Teaching English for Occupational Purposes On-Site: University Extension Experience in a Hotel

Abstract

This paper describes a partnership experience between a university extension project, in this case ED-3314 Casa de Idiomas del Recinto de Golfito, and a tourist business to offer on-site English courses to hotel workers and local residents in a rural community between 2018 to 2019. For those interested in planning, redirecting, or strengthening an extension project in rural areas, aimed at the development of linguistic skills in English with labor purposes onsite, they would find here several theoretical and methodological considerations that have been reflected on this academic experience. This description includes a brief literature review about the curricular design process undertaken in this language program, the teaching of English with labor purposes, a historical account of this partnership experience, the characterization of the participant population, and student enrollment throughout two years. This document offers insights towards the innovation efforts in the teaching of English with labor purposes on-site within a framework of partnerships between the university and tourist businesses.