Title

Assessment of Foreign Language Proficiency Amongst Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Professionals

Author(s) Information

Brook Garnica, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoFollow

College - Author 1

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Department - Author 1

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Date

6-2011

Primary Advisor

Bill Hendricks

Abstract/Summary

The purpose of this study was to assess foreign language (FL) proficiency perceptions and motivations amongst individuals employed in the recreation, parks, and tourism (RPT) fields. The subjects of this study were California Travel Association (CalTravel) members to represent the tourism sector and California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS) members to represent the recreation and parks sector. This study was conducted through the Web-based survey application, Zoomerang. The results of the survey indicate that members of CalTravel and CPRS both agree that professionals in their fields should have a basic knowledge of FL vocabulary. Both CalTravel and CPRS members are motivated to learn a FL to become proficient in a non-English language. However, the majority of professionals do not use foreign languages on a weekly basis. It is recommended that RPT professionals located in California should have knowledge of 5-10 common words and basic vocabulary in a foreign language.

URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/rptasp/48