Bridging the Gap between English Lessons and Tourism Workplace Communication: Students’ Perceptions from Tourism Service Vocational Schools

Abstract

The tourism industry offers hope that it will continue to underpin the economy. Data from the Central Statistics Agency indicates that in April 2026 the number of tourists increased by 5.19% (year-on-year). English, as an International language, is expected to enable a more detailed description of tourism, thereby increasing the number of both domestic and international tourists. This forms the basis for honing the skills of vocational school students majoring in Tourism Services so that they can communicate fluently in English as part of their service to tourists. However, English lessons in vocational schools are often considered not to be fully aligned with the real communication needs of the tourism industry. This study aims to explore students’ perceptions of English lessons at Vocational High Schools majoring in Tourism Services in Jakarta, focusing on students’ views regarding the relevance of English materials, speaking practice, tourism-related vocabulary, customer service communication, and the use of English in real professional situations. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected via a questionnaire distributed to students at vocational secondary schools majoring Tourism Services. The findings indicate that 94% of 36 students require English language learning activities that are more contextual, practical, and industry-based, particularly those relating to speaking, role-play, tour guiding, communication in hotels and travel, and dealing with tourists.