<![CDATA[The tourism industry highly depends on communication skills, particularly English as the main language used in international hospitality services. In vocational tourism education, mastering English for Tourism is a crucial competency for students who will be directly involved in service-based professions such as restaurant and hotel industries. This study aims to explore the perceptions of STP Mataram students towards the use of the waiter/waitress role play method in strengthening their tourism English communication skills, as well as identifying the linguistic and psychological challenges they experience. This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach involving 43 hospitality students who had participated in role play-based learning activities in the English for Tourism course. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation. The analysis was conducted using thematic analysis by categorizing emerging themes related to students' experiences, perceptions, and challenges. The findings show that most students perceive the role play method positively, as it improves their confidence, fluency, and understanding of realistic service situations. The activity enables them to practice authentic dialogues, non-verbal communication, and service etiquette. However, students also face challenges such as limited vocabulary, grammatical errors, anxiety when speaking, and lack of confidence. Despite these difficulties, continuous exposure to role play activities gradually reduces their anxiety and enhances their communication competence. Therefore, the role play waiter/waitress method is considered effective in strengthening students' English communication skills in tourism and hospitality contexts.]]>
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