Final assignment English 5 (CITM.LAEN5-01)
Breda University of Applied Sciences
Tourism Management (NL)
Year 3
Assignment 1
Write a text of approximately 100 words on the relevant issues connected with English used as an
international business language arising from the following short text. You should refer to subjects
raised in the material for workshop 1 in your response. (20%)
‘Off-shore English’ is a term referring to English as used in international communication by non-native
speakers, and specifically to the need for native English speakers to learn about how non-native
speakers use English. The English studied by non-native speakers tends to use a narrower core
vocabulary, as many courses around the world prepare for the same exams and use the same range of
books. “This means that non-native speakers from different countries and cultures may understand
each other more easily than they do the native speaker. Few native speakers outside the world of ESL
teaching have much idea of what non-native learners are taught, and think that as their English is
native speaker level, they speak it better than their non-native counterparts” (UsingEnglish.com, n.d.).
They will, therefore often use idioms, colloquialisms or make cultural references that are confusing for
non-native speakers. “This unawareness is starting to cause problems that businesses are beginning
to identify, and courses in Offshore English are now being offered to native speakers in an attempt to
train them to speak the kind of English that will make it easier for non-native speakers to understand,
enabling them to win more contracts” (UsingEnglish.com, n.d.)
UsingEnglish.com (n.d.). What is offshore English? https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/what-
offshore-english.html
Off-shore English
The narrower core vocabulary used by non-native speakers can lead to miscommunication with
native speakers and is thus a semantic issue. The social meaning, such as politeness, can be
misinterpreted if the wrong vocabulary is used. Socio-linguistic is evident because non-native
speakers have learned English the same way and therefore this specific group within society can
understand each other more easily than they do native speakers. The use of idioms, colloquialisms or
cultural references by native speakers can be a cultural norm difference that creates barriers to
communication. Key verbal variables such as interrupting may be understood differently by the two
groups.
Assignment 2
Write an appropriate response to the following e-mail. The main body of your reply (excluding address
heading, salutation and subscription) should be between 85-115 words. You work for VTB Tours (an
inbound Dutch tour operator hoping to build up its network of businesses in China) and your manager
wants to establish good business relations with Four Rivers Tours in China. You are Barbara Harris and
you recently met Maggie Cheung at an Asia-Pacific Tourism Forum event. (30%). See next page.
Breda University of Applied Sciences
Tourism Management (NL)
Year 3
Assignment 1
Write a text of approximately 100 words on the relevant issues connected with English used as an
international business language arising from the following short text. You should refer to subjects
raised in the material for workshop 1 in your response. (20%)
‘Off-shore English’ is a term referring to English as used in international communication by non-native
speakers, and specifically to the need for native English speakers to learn about how non-native
speakers use English. The English studied by non-native speakers tends to use a narrower core
vocabulary, as many courses around the world prepare for the same exams and use the same range of
books. “This means that non-native speakers from different countries and cultures may understand
each other more easily than they do the native speaker. Few native speakers outside the world of ESL
teaching have much idea of what non-native learners are taught, and think that as their English is
native speaker level, they speak it better than their non-native counterparts” (UsingEnglish.com, n.d.).
They will, therefore often use idioms, colloquialisms or make cultural references that are confusing for
non-native speakers. “This unawareness is starting to cause problems that businesses are beginning
to identify, and courses in Offshore English are now being offered to native speakers in an attempt to
train them to speak the kind of English that will make it easier for non-native speakers to understand,
enabling them to win more contracts” (UsingEnglish.com, n.d.)
UsingEnglish.com (n.d.). What is offshore English? https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/what-
offshore-english.html
Off-shore English
The narrower core vocabulary used by non-native speakers can lead to miscommunication with
native speakers and is thus a semantic issue. The social meaning, such as politeness, can be
misinterpreted if the wrong vocabulary is used. Socio-linguistic is evident because non-native
speakers have learned English the same way and therefore this specific group within society can
understand each other more easily than they do native speakers. The use of idioms, colloquialisms or
cultural references by native speakers can be a cultural norm difference that creates barriers to
communication. Key verbal variables such as interrupting may be understood differently by the two
groups.
Assignment 2
Write an appropriate response to the following e-mail. The main body of your reply (excluding address
heading, salutation and subscription) should be between 85-115 words. You work for VTB Tours (an
inbound Dutch tour operator hoping to build up its network of businesses in China) and your manager
wants to establish good business relations with Four Rivers Tours in China. You are Barbara Harris and
you recently met Maggie Cheung at an Asia-Pacific Tourism Forum event. (30%). See next page.
