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English for Tourism Level 1
Aims
The aims of this syllabus are to enable candidates to develop the written and spoken skills required to:
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communicate effectively, in English at customer liaison level for the hospitality, travel and tourism industry.
Assessment Objectives
The examination will assess the candidate’s ability to:
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understand the requirements of routine business-related communication and write letters, memos, faxes, notices and messages
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read, interpret accurately and respond unambiguously, to business and tourism texts and data taken from manuals, timetables and guides used by the industry
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re-present data to complete charts, tables, booking forms, report forms and produce notes, lists and make basic calculations
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complete a variety of simulated practical tourism related tasks
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use the specialised language of the travel and tourism industry
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demonstrate an appreciation of the working roles of people in the hotel, catering, airline, ground transport and tourism industries.
Target Audience and Candidate Progression
The qualification is for candidates who wish to be able to communicate effectively, in written English, at a customer liaison level within the hospitality, travel and tourism industry.
Candidates will be expected to have a general English proficiency equivalent to the Council of Europe's Waystage Level (A2) and in addition will need to apply and use the special vocabulary, idiomatic expressions and abbreviations generally used in the travel and tourism industry.
Syllabus Topics
1 Composing a simple business communication
2 Basic business reading comprehension in a tourism context
3 Tourism-related information processing and reformulation
4 Tourism-related tasks*
5 The specialist language of the tourism industry
In addition, candidates will be expected to demonstrate a level of general linguistic competence as outlined in syllabus topics 6 to 9.
* These tasks will be set within the following possible contexts:
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airports and airlines
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tourist information centres
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cruise ships, holiday/ski resorts, leisure centres, theme parks and camp sites
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hotels
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travel agencies
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rail, bus and coach stations.
Coverage of Syllabus Topics in Examinations
Tasks may be set in any of the above topic areas. Usually there will be a logical progression of tasks to be completed within a given scenario. Information for tasks is often linked and candidates are strongly advised to read through the whole paper before attempting Task 1.
Examination Format
Candidates are assessed via a 2-hour written examination paper consisting of 4 compulsory questions which can vary in the order they appear.
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One question, worth 20 marks, will be a reading comprehension of a business/tourism text with extracts of information taken from a variety of authentic guides, manuals, maps, plans and listings. Candidates will be requested to read/scan/check information and to extract and set out specific data to the criteria of the scenario/situation described in the question and provide simple answers. Basic calculations may also be required and candidates will need to be familiar with specialist travel and tourism vocabulary, terminology and abbreviations.
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Another question, worth 35 marks, will be an extended written business communication task. Candidates will be asked to use the information from the reading comprehension question and represent it as a business communication for a specified purpose. This could be in the form of a letter or memorandum.
• A third question, worth 20 marks, will involve a follow up task where candidates will be required to write a fax or compose: a message, a written instruction or a notice, or complete a form, in order to obtain or give additional information or make a reservation.
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A fourth question, worth 25 marks, will involve writing a response to a change in arrangements. Candidates will be asked to reorganise, recalculate, modify/cancel or notify the changes by writing a fax, a memo, a notice, or a message as specified.
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The questions/tasks will be presented in a business/tourism format using standard layouts (booking forms, message pads, fax forms, application forms, letters and memos)
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Extracts of travel information taken from published international travel guides, manuals, timetables, maps, as well tables, lists, charts and tourism texts in English are used to support the scenarios and provide the information on which the tasks are based.
Guided Learning Hours
EDI recommends that 70-80 Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) provide a suitable course duration for an ‘average’ candidate at this level. This figure includes direct contact hours as well as other time when candidates’ work is being supervised by teachers. Ultimately, however, it is the responsibility of training centres to determine the appropriate course duration based on their candidates’ ability and level of existing knowledge. EDI experience indicates that the number of GLHs can vary significantly from one training centre to another.
Candidate Answer Guidance
Answer Formats
Each question requires an answer that is:
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adequate in practical business terms in the sense that:
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the purpose of the communication is achieved
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the task is successfully completed
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the correct format is chosen
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essential matters are included and dealt with
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the content is presented logically, accurately and unambiguously
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irrelevant information is excluded
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order, clarity, balance and relevance are evident
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correct in formal terms regarding:
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grammar, punctuation, spelling and layout
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good non-literary business communication at a basic level
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appropriate in terms of:
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adopting a simple tourism-related professional role if required
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fitness for the occasion
− displaying courtesy, politeness and degree of formality in giving or requesting information
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tasks may be required to be answered in one or more of the following formats:
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writing a letter, memo, fax, note, message, list or notice
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completing a form, table, diagram or map
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preparing an announcement, directions or instructions
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making a calculation
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selecting information to specific criteria from a variety of authentic travel guides and manuals.
Candidates are allowed to take one dictionary into this examination which may be either English or foreign language/English; EDI cannot undertake to advise on which dictionaries to choose and candidates make the choice entirely at their own risk. Poor quality dictionaries may be misleading and candidates will lose time looking up words if they frequently have recourse to them.
Students are also allowed to use a basic calculator.
Candidates are also recommended to refer to the past question papers for English for Tourism Level 1 which are on this available on this site and provide examples of appropriate layout and presentation.
Varieties of English
EDI will accept any of the main varieties of English (British, North American, Australasian)in candidates’ answers as long as candidates are consistent in the variety they use.
Candidate Performance Measurement
Pass Mark Information
Pass 50%
Credit 60%
Distinction 75%
Mark Allocation
The weighting of marks will be:
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clarity and appropriacy of layout 10%
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style, tone, suitability to the task 20%
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content and communication of message 50%
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correct use of English (grammar, spelling etc) 20%
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TOTAL
100%
Syllabus Topic Items Covered
1 Composing a simple business communication
Candidates must be able to:
1.1 Adopt an appropriate style or tone for the particular purpose
1.2 Use consistent business conventions regarding layout, addresses, salutation, complimentary close and signature
1.3 Display coherence and cohesion to ensure fluent reading of the communication
1.4 Avoid over-use and overt copying from the rubric
1.5 Ensure that the length of the communication is adequate for the stated purpose
1.6 Avoid the inclusion of all unnecessary information in their answers
1.7 Avoid the invention of information, unless instructed to do so
1.8 Avoid ambiguity in communicating information
1.9 Paragraph and use suitable headings where relevant
1.10 Use specific vocabulary and terminology used by the travel and tourism industry
2 Basic business reading comprehension in a tourism context
Candidates must be able to:
2.1 Understand the given material or data
2.2 Understand specific vocabulary, terminology and abbreviations used by the travel and tourism industry
2.3 Select information to complete the specific criteria of the task
2.4 Check information
3 Tourism-related information processing and reformulation
Candidates must be able to:
3.1 Set out information in a clear, logical and appropriate format
3.2 Calculate accurately and clearly set out numbers and costs
3.3 Use precise and accurate wording appropriate to the task
Note: It is helpful for students to have a good knowledge of world geography and an understanding of job roles in the travel and tourism industry.
4 Tourism-related tasks
Candidates must be able to:
4.1 Perform the following general tourism related tasks
4.1.1 scan maps, guides, timetables, floor plans, diagrams, brochures, and promotional literature to extract information
4.1.2 check and represent information
4.1.3 complete forms
4.1.4 give or write information, instructions and directions
4.1.5 write announcements and notices
4.1.6 check and amend lists
4.1.7 deal with enquiries and problems
4.1.8 calculate costs
4.1.9 read and understand a variety of types of written business correspondence used in the travel and tourism industry
4.2 Perform the following tasks specific to airports and airlines
4.2.1 make and confirm reservations
4.2.2 give boarding directions and instructions
4.2.3 write announcements and messages
4.3 Perform the following tasks specific to tourist information centres
4.3.1 carry through reservations processes
4.3.2 make cancellations and amendments
4.3.3 write a walking tour
4.3.4 summarise and give information on places of interest
4.3.5 calculate costs of transportation, accommodation, tickets for entry to museums, theatres and entertainment centres
4.4 Perform the following tasks specific to: cruise ships, holiday/ski resorts, leisure centres, theme parks and camp sites
4.4.1 check and amend guest/passenger lists/ requirements
4.4.2 allocate rooms, facilities and seats
4.4.3 make arrangements for surface travel
4.4.4 write walking tours
4.4.5 summarise and give information on places of interest
4.4.6 calculate numbers of: passengers, rooms, tickets, seats
4.4.7 understand basic catering terms, menus, dishes
4.4.8 advise upon and explain anomalies
4.5 Perform the following tasks specific to hotels
4.5.1 check rooming lists
4.5.2 make and confirm reservations
4.5.3 make modifications and cancellations
4.5.4 calculate bills, check invoices and explain mistakes
4.5.5 check lists for laundry, catering supplies and room service orders and explain anomalies
4.5.6 understand common catering terms, menus and dishes
4.6 Perform the following tasks specific to travel agencies
4.6.1 select travel itineraries/holidays to client specification
4.6.2 provide essential travel information
4.6.3 organise travel itineraries
4.6.4 summarise and give information on places of interest
4.6.5 work out basic route plans and check information
4.6.6 make reservations, amendments and cancellations
4.7 Perform the following tasks specific to rail, bus, or coach stations
4.7.1 calculate ticket costs (adult, children, promotional fares)
4.7.2 calculate numbers: passengers, seats or tickets
