English for Geographers

English For Geographers_____________________________________________

-Who do you think Tom and Richard are?

-What’s the reason for the visit?

-Why can’t Tom and Richard stay for lunch?

-Is the coffee already fixed?

Personal Application

-Do you enjoy visiting friends in the country?

-Is lunch an important meal in your country?

-Is coffee traditionally offered to guests or visitors in your country?

3.Match a word from A with a word from B. What other hotel services can you think of?

A	B
shuttle	safe
car	pool
swimming	centre
business	rooms
electronic	bus
conference	park

4. Read this fax and answer the questions:

To: ………

Date: 5 September Subject: Hotel Information

Dear Sir or Madam,

I would be grateful if you could send me some information about your hotel facilities. Could you also let me know the price for a single room with a bath for four nights at the beginning of November.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

John Brown.

1.Who does John Brown want to send this fax to?

2.Why is he sending the fax?

3.What does he want?

202

_____________________________________________English For Geographers

(a) to ask for information; (b) to reserve a room; (c) to change a reservation

4.What type of room does he want?

5.Somebody phones the Royal Hotel to reserve a room. Read the dialogue and complete the information about the caller:

Royal Hotel. Good morning.

Good morning. Could I reserve a room for the next week, for three nights, from Monday the first of November, please?

Certainly, sir. Three nights from Monday the first, you say?

Yes, that’s right.

Single or double room, sir? Single, please.

OK. Let me check. Yes, we have a room free. May I have your name, please?

It’s Payton.

Sorry, that’s P…A…Y…

P-A-Y-T-O-N. But the reservation is in the name of my company,

Cambridge management Consulting. That’s CMC.

OK. I’ve got that. Can you confirm your reservation in writing, please, sir? I’m afraid I’m not in my office today. Can I fax you tomorrow?

Yes, of course. That’s fine.

Could you tell me your fax number?

Yes, it’s 6634561876.

OK. Thanks. Goodbye. Good-bye.

Name……………….……..	Date of arrival……………….
Company………………….	Date of departure……………
Type of room……………...	Confirmation by …………….

6.Who asks the questions, the hotel receptionist (R) or the caller (C)?

1.Could I reserve a room for the next week?…

2.May I have your name, please?…

3.Can you confirm your reservation in writing?…

4.Can I fax you tomorrow?…

5.Could you tell me your fax number?…

7.Translate in writing and reproduce:

-Добрий вечір!

-Добрий вечір, сер!

203

English For Geographers_____________________________________________

-Мене звати Пітер Сміт. У мене заброньовано номер у вашому

готелі.

-Хвилинку, будь ласка. Я подивлюсь у журналі реєстрації. Так, містер Сміт. У вас є бронь для двох чоловік на двомісний номер.

-А де знаходиться номер?

-На другому поверсі. Будь ласка, розпишіться в журналі реєстрації.

-Скільки коштує номер?

-79 фунтів. Бажаєте телевізор у себе в номері?

-Так, хотілося б. У нашому номері є телефон?

-Так, телефони є у всіх номерах. Ви заповнили анкету гостя

(arrival card)?

-Так.

-Добре, розпишіться ось тут. Ось ваш ключ, містер Сміт.

-Дякую.

8.Learn the following dialogue:

R: Oh, yes, Mr Turner. I remember.

J: I’d like to book a single room, for a colleague, for the 4th of April.

R:Let me see. Oh, I’m very sorry, Mr Turner, but we’re fully booked on the 4th of April, because of the conference, you see.

J:Oh, what a pity!

R:You could try the other hotels in Verona.

J:Yes, I’ll do that. Thank you for your help. Good-bye.

R:Good-bye.

9.Read the dialogue and complete the conversation:

R:Oh, yes, Mr. Turner, I remember.

J: I’d like to book a ………, for a colleague, for 4th of April.

R:Let me see. Oh, ……... Mr. Turner, but we’re fully booked on 4th of

April, because of the conference, you see.

J:Oh, ……...

R:You could try the other hotels in Verona.

J:Yes, I’ll do that. ……… Goodbye.

R:Good-bye.

10.Learn the following dialogue:

J:Good evening. My name is Turner. I have a reservation.

R: Yes, a single room for four nights?

J: Yes, that’s right.

204

_____________________________________________English For Geographers

R:Could you fill in this form, please, and sign here? Thank you. Here’s your key. Your room is on the first floor. The porter will take your luggage.

J:Thank you. Oh, could I have an early morning call, at 6.30, please?

R:Yes, certainly. Do you need anything else?

J:No, that’s all, thank you.

11.James checks in at the hotel. Listen to his conversation with the receptionist and tick the phrases you hear:

- I’d like a room, please.

- I have a reservation.

- Could you fill in this form, please, and sign here? - Here’s your key.

- Here’s your key card.

- Have you got a suitcase?

- The porter will take your luggage.

- Could I have an early morning call, at 6.30? - Do you need anything else?

12.In pairs, practise asking and answering questions. Use the verb in brackets:

e.g. In a restaurant, you want the menu (bring).

A:Could you bring me the menu, please?

B:Yes, of course, here you are.

It’s very hot and all the windows are closed (open).

You want a cigarette (smoke). You want to know the time (tell).

You’ re in a taxi with a colleague. You don’t have your mobile phone (use).

In a restaurant, you want a glass of water (have). Ask someone to phone you tomorrow morning (call).

You want to read a colleague’s newspaper (look at).

You want a coffee. Ask your colleague (bring).

13. Make up your own dialogues on the topic “At the hotel”:

Unit 5

At a Restaurant

Recommending

- What do you recommend?

205

English For Geographers_____________________________________________

-The … (seafood) is usually excellent here.

-I recommend the … (chicken).

Ordering

-I’ll have ….

-We’ll have … (smoked Scottish salmon).

-I’d like … (the roast Normandy pork).

-Could we have … (a bottle of mineral water)?

Offering

-Do have some more … (prawns).

-What about … (dessert)?

-How about … (some strawberries)?

-Would you like … (a coffee)?

Accepting

-Yes, I’d like that.

-Yes, that would be very nice.

Declining

-Thank you, but I couldn’t eat any more.

-No, thank you.

Thanking and responding

-Thank you for a really excellent meal.

-Thank you for a lovely evening.

-Don’t mention it.

-I enjoyed it very much, too.

Practice

1. Discuss these questions:

Do you think your national diet is a healthy diet?

Which “unhealthy” foods do you enjoy eating?

When do people in your country usually eat the biggest meal of the day? Do you think it’s the best time to eat it?

2. Work in groups. Think of your favourite dish but don’t say the name. Find out the favourite dish of each person in your group. Ask questions until you

have the correct answer.
Examples: Is it a main course?	How do you cook it?
Does it contain meat?	Which other dish is it like?
What are the ingredients?

206

_____________________________________________English For Geographers

3.Work in groups. Prepare a menu for four foreign visitors to your country. The group consists of two Europeans (one is vegetarian), a Japanese, and an American. Suggest at least one starter, one main course, and one dessert.

4.Learn the following dialogue:

W = waiter, A = Ann, J = James W: Good evening.

A: Good evening. I booked a table for two. The name is Benson. W: Oh, yes, madam. Your table is over here.

J: This is a wonderful surprise, Ann. How did you know it was my birthday?

A: Oh, that’s a secret. Anyway, I would like to discuss the trip to

Hungary with you. You need an interpreter? J: Yes, I do.

A: Well, let’s order first.

J: It’s a difficult choice. What do you recommend?

A: Well, the fish is usually excellent here. Let’s see. I recommend the trout, or if you prefer meat, the Normandy pork.

W: Are you ready to order?

A: James?

J: Yes, I’ll have king prawns as a starter, and then grilled trout. A: And I’d like smoked salmon and the Normandy pork, please. W: Certainly, madam. And what would you like to drink?

A: You choose.

J:OK. A bottle of Soave, please.

5.Ann and James are in a restaurant. Read their conversation again. Tick what they order on the menu and wine list.

6.Complete the conversation in the restaurant. Use the menu and wine list. You are a host and your friend is the guest.

You:	Right. Let’s order.
Friend:	Hmm… It all looks good. What ……… ?

Y:Well, for a starter …, and for the main course ……… ?

F:Yes, ……….

Y:And ……… . To drink?

F:……….

Y: Yes, ……… (later).

(…)

Y:Now, ……… a dessert?

207

English For Geographers_____________________________________________

F:Thank you, but ……… .

Y.……… sure? ……… a coffee or a cognac?

F. ……… (at the end of a meal).

(…)

F.Thank you ……….

Y.……… .

7.Learn the following dialogue:

-Do you think we’ll have time to stop for lunch soon?

-Why? Are you starving?

-Not quite, but almost. Don’t forget I didn’t eat any breakfast.

-It was your own fault. You preferred staying in bed another thirty minutes to eating breakfast.

-It seemed like a good idea at the time.

-I won’t let you starve. I have to stop for gas in the next town anyway and you can eat then.

-Will that be long?

-Only about ten minutes.

8.Read the dialogue and fill in the gaps.

-Do you think we’ll ……… time to stop for ……… soon?

-Why? Are you ……… ?

-Not quite, but almost. ……… forget I didn’t eat ……… breakfast.

-It was your ……… fault. You preferred staying ……… bed another thirty minutes ……… eating breakfast.

-It seemed ……… a good idea at ……… time.

-I won’t let ……… starve. I have to ……… for gas in the ………

town anyway and you ……… eat then.

-Will that ……… long?

-Only about ten ……… .

Words and expressions

To starve – to die of hunger

Anyway – in any case

Conversation in context

Where are the speakers?

Who are the speakers?

Why is one hungry?

What will happen in the next town?

Personal application

Do you prefer sleeping late to eating breakfast?

What time is lunch in your country?

208

_____________________________________________English For Geographers

Is breakfast a large meal in your country?

10. Work in pairs.

You are in a restaurant

Student AYou are the host/hostess. Student BYou are the guest.

Practise the conversation. Then change roles:

Student A

Student B

Ask B what he/she would like.

Ask for a recommendation.

Recommend a starter/main dish.

Say what you would like.

Offer a drink: wine/beer.

Say what you would like.

(Later…)

Offer a dessert/coffee.

Reply. Thank A.

Reply to thanks.

10. Work in groups of three or more. You are in a restaurant. One person is the waiter/waitress, another is the host/hostess and the others are guests. Use the menu.

Ask the waiter/waitress and the host/hostess to recommend and describe dishes on the menu.

Unit 6

Recruitment

Practice

1.Read the job advertisement. Answer the questions:

Why are “excellent interpersonal and presentation skills”

important in this job?

 Would you like this job? Give your reasons.

Business development manager

The Trans-Europe Luxury train (TELT) is the most exciting new concept of this decade. It provides exclusive facilities for leisure and

209

English For Geographers_____________________________________________

corporate entertainment as it travels through the most beautiful parts of Europe.

We are looking for a creative, energetic person to market luxury travel VIP-tours to the leisure and corporate travel industry world-wide. You must have excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, experience of working in the leisure and/or corporate travel sector, and enjoy international travel and contact. Ideally, you are 27 – 35 years old, and fluent in English and two other European languages.

Attractive salary, car, and bonus. Please apply to: Euro-Executive search,

Box No 1329, rue de la Lui 187, 1049 Brussels.

2. Read the curriculum vitae from one of the applicants for this job, and extracts from his letter. Match the letter extracts to the relevant parts of his CV:

	Curriculum vitae
Personal details
Name	Michael Brown
Date of Birth:	2.10.66
Nationality:	Dutch
Address:	Van Baerlestraat 54,1070 Amsterdam
Tel. No:	020 6725331
Qualifications
1987	Diploma in Hotel Management and
	Tourism, Swiss Hotel Management
	School, Montreux
Professional experience
1993-present	Corporate Client Services Manager, Palace
	Hotels Group, Brussels. Responsible for
	marketing corporate client services of
	Group’s five 4-star European hotels.
1990-1993	Manager, Capital Hotel, Amsterdam, 180
	room, 4-star hotel with over 70 % business
	clients. Conference facilities for 100 people.
1987-1989	Assistant Manager, Hotel Mont Blanc,
	Chamonix, 150 room, 3-star hotel.
Languages	Dutch, English, German, French.

As you can see from my CV, I studied hotel management and tourism in Switzerland for three years…

210

_____________________________________________English For Geographers

After I obtained my diploma in 1987, I worked in France for two years and became fluent in French. This position gave me experience of the leisure sector of the hotel industry…

As manager, I was responsible for the planning and organisation of large conferences…

In my present job I have travelled a lot in Europe, and have made many important contacts in the corporate travel sector…

Recently I have been responsible for making promotional videos for our marketing programmes…

The results of my marketing programmes have been excellent.

Corporate business in all the Group’s hotels has increased significantly…

3.Underline the verbs in the letter extracts. Which tense does Michael use to describe his previous jobs? Does he use the same tense to talk about his current job?

4.Work in pairs. You and your partner have both applied for the job at TELT. Interview your partner. Ask and answer the questions below. Add two more questions. If the answer is “ Yes, I have”, ask for more details:

Example: Student A. Have you ever worked in the hotel business? Student B. Yes, I have.

Student A. When was that? Where did you work?

Yes/no

Details

1.work/in the tourist industry ……………………………………...

2.do/any marketing or sales? ………………………………………

3.give/any presentations? ………………………………………….

4.study/any European languages? ……………………………...….

5.travel/on a luxury train? ………………………………………….

6.go/on a cruise? …..…………………………………………….....

7.organise/a conference or other activity? ………………………....

8.want /to work in the luxury travel industry? .…………………….

9.………………………………….………………………….…..….

10.………………………………………………………….……..…

5.Work in pairs. Complete the word map with the words from the box. Use your dictionary to check new words.

Candidate, experience, interview, job title, personal details, qualifications, salary, working conditions

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,	Letter of
	application	appointment

…...

211