As a result of internationalization in tourism, a deepening of linguistic skills, especially in English is necessary. For this reason the offered language course is mainly supposed to be directed towards the necessary English tour guide vocabulary. Next to the language acquisition another goal was to experience current teaching methods. The participating tour guides have lived in host families, by doing so they themselves were guests in a different culture, they took part in a program that let them experience different sightseeing examples in the afternoon and that made it possible for them to exchange their experiences. Being abroad and learning in the course intercultural competences and a more sensitive approach to people from different cultures. The participants will be sensitized and will learn how to interact with the “being different”. This should optimally end in a greater open-minded acceptance towards guests. It was the LEB’s wish to build a network in the range of international education with international cooperating partners. It is important for us to find colleagues and volunteers from different fields in adult education to exchange good experiences and to encourage the exchange.
Lower saxony is one of the most important holiday regions in Germany and caring for guests is an important economic factor, which is why the LEB has been actively engaging for the qualification of tour guides. Due to the rising numbers of international visits to our country, there are several new tours in different languages (e.g., English, French). Besides the language acquisition, intercultural competences and up-to-date teaching methods are also necessary to look after the guests.Especially older tour guides, whose school days are a long time ago and have reservations towards foreign languages and need a little push to reactivate their once learned knowledge.The tourism in rural areas has been influenced by German-speaking guests for a long time and due to its rising internationalization great uncertainty has been spreading through the current tour guides.To prevent division it is useful to offer mobilities to promote linguistical, intercultural and methodical expertise and to promote exchange between the different tour guide generations.