The ‘World Tourism Day’ is the 27th of September 2020
and I’d like to share with all my readers a fantastic online course run at Future Learn by The Global Travel & Tourism Partnership (GTTP).
On the 27th of September, I’ll be thinking of Guinea Bissau 🇬🇼 and celebrating its huge potential to grow in the tourism sector.
In a modern and connected world, I’d like to raise awareness and leave room for discussion on the reasons why written English and digital skills combined are important to be learned and can enhance intercultural communication.
Intercultural communication refers to communication between people from two different cultures. (Chen & Starosta, 1998:28)
So, kindly leave a comment if you wish to take part in my little project that aims to reach only 20 people, or instead like it if you really do!
“GTTP is a charity funded by the travel and tourism industry which helps young people across the globe access the skills and experience they need for a career in the sector.”
Each year, the GTTP supports more than 800,000 young people across 16 countries.” with English language as a medium of instruction and in my humble opinion this way enhancing intercultural communication.
English is also used in interdisciplinary subjects and fields of research. The aim of this blog is to raise awareness of the United Nations Goals up to 2030. Whereas I support Quality Education (Goal 4) through Partnerships (Goal 17) would be a good idea to look at them all as they are inter-connected.
The 17 statement goals of the United Nations are clear and set to be achieved by 2030. The questions arise such as:
- Do governments want their citizens to be more international?
- Which governments?
- And if so, what are leaders performing to get this done?
- Why are written English and digital skills combined important to enhance intercultural communication in a modern and connected world?
Academically, English is one of the main languages used “as a global for communication” and the aim of this short blog is to explore its benefits to enhance business in the tourism sector through partnerships such as the GTTP.
Here is the link for the course!
This blog looks at tourism, business, science, and arts, through education.
In the 21st century desirable skills like enhancing intercultural communication and establishing partnerships towards achieving the 17 United Nations’ goals such as fighting poverty through quality education and partnerships through the medium of English language and technology.
Is it important for everyone to learn English?
In my opinion, it is very important to learn English because I live in a country where many people are bilingual and it would take me longer to learn their second language besides English was a mandatory subject in secondary school, looking back at the 20th century together with French, German, and/or Latin but it’s up to each one of us.
Nowadays, English is still mandatory in my country and now children start learning English in primary school.
I wouldn’t say that is important to everyone though as it depends on other factors and there are other important languages such as Spanish. It is helpful to know two foreign languages at least out from those assigned from the United Nations as the official languages and they are: Arabic, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and English.
English provided me with great opportunities, allowed me to access knowledge in the United Kingdom where I’m now starting my MA Education Studies, and gave me more employable chances than I had before, and opened up better-paying opportunities internationally. I lived, worked, and traveled in Asia (several countries including China) and Europe.
With that said, learning English can be beneficial, and learning it has changed my life so I want to carry on practicing my writing skills and pass on my ideas in a more efficient way but cannot generalize.
I however would like to add that most info is written in English and being informed is a good status!
I’m grateful to the British Council and the University of Groningen and to all classmates and supportive lead educators at Future Learn through the pandemic period from March to May 2020.
To sum up, English skills and digital tools combined can possibly create stronger and effective partnerships to work on the United Nations 17 goals.
In the 21st century, digital tools are a key skill and no longer should be seen as a distraction or merely used as so. Social media and networks are useful to build upon the partnership to networking though English written skills and digital skills are needed and must be used by leaders to build-up to the benefit of their communities. Indeed, a powerful tool to be integrated into the curriculum and to be used through the medium of quality education and the tourism pillars despite seasonality.
COVID-19 cross frontiers faster than the speed of wifi. Who wins the marathon?
Acknowledgments
British Council
Exploring English: Shakespeare
A Beginner’s Guide to Writing in English for University Study
United Nations 🇺🇳
Reference
Language Art Entrepreneur 