NB 2 - Practical English File 1: At a hotel

Dear students & readers of this blog,

In our Practical English section in file 1 we have met Rob and Jenny, and we have revised some useful phrases to use when we check in at a hotel. Here you will find a sample dialogue and a few videos you might find interesting. Take a minute or two to have a look!

SAMPLE DIALOGUE:


Receptionist: Welcome to the Wyatt Hotel. How can I help you?
Guest: I'd like a room, please.
Receptionist: Would you like a single or a double room?
Guest: I'd like a double room, please.
Receptionist: May I have your name, please?
Guest: Timothy Findley.
Receptionist: Could you spell that, please?
Guest: Sure! It's F-I-N-D-L-E-Y.
Receptionist: How many are you in your party?
Guest: Just two.
Receptionist: Just for tonight?
Guest: Yes, that's right.
Receptionist: How will you be paying?
Guest: Is Visa okay?
Receptionist: Yes, sir. Would you like a wake-up call?
Guest: Yes, please. At 6.30.
Receptionist: Here's your key. That's room 405 on the 4th floor. The lifts are over there. Enjoy your stay, Mr Findley.
Guest: Thank you!

Here you have some videos you might find useful:




The following video recreates a real check-in situation. (In American English. Please note that the word "guys" is quite informal). Have a look!

An now, to finish, a bit of humour. Last Friday, in class, we watched a video of a very famous BBC classic TV comedy, "Fawlty Towers". 

Fawlty Towers is a hotel. The manager's name is Basil Fawlty and he's married to Sybil. Polly and Manuel work at the hotel. Polly is British and Manuel is Spanish. Manuel speaks a little English but he sometimes has problems with his translations! The hotel is terrible and Basil often gets angry with his staff and guests! (source: Speak Out)

If you want to do what we did in class, watch from minute 1.34 on and answer the following questions:



While watching: exercise 1

Are the following sentences true (T) or false (F)? 

1. Manuel speaks English.
2. The moose sepaks English.
3. The Major is surprised.
4. Basil Fawlty is angry.

While watching, exercise 2

Underline the word you hear in the sentences: 

1. How/Who are you, sir?
2. I speak English good/well.
3. I learnt it from a book/cook.
4. Hello, Major. How are you OK/today?
5. I'm tired/fine, thank you.
6. That's a remarkable animal/antique you have there, Fawlty.
7. Er...20/12 pounds, I think.
8. Canadian/American, I think, Major.

And now, Mr Bean: