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Fostering face to face oral interaction through webquests: a case study in ESP for tourism

Webquests have been used for some time to research a variety of topics. According to Lacina (2007), a webquest is an inquiry-based technology activity designed by Bernie Dodge and Tom March in which information is usually drawn from the Internet, and is a powerful instructional exercise both for teachers and students.Webquests enhance personal and experiential learning (WOODS et al., 2004). This case study intends to illustrate the process and benefits of using webquests as a way to promote professional oral communication in training contexts. This paper reports on a study done at the Polytechnic University of Valencia during the 2006-2007 academic year of the use of webquests with sophomore students of Travel and Tourism. Three observations were carried out during November, February and May. The findings suggest the benefits of using webquests in the classroom for professional development and language achievement.

webquest; motivation; tourism; social construtivism


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