The language barrier

Tourism and hospitality is a diverse sector comprised of workers from varied cultures, backgrounds, ages, and languages. This is one of the reasons our industry is so unique. But with this diversity, comes its challenges.

In the case of a large hotel, where a housekeeping department is comprised of workers from all over the

world, training can sometimes be a challenge to due language barriers. And although many corporate

properties have developed strong training programs, it's not always fully understood by each person in the room. Knowing this, what types of tools, methods, and practices can an employer use to ensure proper training has been provided?

As a group, discuss the following topics:

1. Make a list of different training techniques you can use when trying to overcome a language barrier?

2. At the end of the training, what methods can you use to determine whether or not the worker understood?

3. How effective are visual aids when it comes to training and why?

4. When developing a training plan for an employee who has English as a second language, what types of things should you consider when putting your training plan together?

5. What is the KEY takeaway your group has learned from this case study?

#@2

1. Which actor played the fictional character, Egghead, in the 1960sBatmantelevision series?
2. Who made the famous "Ich bin ein berliner" speech in 1963?
3. The first modern hand grenade became available to British troops in 1915 - what was it called?
4. Which hobby or craft uses knotting techniques to produce useful or decorative items such as wall hangings, tablecloths, and plant hangers?
5. Which explorer was the first European to reach India by sea?
6. What is vitamin riboflavin also known as?
7. In 1960, which country experienced the most powerful earthquake ever recorded at magnitude 9.5?
8. Which animals have similar sized hearts and the same pumping capacity of humans, so much so that they are sometimes called 'horizontal humans'?