SETSUKO MIYAMOTO (SAGAMI WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY)
YUKINORI WATANABE (Sagami Women’s University)

ENHANCING ESP IN OUTDOOR NATURE TOURS THROUGH ELF AND VIDEO-STIMULATED INTERVIEW ANALYSIS : ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC/SPECIFIC PURPOSES

This ESP study explores the realities of communication in Japanese outdoor nature tour settings. The research employs a linguistic ethnography approach (Copland & Creese, 2015), combining video recordings of authentic tour interactions with stimulated recall interviews (Derry et al., 2010) of a Japanese local tour guide and tourists from diverse cultural backgrounds with varying levels of activity experience and expectations. The analysis of the video data and interview responses reveals the crucial role of non-verbal cues, such as gestures and facial expressions, in facilitating effective communication when English is used as a lingua franca (ELF). The findings emphasize the limitations of scripted interactions in meeting tourists' diverse expectations and needs, highlighting the importance of adaptive communication strategies that reflect the ELF context. Furthermore, the study exemplifies that outdoor nature tour guides adjust the density of their communication based on the intensity and challenge level of the tourism activities, ensuring positive tourist experiences while navigating language and cultural barriers. The insights gained from this research contribute to bridging the gap between ESP theory and practice in tourism. These findings emphasize the need for an ELF-informed approach corresponding to international tourism's linguistic and cultural realities in outdoor nature tour settings. Consequently, the study offers a framework for designing ESP programs that prepare nature tour guides for effective communication in diverse contexts, such as varying language proficiency levels, communication norms, and activity intensity, enhancing their ability to engage with tourists from different cultural backgrounds and deliver high-quality tourism experiences.

Setsuko Miyamoto is a professor at Sagami Women's University. Her area of expertise focuses on ELF commmunication and the implications for English language education.

Yukinori Watanabe is a professor at Sagami Women's University in Japan, specializing in multicultural education, language education, and social education. He frequently engages in collaborative research with scholars domestically and internationally, and has authored numerous publications.