Check in

A: Welcome to English Village Hotel. May I help you?

B: Yes. I have a reservation. Here is my passport / ID.

A: Just a minute. I will check the computer.

B: I found your reservation. Here is your room key. You are in Room 606. Enjoy your stay.

A: Thank you. Goodbye.

*****

Hotel hell

A: That hotel was terrible. B: The worst in the whole world. A: The walls were so thin. B: All day long we heard TVs or telephones. A: All night long we heard people snoring. B: Housekeeping didn’t give us fresh towels. A: Room service brought us a cold dinner. B: Our nonsmoking room stunk of cigarette smoke. A: Our room was right next to the elevator and the ice machine. B: They added phony charges to our bill. A: How did we end up in that terrible hotel? B: The travel agent gave us a 50-percent discount!

*****

Room service

A: Room service, may I help you?

B: Yes, may I order some food?

A: Sure. What would you like to eat?

B: I would like a hamburger and some fries.

A: Would you like something to drink?

B: Yes, I would like a large Coke.

A: Anything for dessert?

B: Yes, a piece of apple pie, please.

A: Ok, I will send the food to your room.

B: Thank you.

A: You’re welcome.

7. Writing options. Try to make a story on the offered topics.

1. What problems can people have staying at the hotels?

2. In what way can we book the room in the hotel?

3. What living arrangements can one usually find in different hotel types?

4. Is hotel and restaurant business much developed in your country?

5. What are common ways of payment in hotels?

6. Do you know what cancellation policy is?

7. Do most of the hotels have facilities for the disabled?

8. Speak about restrictions (e.g. pets are not allowed) while staying in a hotel.

HUMOUR TIME

“Room Service? Can you send up a towel?” “Please wait, someone else is using it.”

*****

A person checks into a hotel for the first time in his life, and goes up to his room. Five minutes later he calls the desk and say, “You’ve given me a room with no exit. How do I leave? “The desk clerk says, “Sir, that’s absurd. Have you looked for the door? “The person says, “Well, there’s one door that leads to the bathroom. There’s a second door that goes into the closet. And there’s a door I haven’t tried, but it has a do not disturb sign on it.”

*****

A traveller pulls into a hotel around midnight and asks the clerk for a single room. As the clerk fills out the paperwork, the man looks around and sees a gorgeous blonde sitting in the lobby. He tells the clerk to wait while he disappears into the lobby. After a minute he comes back, with the girl on his arm. “Fancy meeting my wife here,” he says to the clerk. “Guess Ill need a double room for the night. “Next morning, he comes to settle his bill, and finds the amount to be over $3000. “What’s the meaning of this?” he yells at the clerk. “I’ve only been here one night!” “Yes,” says the clerk, “but your wife has been here for three weeks.”

*****

Anot so rich couple decided to stay at a very exclusive hotel for a night. The manager immediately recognized them for what they are but could not throw them out, instead he decided to be clever. In the morning the couple came to settle the bill and were surprised to find they owe $3000.”How’s this? We’ve only been here one night!” the man was annoyed. “So?”, said the manager, “this is a very expensive hotel. We have golf courts, tennis courts, swimming pools, exercise rooms, bars and restaurants, all this is very expensive to keep up.” “But we didn’t use any of these!” explained the couple. “If you didn’t use – that’s your problem,” came the reply. “In that case, you owe me $2000. You see, my wife is a call girl who charges $5000 a night, so please settle your bill,” said the man. “What do you mean?” the manager was taken off guard, “I didn’t sleep with your wife!” “If you didn’t use – that’s your problem!”

LESSON 14

Holidays and Traditions

Christmas comes but once a year.

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day.

Traditions are group efforts to keep the unexpected from happening. 

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day. 

TOPICAL VOCABULARY

1. Ukrainian religious holidays and traditions	1. Українські релігійні свята та традиції
to celebrate	святкувати
wedding / birth / burial rites	весільні обряди / обряди народження / обрядипоховання
young / married couple	молода / одружена пара
secular	світський, мирський
Lent / fasting	Великий піст / піст
to bless(ed) / blessed food / to bless oneself	благословляти, освячувати / освячена їжа / хреститися
crucifixion / resurrection / purification	розпинання на хресті; муки, страждання/воскресіння (з мертвих)/очищення
Easter / Easter bread / Easter egg / Easter basket / Easter mass	Великдень, Пасха/паска / крашанка (писанка) / пасхальний кошик / пасхальна служба
Shrovetide (Pancake Festival) / pancake	Масляна / млинець
April Fool’s day	День сміху
2. Christmas (X-mas)	2. Різдво
to sing (sang; sung) X-mas carols	співати різдвяні колядки
chimney / mistletoe	димар / омела
Christmas Eve	вечір напередодні Різдва
reindeer / sleigh (sledge)	північний олень / сани
3. Valentine’s Day	3. День Святого Валентина
to express(ed) feelings	висловлювати (виражати) почуття
to exchange(d) gifts	обмінюватися подарунками
to go (went; gone) out on date	ходити на побачення
heart-shaped card	листівка у формі серця
candle-light dinner	вечеря зі свічками
4. Halloween	4. Гелловін (переддень усіх святих)
scary costume	страшний костюм (убрання, що лякає)
carved pumpkin / jack-o’-lantern	вирізаний гарбуз / ліхтар, вставлений у гарбуза
to play(ed) tricks	жартувати, обдурювати
‘trick or treat’	“цукерки або смерть!”
5. Foreign holidays	5. Іноземні свята
Bank holidays	банківські свята у Великій Британії
Memorial Day (Remembrance Day) / Veteran’s Day	День пам’яті / День ветеранів
Independence Day	День незалежності
Thanksgiving Day	День подяки
Labour Day	День праці