Tourist Guides' Needs for Arabic for Specific Purposes According to The Hutchinson-Waters Model

احتياجات المرشدين السياحيين إلى اللغة العربية لأغراض السياحة وفق نموذج هاتشينسون وواترز

Abstract

Proficiency in the Arabic language has become an essential requirement for tour guides because of the rising number of interactions with Arab tourists. This study, guided by the Needs Analysis framework developed by Hutchinson and Waters (1987), aims to identify the Arabic language needs of tour guides working in Arab tourism contexts. The issue driving this study originates from the gap between tour guides' existing proficiency in Arabic and the actual communicative demands they face in real tourism environments. While many tour guides have only a basic grasp of the Arabic language, they often struggle with speaking clearly, comprehending various Arabic dialects, and effectively utilizing tourism-related vocabulary. The objectives of this study are to assess the current level of Arabic language proficiency among tour guides, analyze their target needs in terms of necessities, lacks, and wants, and identify their preferred learning methods. This study employs a quantitative research design, gathering data through a questionnaire administered to tour guides. The expected findings should show that tour guides need practical Arabic language training that focuses on communication skills, cultural understanding, and vocabulary specific to tourism. Based on these findings, the study recommends creating Arabic courses for tour guides using an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) method. These courses should include relevant learning materials and hands-on tasks that meet the real needs of the tourism industry.