Core English skills affecting Korean hoteliers’ perceived language proficiency

Abstract

Fluency in English is a crucial asset in today"s highly competitive hotel industry. However, despite the significant contribution of the hotel sector to the country"s tourism industry revenue, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the usage and proficiency of English among Korean hoteliers. Therefore, the aim of this study is to thoroughly examine the usage frequency of four English skills and the perceived level of proficiency of Korean hoteliers by investigating both strong and weak skills. The study reveals that listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills are all essential in the hotel industry, but their frequency of use and proficiency level vary depending on the department, position, and hotel brand. Senior managers demonstrated the highest English proficiency, highlighting the importance of English for career development. However, this study also identifies a critical deficiency in confidence in listening skills and knowledge of grammar and sentence structure, in contrast to a high level of linguistic politeness. The respondents" ability to understand vocabulary spoken by guests and to utilize it in writing, constructing sentences, and speaking naturally were found to impact their overall perception of English proficiency. Based on the research findings, the study provides implications for English education to enhance the competitiveness of Korean hoteliers.