PRELIMINARY STUDY ON E-HAILING DRIVERS NEEDS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION IN TOURISM INDUSTRY
Keywords:
English language learning, Grab, E-hailing, Communication, TourismAbstract
E-hailing apps Grab and Uber have become household names, particularly among urbanites over these five years. Overall the consumer response to e-hailing services in Malaysia has been positive, with The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) reporting that 80% of consumers prefer e-hailing over taxis. As such, many believe the availability of e-hailing services will help to boost demand, and raise property prices and rentals and help the tourism sector in locations where they are available. As the demand grows, and tourists around the globe keep rising, the means of communication plays a vital role. Hence, this article explores the Grab drivers’ needs in English language learning for the purpose of successful communication in working environment. The needs are categorised into three elements: needs of English language at workplace, problems in English language usage, and preferences in learning English. A case study was carried out among 50 Grab drivers in Kuala Lumpur. The analysis of responses to the needs in English language learning among Grab drivers is hoped to fashion English language course or the syllabus to the e-hailing drivers.
References
Al-Tamimi, A. S., & Shuib, M. (2010). Investigating the English language needs of petroleum engineering students at Hardhamount University of Science and Technology. The Asian ESP Journal, 6(1), 6- 34.
Blue, G. M., & Harun, M. (2003). Hospitality language as a professional skill. English for Specific Purpose, 22, 73- 91. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(01)00031-X
Chatsungnoen, P. (2015). Needs analysis for an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course for Thai undergraduates in a Food Science and Technology programme, Doctoral Theses and Dissertation, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Delialioglu, O., & Alioon, Y. (2014). Student preferences for m-learning application characteristics. Proceedings of the 10th IADIS International Conference Mobile Learning 2014, 59-65.
Dudley-Evans, T., & St John, M. (1998). Developments in English for Specific Purpose. A Multi-Disciplinary Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Leong, L. M, & Ahmadi, S. M. (2017). An analysis of factors influencing learner’s English speaking skill. International Journal of Research in English Education, 2(1), 1-34.
Motteram, G. (2013). Innovations in learning technologies for English language teaching. London: British Council.
Otilia, S. M. (2015). Need Analysis in English for Specific Purposes. Econ Papers, 1II, 54–55.
Prachanan, N. (2012). Needs Analysis on English Language Use in Tourism Industry. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 66, 117-125.
Reid, J. M. (1987). The learning style preferences of ESL students. TESOL Quarterly, 21, 87-111.
Subandowo, D. (2017). The Language Interference in English Speaking Ability for Efl Learners. Proceedings of the Fifth International Seminar on English Language and Teaching (ISELT-5), 205–210.
Suhaimi, M.Z.A., Talib, S.A., Bachok, S. & Saleh, M.M. (2018). Service attributes, customer satisfaction and return usage: A case of Uber Malaysia. Journal of Tourism, Hospitality & Culinary Arts, 10(2), 81-103.
Ten, M. (2018). Tourism industry to suffer if e-hailing service halted. Borneo Post. https://www.theborneopost.com/2018/01/11/tourism-industry-to-suffer-if-e-hailing-service-halted-abd-karim/. [Access online 11 January 2018].
Trang, B. S. (2015). Need Analysis of English Language Use in Tourism. College of Language Arts, 6–76.
Wan Mohamad, Mahamad Fuad, Shahib, Azmi, Mohd Kamal, & Dahlan Abdullah (2016). A Framework of Customer’s Intention to use Uber Service in Tourism Destination. International Academic Research Journal of Business and Technology, 2(2), 102-106.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Journal of Academia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
