Talking points

Basic Situation: You find out (from a friend of yours) which is the best hotel for you to stay in; registering at a hotel and then staying at it, you have a talk with the receptionist (desk-clerk, chambermaid and other personnel).

Topical Words:

guest; reception-clerk, desk-clerk, chambermaid, bell-boy, porter; accommodation: single (double) room with bath (shower), suite; to reserve, to book, to put up (at), to sign in (out), to recommend, to suit; arrival card: name, middle name, surname, nationality, date of birth, passport №, signature.

Speech Patterns:

1.

Can you recommend a good hotel? I think you can stay (put up) at the Astoria. It’s one of the best hotels in town.

What hotel can you recommend? I think you can stay at the Colonnade. It’s one of the cheapest hotel I know.

2.

Arriving at a hotel a visitor should register.

Filling in the arrival card a visitor writes down some information about himself

Going out of the hotel the guest should leave his key with the desk-clerk.

3.

This hotel has a car park for thirty or forty cars.

The Colonnade Hotel has two restaurants and a bar.

The Europe Hotel has a swimming-pool and a dancing hall.

4.

I’d like a single(double) room with a bath overlooking the garden (the sea).

1.Practise these substitution dialogues in pairs.

1.

-Good morning, sir.

-Good morning. I’d like a quiet single room with telephone.

double room, double room with bath, single room with shower, room with a TVset

2.

-What’s the rate for a single room with bath?

-It’s twenty-five hryvnas per night.

five pounds, ten dollars, 100 francs

3.

-How would you like to pay?

-I’ll probably pay per day.

per week, fortnightly, when signing out, in advance

4.

-Excuse me, sir, but filling in the card, you failed to put down your permanent address.

-Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll put it down now… Here you are.

First (Middle) Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Surname, Signature, Passport№

5.

-Will you tell me (please) where the Foreign Exchange Desk is?

-It’s in the hall (lobby) of the Hotel, just on your right (left).

Manager’s Office, Information, News-stand, Service Bureau, Telegraph, Post Office

2.Read the dialogue and say for how long Mrs. Brown is going to stay, what kind of room she wants and why she is interested in the car park. Dramatize the dialogue.

Mrs Brown: Excuse me, I’m looking for a hotel to stay at. What would you recommend?

Information Clerk: How long are you going to stay?

Mrs Brown: Two or three nights, I think. Could you, please, look for some hotel near the centre?

Information Clerk: Yes, madam, naturally. Is it a single room you want?

Mrs Brown: No, a double room, please. My husband is joining me.

Information Clerk: Would you like to have your own bathroom?

Mrs Brown: Yes, of course.

Information Clerk: Right. Now can I offer you New Barbican, Madam? It is a modern hotel, comfortably furnished. All rooms have radio, telephone and colour TV set.

Mrs Brown: You know, I’m on tour here. Is the hotel far from the main sights of the city? Where exactly is it?

Information Clerk: In Central Street, Madam. It is not far from the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. You can easily walk to St. Paul’s from it. It will take you 20 minutes to get to the heart of the City of London.

Mrs Brown: How much does it cost?

Information Clerk: It is 40 pounds per person per night.

Mrs Brown: Fine, fine that will do… Oh, yes, one more thing. Is there a car park? My husband is bringing his car.

Information Clerk: Yes, the hotel has its own car park.

UNIT 8

Grammar: Passive Voice (Indefinite Tenses) Topic: Post Office Reading: Text A. Lost in the Post Text B. Post Cards Talking Points