Zooming in the "real" working life: Applying process drama in tour guide education

Abstract

Process drama is an educational approach which triggers a collaborative and student-centered environment in a given educational environment and enables its participants to experience real-life problems in some fictional scenarios. Including improvisations, dramatizations, and creative writing activities, the process drama propounds favourable programs for educators in several disciplines. This study presents the perceptions of tour guiding students on vocational problems in tour guiding profession. the study took place in a selective course during the Spring Semester of 2019 at Anadolu University Tourism Faculty. 18 students and a drama leader focused on the narratives, experiences, and the presuppositions of students about the tour guiding profession. the qualitative method was employed and data were collected via an open-ended questionnaire and students' diaries. Conducting the content analysis, the study explored overlapping themes both in academic orientation and sectoral orientation. the students reported that the process drama enabled them to raise awareness in real life like problems, enhanced problem-solving skills, and contributed to personal growth.