Unit 4: English for Hotels

Index:

Aims and Objectives

In this unit you will learn to practise vocabulary related to hotels.

You will practise the following skills and functions:

The grammar focus of this unit is:

Vocabulary

disponible
bañera
cuenta
manta
por cierto
camarera de hotel
coste
habitacíon doble
con baño
instalaciones
suelo
vestíbulo
pensión completa
sala para cepillar y limpiar
huésped/invitado
media pensión
me temo
molestia/incomodidad
llave
ascensor
vestíbulo
equipaje
gerente
desorden
portero
construido para uso específico
tarifa
recepcionista
ahora mismo
servicio de habitaciones
temporada
sábana
ducha
habitacíon individual
personal
adecuado
maleta
suite
permitir
disculparse
reservar
atender a
registrarse
liquidar la cuenta e irse
toalla
dos camas
vacante
desocupado/libre
IVA
llamada para despertar

Exercises

Section 1: Vocabulary Practice

Exercise 1: Test Yourself

Exercise Help

Fill in the correct translation for each of the terms below.

  1. ?
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  40. ?
  41. ?
  42. ?
  43. ?
  44. ?
  45. ?
  46. ?
  47. ?
  48. ?
  49. ?

Section 2: Listening Comprehension

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. What kind of room does Mrs Joyce want?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. How long does she need the room for?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. When does Mrs Joyce arrive at the hotel?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. How much does the room cost?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. How much is the VAT?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. Why is the room suitable for Mr Joyce?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. What is Susan doing?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Where is Susan's room?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Where is breakfast served?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Where is Susan going to have breakfast?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Who will take the luggage to the room?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice Questions

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. Why isn't the room ready?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Can Mr Turner change rooms?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Where can Mr Turner make photocopies?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Mr Turner is:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. When will Mr Turner change room?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Questions

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. When does the client want to stay at the Gresham Hotel?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. How long will he stay at the hotel?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. The hotel has:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. When is the hotel full?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. What's an en suite room?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Section 3: General Comprehension

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

Exercise Help

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. Some hotels cater specially for the blind and visually impaired.


    ?
  2. You can book a hotel room by telephone or email.


    ?
  3. Not every hotel allows dogs.


    ?
  4. Room service doesn't take your breakfast to your room.


    ?
  5. Before you leave the hotel you must check out.


    ?
  6. The receptionist takes the luggage to the room.


    ?
  7. Large hotels have facilities like Room Service and Business Services.


    ?
  8. You can pay your hotel bill with a credit card.


    ?
  9. Hotels sometimes have double rooms for single use.


    ?
  10. A room with its own bathroom is called an en suite room.


    ?

Exercise 2: Sentence Completion

Exercise Help

Speaking Practice. Complete the sentences you hear, using the example as a model.

Press Play to listen to the instructions:

Section 4: Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Substitution

Exercise Help

THERE IS, or THERE'S, is used with singulars or uncountables. Let's practise this.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

There's a new hotel near the airport. (somebody in my room)
There's somebody in my room.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

Exercise 2: Substitution

Exercise Help

The negative of THERE IS, or THERE'S, is THERE ISN'T. Let's practise this.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

There isn't any time. (any soap in the bathroom)
There isn't any soap in the bathroom.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

Exercise 3: Substitution

Exercise Help

A different way to make a negative is with THERE'S NO. Let's practise this.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

There's no time. (no soap in the bathroom)
There's no soap in the bathroom.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

Exercise 4: Substitution

Exercise Help

The interrogative form of THERE IS, or THERE'S, is "IS THERE ...?". Let's practise this.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

Is there a swimming pool? (a car park)
Is there a car park?


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

Exercise 5: Substitution

Exercise Help

THERE ARE is used with plurals or countables. Let's practise this.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

There are 50 rooms in this hotel. (facilities for guide dogs)
There are facilities for guide dogs.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

Exercise 6: Substitution

Exercise Help

The negative of THERE ARE is THERE AREN'T. Let's practise this.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

There aren't many people here. (any towels in the bathroom)
There aren't any towels in the bathroom.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

Exercise 7: Substitution

Exercise Help

A different way to make a negative is with THERE ARE NO. Let's practise this.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

There are no extra blankets. (no facilities for dogs)
There are no facilities for dogs.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

Exercise 8: Substitution

Exercise Help

The interrogative form of THERE ARE is ARE THERE? Let's practise this.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

Are there any vacancies? (any messages for me)
Are there any messages for me?


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

  7. ?

Exercise 9: Selections

Exercise Help

Chose the correct answer.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  2. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  3. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  4. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  5. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  6. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  7. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  8. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  9. a. 
    b. 
    ?

Section 5: Consolidation

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

Exercise Help

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Recording: show transcript
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. The writer usually travels with his guide dog.


    ?
  2. He never tells hotel staff he is blind.


    ?
  3. Hotel staff are always well trained to deal with the blind.


    ?
  4. Most hotels provide a signature card.


    ?
  5. The blind guest always finds it easy to use a card key.


    ?
  6. Gymnasium equipment should have Braille labels.


    ?
  7. Hotels could do more to help the blind and visually impaired.


    ?
  8. Blind people often sign their names on a receipt by using a signature card.


    ?
  9. A card key should provide tactile information.


    ?
  10. Everybody can read Braille.


    ?

Exercise 2: Dictation

Exercise Help

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the > key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording: show transcript
?

Exercise 3: Cloze

Exercise Help

Listen to the recording carefully and then fill in the gaps in the text below using the same words.

Recording:

Credit card receipts. ? blind people sign their names ? a receipt using a signature card. The hotel employee can assist ? positioning the opening of the signature card ? the space where the signature is required. If a signature card is not available, the credit card can be positioned with its ? edge along the signature line.

Card keys. Card keys for rooms should provide tactile information so the blind user can determine which end and face of the card should be inserted ? the lock.

Room numbers. Rooms should have raised numbers and Braille on each door.

Exercise facilities. If the blind person wishes to use the exercise facilities or gymnasium, there ? be Braille labels on the equipment and employees should know ? to orient blind persons ? want to use the machines.

By making a few simple changes like ?, hotels can make blind and visually impaired travellers much more welcome.

Exercise 4: Gap Filling

Exercise Help

Choose the correct option to fill the gaps in the following sentences.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. The process of checking ____ a hotel can be difficult.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter are the four ____ of the year.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. The time of year when a hotel is very busy is called ____ season.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Hotels usually have different ____ for low season and high season.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Having all your meals in the hotel is called ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. How much is the room ____ night?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  7. Hotels are classified by the number of ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  8. Quarter past nine is the same as ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  9. Half past ten is the same as ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  10. Twenty-five to two is the same as ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  11. Four forty-five is the same as ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  12. Five to five is the same as ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  13. 6.30 a.m. is ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  14. 6.30 p.m. is ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  15. 4.15 p.m. is ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  16. If you meet somebody at 7.30 a.m you can say ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  17. If you meet somebody at 9.30 p.m., you can say ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  18. If you are going to bed at 9.30 p.m. you can say ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  19. Christmas and New Year are in ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  20. Easter is in ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Checklist

Use the following list to check whether you have obtained full benefit from this unit. You should be able to:

You should also have greater skill and confidence in the use of:

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