Research phase conducted in the framework of Golic Guide project took place simultaneously in Poland, Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey and Spain, from December 2014 to mid-March 2015. The filed study involved 66 men and 85 women representing the tour/tourist guide profession, who were the respondents of the questionnaire, and moreover the stakeholders (five from each country) who went through interviews.
Summary of the results from all countries shows many common views and opinions on the situation concerning the need to improve language qualifications among the target group. Main findings:
- the vast majority of respondents agree that there is a massive lack of language courses tailored to the needs of tourist guides;
- 59% of respondents (44% of the respondents in Bulgaria, 90% in Spain, 33% in Poland, 57% in Italy and 67% in Turkey) regularly work with foreign tourists;
- respondents most often work with ethnically mixed groups. For this reason, English is the primary language of communication. Groups of tourists are also of mixed age;
- respondents indicated that most linguistic problems come from the lack of vocabulary and general grammar issues, (97% of the respondents in Bulgaria, 85% in Spain, 73% in Poland, 40% in Italy and 36% in Turkey), followed by troubles in speaking;
- not even 28% of respondents (50% of the respondents in Bulgaria, 13% in Spain, 32% in Poland, 9% in Italy and 37% in Turkey) have already benefited from the opportunities to learn languages using mobile devices. It is also worth emphasizing that the vast majority would willingly take up such opportunity in the future.
Based on the results of the research, 10 thematic areas related to the tourist guides' work have been identified: Welcoming foreign tourists (reception, introduction, presentation of general rules); Accommodation (description, recommendation of different options, assistance); Tour and Activity Plan (schedule of visits, presentation of the steps, Trip Rules); Regional tourist attractions – geography; Regional tourist attractions – traditions and gastronomy; Regional tourist attractions – history; Presenting a city (architecture, historical facts and legends, main attractions, important locations); Presentation of specific landmarks (e.g. monuments, castles, temples, natural objects and the like); Negotiations and complaints; Unexpected situations (e.g. theft, accidents, problems/conflicts between group members, delays). It will be the subject area in which the target group will have the possibility to learn foreign languages chosen in the project. This will make sure that the memorization of individual words and the sequence will be easier and more efficient for the target group.
Stakeholders (regardless of the country) expect specialist support for general and specialized vocabulary. They also expressed the opinion that the tourist guides should be able to advise tourists and be prepared for every question and situation. English is still the language that is most beneficial to tourist Guides, followed, in the eyes of the stakeholders, by German. The flexibility that language courses on mobile devices would offer is seen as very suitable to the flexible working style of tourist guides.
By comparing the language proficiency of tourist guides and the needs arising from their line of work with foreign tourists, it has been decided to draft two language courses: English (at minimum C1) and German (at minimum B1) dedicated to the professional group of tourist guides and available on mobile devices.