
Students collected information and finished the task according to the teacher’s instructions but in different quantities and quality. Students mentioned that the task was easier because they were more familiarized with getting this kind of information.
Students focused on websites in English with a few exceptions. Use of online dictionaries was limited to the students’ needs but still excessive.
Anxiety was lower and students felt safer and with more options and resources to choose from.
Group interaction was fluent and students helped one another despite their proficiency level. Students could handle reservations and trip organization with very few problems.
Students volunteered easily for final presentations.
Most students finished the task (6 groups out of
- but the differences between two groups and the rest was considerable. Attitudes towards the validity of using webquests in the final recap were very positive. Number of groupings observed
35 28 19
Implications for oral development
Students who had never practiced speaking in real life? situations had some communication and interaction problems but a cooperative and supportive atmosphere helped to overcome them.
Students enjoy dealing with real topics they feel are significant to them.
Grammar is a bit “rusty” but students seem to learn a great amount of vocabulary. On occasions, L1 is used but at the information gathering stage L1 may be accepted when limited to the minimum.
Speaking routines were more numerous and varied. They were also more natural, less hesitant and less controlled. Weaker students performed with limited fluency but dialogued and worked smoothly.
L1 use was more limited.
Realistic conversations in L2 were routinized.
There was almost no L use.
Bookings and information vocabulary was used fluently. Some weaker students had difficulties, but overall they all excelled except for a few students with particular problems or who had missed some computer and presentations practice.
Grammar and vocabulary were adequate for the task.
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APPENDIX II: AWEBQUEST SAMPLE
Booking a tour to three major destinations in Great Britain (Session / webquest 1)
Introduction
A large portion of the British economy is dependent on and derived from tourism. Although tourism in Great Britain has decreased due to weather changes, terrorism and politics, travelers are still attracted by the language and cultural heritage of the U.K. Travel agents face the difficulty of finding cities that may attract foreign travelers but do not get over- crowded with them (for example, Lincoln) and may still bring visitors at an attractive cost. The García Travel Agency has picked your team to plan an imaginary customer’s itinerary, plan it together with the customer to determine his or her interests, to dialogue with two more classmates (as your team) and present all the information to the customer at the end.
Transport to be used: train, plane, boat (for half day excursions) and bus (for travel, transfer or commuting).
Information about cities: those visited including lodging and food, and also tourist attrac- tions, points of interest and places not to be missed.
Lodging: Try to use school dorms whenever possible. Do not use bookings through other travel agencies. If you select hotels, they should have 3-4 stars.
Quote the final price and state full schedules, service features and comfort classes.
Task
Each group must collect all the information, and after discussion with other team members, choose the cities that will appeal to potential travelers (mostly high-school students). Each member of the group will research either a dorm or hotel or, even better, a means of transpor- tation or local information sources. Additional information about activities and events would be welcome.
Process
Find the appropriate websites to make the bookings; find maps and places for your final oral report and presentation. Be sure to choose only the necessary means that will facili- tate your work. Not every fact will be appropriate. Write a report that is clear, attractive and persuasive. Because you will be producing a travel report, having one meeting and giving a presentation, it is necessary for you to keep notes of your information or maintain records of your research.
Resources
Find your own resources (the teacher will be available if necessary). However, keep in mind (only for emergency reasons) that Best Western, Econolodge, Melia, Partner or Holiday
