Dilemmas and Optimization Strategies of Practical Oral English Training for Tourism Majors in the Context of Culture-Tourism Integration

Abstract

As the boundary between the cultural sector and the tourism industry becomes increasingly blurred, the competence profile expected of tourism professionals is being fundamentally reshaped. Oral English, once treated as a peripheral language skill, has evolved into a core occupational competence that interweaves linguistic accuracy, cultural interpretation, and service professionalism. Drawing on a review of policy documents, industry developments, and classroom observations in vocational tourism programs, this paper examines the structural dilemmas that constrain practical oral English training for tourism majors. Four interrelated problems are identified: training content is detached from authentic culture-tourism work scenarios; simulated situations lack cultural depth; the teaching workforce is short of genuine industry experience; and assessment remains dominated by one-shot summative testing with little process-based evidence. In response, the paper proposes a reconstructed training system built on a three-dimensional objective framework integrating language proficiency, cultural literacy, and professional ethics; a modular curriculum organized around real work processes; a dual-scenario mechanism that couples on-campus simulation with off-campus practice; and a multi-agent, evidence-based evaluation system. Implementation pathways are further elaborated, including the development of locally rooted cultural training projects, the introduction of industry mentors, the use of digital-intelligent technologies for immersive cross-cultural communication, and task-driven teaching anchored in real enterprise projects. Finally, safeguard mechanisms concerning governance, teacher development, platform construction, and quality monitoring are discussed to ensure the sustainability of the reform.