Ecoliteracy in English for Tourism: Exploring lecturers’ perspectives and challenges in an Indonesian vocational higher education setting
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25047/ijossh.v2i3.6690Keywords:
ecoliteracy, English for Specific Purposes, English for Tourism, teacher cognition , vocational education , sustainability integration, pedagogical challengesAbstract
Environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly significant in tourism education. However, incorporating ecoliteracy into English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses remains limited within vocational settings. This qualitative case study explored how English for Tourism lecturers at an Indonesian vocational college perceive ecoliteracy integration and the challenges they encounter. Three lecturers participated in semi-structured interviews, which were supplemented with analysis of course materials. The results showed four positive perspectives: ecoliteracy enhances practical learning, encourages a comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness between society, economy, and environment, aligns with industry sustainability expectations, and develops 21st-century skills. Nonetheless, three major challenges were identified: difficulty aligning the curriculum, limited time for developing materials, and insufficient content knowledge in sustainability education. The study highlights that although lecturers see the value of ecoliteracy, institutional support, such as curriculum reform, resource availability, and ongoing professional development, is crucial for effective integration. These insights contribute to understanding teacher cognition in ESP and have implications for policy and professional growth in vocational training.
References
Adam, S. H., & Ali, S. U. (2025). Ecoliteracy-based teaching strategies in English language learning at elementary schools in Ternate City. JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 13(4), 2140–2156. https://doi.org/10.23887/jollt.v13i4.17000
Almarza, G. G. (1996). Student foreign language teacher's knowledge growth. In D. Freeman & J. C. Richards (Eds.), Teacher learning in language teaching (pp. 50–78). Cambridge University Press.
Arslan, S., & Curle, S. (2021). Sustainable development goals in the English language high school curriculum in Turkey. European Journal of Education, 56(4), 681-695. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12473
Baloch, Q. B., Shah, S. N., Iqbal, N., Sheeraz, M., Asadullah, M., Mahar, S., & Khan, A. U. (2023). Impact of tourism development upon environmental sustainability: A suggested framework for sustainable ecotourism. Environmental science and pollution research international, 30(3), 5917–5930. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22496-w
Bazargani, R. H. Z. & Kilic, H. (2021). Tourism competitiveness and tourism sector performance: empirical insights from new data. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 46, 73-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.11.011
Birello, M. (2012). Interview: Teacher Cognition and Language Teacher Education: beliefs and practice. A conversation with Simon Borg. Bellaterra: Journal of Teaching and Learning Language and Literature, 5(2), 88–94. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/jtl3.464
Borg, S. (2003). Teacher cognition in language teaching: a review of research on what language teachers think, know, believe, and do. Language Teaching, 36(2), 81-109. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444803001903
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Breen, M. P., Hird, B., Milton, M., Oliver, R., & Thwaite, A. (2001). Making sense of language teaching: Teachers' principles and classroom practices. Applied Linguistics, 22(4), 470–501. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/22.4.470
Capra, F. (1997). The Web of Life: A New Synthesis of Mind and Matter. Flamingo: London, UK.
Capra, F. (2005). Speaking nature's language: Principles for sustainability. In M. K. Stone & Z. Barlow (Eds.), Ecological literacy: Educating our children for a sustainable world (pp. 18–29). Sierra Club Books.
Capra, F. (2013). Deep ecology: educational possibilities for the twenty-first century. The NAMTA Journal, 38(1), 201-216. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1078054.pdf
Capra, F. (2015). The systems view of life: A unifying conception of mind, matter, and life. Cambridge University Press.
Cates, K., & Jacobs, G. M. (2006). Global issues projects in the English language classroom. In G. H. Beckett & P. C. Miller (Eds.), Project-based second and foreign language education: Past, present, and future (pp. 167-180). Greenwich, CN: Information Age Publishing.
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
Ernst, J., & Monroe, M. (2004). The effects of environment-based education on students' critical thinking skills and disposition toward critical thinking. Environmental Education Research, 10(4), 507-522. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350462042000291038
Goleman, D., Bennett, L., & Barlow, Z. (2012). Ecoliterate: How educators are cultivating emotional, social, and ecological intelligence. John Wiley & Sons.
Goulah, J. (2017). Climate change and TESOL: Language, literacies, and the creation of eco-ethical consciousness. TESOL Quarterly, 51(1), 90-114. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.277
Kazazoglu, S. (2025). Environmental Education Through Eco-Literacy: Integrating Sustainability into English Language Teaching. Sustainability, 17(5), 2156. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052156
Locke, S., Russo, R. O., Montoya, C. (2013). Environmental education and eco-literacy as tools of education for sustainable development. Journal of Sustainability Education, 4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240712578
Lortie, D. C. (2020). Schoolteacher: A sociological study. University of Chicago Press.
McBride, B. B., Brewer, C. A., Berkowitz, A. R., & Borrie, W. T. (2013). Environmental literacy, ecological literacy, ecoliteracy: What do we mean and how did we get here? Ecosphere, 4(5), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1890/ES13-00075.1
Mulder, M. (2014). Conceptions of professional competence. In S. Billett, C. Harteis, & H. Gruber (Eds.), International handbook of research in professional and practice-based learning (pp. 107–137). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8902-8_5
Murti, W., Rohman, F., Sari, M. S., & Ibrohim. (2025). Ecoliteracy competencies in education: A systematic literature review. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 21(1), em2537. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/16658
Novawan, A., Alvarez-Tosalem, S. M. P., Walker, S. A., Ismailia, T., & Budi, A. S. (2022). Reframing language education in the light of ecological linguistics: Is the ecological perspective 'toxic' or 'vitamin'? In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Social Science, Humanity and Public Health (pp. 110–116). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220207.001
Taylor, N., Quinn, F., & Eames, C. (Eds.). (2015). Educating for sustainability in primary schools: teaching for the future. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-046-8
Phipps, S., & Borg, S. (2009). Exploring tensions between teachers' grammar teaching beliefs and practices. System, 37(3), 380-390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2009.03.002
Riordan, M., & Klein, E. J. (2010). Environmental education in action: How expeditionary learning schools support classroom teachers in tackling issues of sustainability. Teacher Education Quarterly, 37(4), 119-137. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23479463
UNESCO. (2017). Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning objectives. UNESCO Publishing. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000247444
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
Wang, S. & Cheablam, O. (2025). Sustainable tourism and its environmental and economic impacts: Fresh evidence from major tourism hubs. Sustainability, 17(11), 5058. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115058
World Tourism Organization. (2024). International tourism highlights - 2024 edition. UN Tourism, Madrid. https://doi.org/10.18111/9789284425808
WTTC (2024). Economic impact research 2024. World Travel & Tourism Council. https://wttc.org/research/economic-impact
Yin, R. K. (2009). Case study research: Design and methods (4th Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
