A Mixed-Method Approach to an English Course for Students Majoring in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts

Abstract

This case study aimed to evaluate an English for Culinary Arts course offered in the Faculty of Tourism of an international university by finding out students' and instructors' opinions about the course. The research employed a mixed methodology, a Course Evaluation Survey with students and interviews with instructors. The population of the research comprised eighty-three freshmen students and three course instructors. The study's results highlighted the students' and their instructors' positive attitudes toward the course since they mostly expressed positive evaluations. Although they believed that the course was effective in general, they, at the same time, offered some advice for the betterment of the course. Also, the study provided some practical implications such as disclosing the strengths and weaknesses of the existing ESP course and more importantly identifying the English language-related needs of gastronomy students, which could contribute to the improvement of the course and its redesign.