4 Activity

1. Describe to other students the conference facilities in any hotel you know.

2. With a group of other students, plan a conference for students and teachers of English for Hotel Workers.

Discuss the number of participants there are likely to be, and the kind of activities which participants will find useful. Make a list of the facilities you need (rooms and equipment).

Report on what your group has decided to the rest of your class. Find out if other students agree with your group's ideas.

Types of meeting: conference, lecture. congress, convention, workshop, seminar.

Equipment needed at conferences

electrical equipment: overhead projector; tape recorder; video recorder; photocopier; slide projector; film projector; word processor; closed circuit TV; amplifier; dimmer; VCR; spare bulb; microphone; lectern light; loudspeaker; spotlight; camera; audiovisual equipment (or A/V equipment); OHP; PA system; air conditioning; heating; ventilation; simultaneous translation equipment; earphones

presentation equipment: whiteboard, flip chart, lectern, transparencies, slide cartridge, spare spool, gavel, pointer, empty reel, projection screen

stationery and writing equipment: felt-tip pens; marker pens; chalk; typing paper; drawing pins; carbon paper; paperclips; notepads; duster; eraser; stapler; folders; name tags; cloth (to erase whiteboard writing); correcting fluid (to erase typing errors).

Vocabulary related to conference rooms: multi-purpose; conference centre; auditorium; capacity; sound-proof; folding partition; exhibition hall; seating; seating capacity; acoustics; air-conditioning; heating; ventilation; seat (v)

Other vocabulary related to conferences: simultaneous translation; translator; interpreter; debate; delegate; participant

Structures of measurement: have a seating capacity of …; have an area of ... square metres

5 Speaking

Dr Jackson has arranged for the APR conference to be held at the Galaxy Hotel. He is talking to the Hotel Manager to make sure that everything is ready.

Dr. J. OK, so if I just run through the equipment with you... see you have the overhead projector and the sere already in position. Now how about pens?

M.. We have some black pens in this box. But perhaps you'll need some extra colours.

Dr. J Yes. Perhaps you could get some extra felt-tip pens different colours. I'm sure our speakers will need them.

M. Certainly. I'll order a complete range.

Dr. J. This slide projector doesn't seem to be working. It probably needs a new bulb.

M. I'll attend to that right away. No... it won't be necessary.

It wasn't plugged in properly.

Dr. J. Fine. Now, let's see. The tape recorder has an empty spool, but the film projector doesn't seem to have an empty reel.

M. No, that's in my office. The Personnel Manager borrowed it. I'll make a note of it.

Dr. J. And do you have an extra cartridge for the slide projector?

M. Yes, there are two in this drawer here. There's still some stationery to come. My secretary will be up soon with pencils, notepads, folders and name tags. And the gavel...

Dr. J. Yes, we'll need that. Our discussions can get rather heated sometimes.

M. You'll also need a notice board. I'll make sure there's one ready for you. By the way, you'll find a box of drawing pins on this shelf where we keep the pens for the whiteboard, and the pointer.

Dr. J. Ah yes, we have, the whiteboard here... Now, is there anything we've forgotten, do you think?

M. We could perhaps test out the PA system (power amplifier). There's nothing more annoying than finding the amplifier isn't adjusted properly or the microphone isn't connected.

Dr. J. ...or if you get a horrible whine coming through the loudspeakers. Yes, you're right - we'd better test it. What about the lighting? Can you show me how it works?

M. Yes. Here's you dimmer switch for the main hall lighting and here's a switch for the spotlights. There's a lectern light on the lectern itself, you see?

Dr J. Fine. I think, that's everything. Let's go and test this PA system.

M. Didn't you say you would need the translation: equipment?

Dr. J. No, we won't need it after all. We were-expecting some participants from China and Japan, but they won't be coming this year.

Read their conversation and answer the questions:

1. Why did the slide projector not work immediately?

2. Why will interpreting equipment not be necessary?

3. Where is the empty reel for the film projector?

4. Why does Dr Jackson think the gavel will be needed?

Act out similar dialogues.