Paper Title
The Needs Assessment of using Communicative English in Tourism Public Relations in Mueang Chiang Mai, Thailand Leading to The Development of an English for Tourism Curriculum
Abstract
The purposes of this research were 1) to study the expected and actual states of using communicative English in tourism public relations in Mueang Chiang Mai, Thailand and 2) to assess the needs for using communicative English in tourism public relations in Mueang Chiang Mai, Thailand. These two objectives will be used for information leading to the development of an English for Tourism curriculum for Grade 12 students at Kowittamrongchiangmai School, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The research instrument was a questionnaire on assessment of the needs for using communicative English in tourism public relations in Mueang Chiang Mai, Thailand with the high reliability coefficient of 0.97, the content validity ranging from 0.50 to 1.00, and the discrimination indices ranging from 0.56 to 0.72. The data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics consisting of mean and standard deviation and the modified needs index (PNImodified) to prioritize needs. The results indicated that 1) the overall expectation of using communicative English in tourism public relations in Mueang Chiang Mai, Thailand was at the moderate level (mean=4.03, SD=091), 2) the needs for using communicative English in tourism public relations in Mueang Chiang Mai, Thailand mostly focusing on the marketing communications and were categorized into three groups (PNImodified = 0.42) which were 2.1) Printed Media(PNImodified = 0.42) including how to use writing skill to create the messages in media to advertise or give some tourist informationinbrochure, poster and banner form2.2) Personal Media(PNImodified = 0.43) including how to use speaking skills to make clear tourist informationor services in any situational conversationwhen trading, negotiating and describing and 2.3) Audio-visual Media(PNImodified = 0.41) including how to use the multimedia to advertise or promote the tourism industries using digital online marketing, blogand website.
Keywords - Needs Assessment, Media, Communicative English in Tourism Public Relations.