Globalization impact on English learning: motivation and perspectives on varieties of English

Abstract

As a result of globalization and the increasing growth in tourism around the world, there is a great demand for skilled workers in the Tourism and Hospitality industry. Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, so English has become more and more important when it comes to crosscultural communication. For Tourism and Hospitality workers to serve all the needs of foreign visitors with a di verse range of backgrounds, and who come from every part of the world, an understanding of the different varieties of English spoken is essential. There were two research questions of this study: l) what are the perspectives of fourth-year undergraduate students majoring in international programs of Tourism and Hospitality Management with regard to native and non-native varieties of English, and 2) what is their motivation for learning English?