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Hotels

4/20/2013

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Chairs in hotel

Workers and Guests Have Different Language Needs in a Hotel:

1.  Some Workers Say Little to Guests: housekeepers, gardeners, maintenance, shuttle drivers.
  • These need a few words to be polite and answer simple questions from guests, "Where is...," "When is..."  They need Numbers, Time, Hotel Lesson 1, and oral practice or songs.

2.  Guests who stay in a hotel which does not know the guest's language: for example Brazilians in Russia, India or China
  • These need Hotel Guest Lesson and Hotel Lesson 1 to arrive, enjoy themselves, and leave. They need Numbers and Time to understand answers to their questions. Then they need oral practice or songs. Guests can book reservations in their own language, since they can use translated email, a website, or an agency. They have guidebooks in their own languages explaining specialized terms like suite or king size.  

3.  Some Workers Have Detailed Conversations with guests: front desk, telephone, concierge.
  • These need to understand a range of sentences on checking in, money, rooms, complaints, and getting around the area. They would benefit from all the lessons here. They especially need Numbers, Time, Alphabet (for spelling names), Telephone, Hotel 1 and Hotel 2.  "[M]ost of the utterances are short, direct and purpose-driven. They rarely consist of more than one clause, and ... are mostly based on or influenced by what guests say. Such responses are, for the most part, strictly functional." ("Hospitality language as a professional skill" 2003p.80) Then they need oral practice or songs.
  • The front desk and concierge also need a translator App on a tablet (Apple, Android or Windows). They will use it when a guest goes beyond the worker's language abilities. The App needs to display alternate keyboards to let the guest type in the guest's own language and alphabet, which the App will translate to the hotel worker, and it will translate the worker's answers. Voice translation is a good feature, but typing will also be needed when the App misunderstands a voice.

4.  Restaurant Waiters    Click for Restaurant Lesson
  • Waiters need to understand special requests and common questions, which are taught here. Waiters also need to speak and understand the entire menu, which varies and cannot be taught here. The restaurant can translate the menu with Google or Bing into common languages of the guests, and the guests will feel more welcome. Waiters also need oral practice or songs.

5.  Foreign managers who supervise local workers
  • These need intermediate skills in the local language. They can use the best courses in the List of Language Courses and oral practice or songs.

Groups 1-4 need to speak in very simple words, because many people they talk to have limited English vocabulary (think of desk clerks in Russia or China talking in English to guests from Indonesia or Arabia).
                                                                                                            .

Click for comparison of 35 courses in hotel English. Most cover a difficult mixture of  the topics above. So it is hard for each group to learn what they need. Websites and books often start with making a reservation or booking by phone. Booking by phone is very hard and rarely needed: people can use translation sites on the internet.

Hotels and Travelers: Top 16 Countries

Travelers come from everywhere and go everywhere. They need people who speak their language.
Large Buildings
FOREIGN TRIPS (Overnight, most recent year available in 2008-2012)

876,000,000     World Total, by Origin of Traveler:
  85,000,000      Hong Kong, China
  83,000,000      China
  72,000,000      Germany
  58,000,000      United States
  57,000,000      Britain
  44,000,000      Russia
  32,000,000      Canada
  29,000,000      Italy
  26,000,000      France
  21,000,000      Ukraine
  19,000,000      Netherlands
  19,000,000      Saudi Arabia
  18,000,000      Japan (all trips; most are overnight)
  16,000,000      Mexico
  16,000,000      Sweden
  15,000,000      India

There are 876 million overnight tourist trips per year (UNWTO Factbook, Outbound table 3.2). Numbers include trips between Hong Kong and the rest of China.

Most of these travelers use hotels and need help in their own languages. 
ROOMS IN HOTELS  (2011-2012)

Rooms          Average Rooms Per Hotel
21,170,000         41     World Total
   4,900,000        93     United States
   1,500,000      132     China 
   1,370,000        27     Japan 
   1,100,000        32     Italy 
      950,000        27     Germany 
      900,000        47     Spain 
      660,000        37     Mexico 
      650,000        17     Britain
      620,000        36     France 
      530,000        NA     Thailand 
      410,000        25     Indonesia 
      400,000        41     Greece 
      400,000        40     Brazil 
      330,000      117     Turkey 
      290,000        22     Austria 
      260,000        33     Russia
 
There are 21 million rooms (UNWTO Factbook,  Accommodation  tables 4.13-4.14). Numbers include motels, guest houses, vacation rentals and hostels.

Many hotels are small (average 41 rooms), so they need the simplest possible training for their workers.
Direct URL for this page: hhh.Lang1234.com
The translate button in the upper corner of each page will give the text in your language.
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Hotel 1

4/15/2013

1 Comment

 
Direct URL:  Hotel.Lang1234.com

WORKERS IN HOTELS NEED TO LEARN:
​

Hello 
 ​►Female+pauses, or ​►Slow Male+pauses
Text in 12 languages
Picture
❶
Hello.
Goodbye.
Please.

❷
Yes.
No
Maybe.
❸
Sorry.
Thank you.
You're welcome.

❹
Speak slowly.
I do not know.
I do not understand.

Use translate button above to Translate this column into your language. 
Or click for text in 12 languages.  


☺ Smile! Many travelers like to see a smile.
Other Lessons for Hotels are below:

Room Contents
 
​►Male+pauses, or ​►​without pauses
When Is? 
​►Male+pauses, or ​►without pauses
Where Is? 
​►Male+pauses
Directions  
​►Female+pauses, or  ​►without pauses
​►​Male without pauses
Picture of hotel

CONTENTS OF ROOMS
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Photo of housekeeper
Picture
➀
Housekeeping!
Maintenance!

Come in.
May I come in?
➁
I want...
I need...

➂
a clean room
clean towels
more blankets
soap
➃
shampoo
maintenance
a translator

Lang1234.com


You can practice with a Test for this section.

GUESTS WILL SAY and Workers Need to Understand

When Is?

​►Male+pauses, or ​►​without pauses

To Answer Guests, WORKERS Need to Learn
Numbers
Clock times
Days of the week
Picture
➊
When is...
breakfast
lunch
dinner

➋
the restaurant open
the bar open
room service open

➌
the pool open
golf open
the business center open
the front desk open

➍
check out
the shuttle to the airport


Lang1234.com

Where Is?
​►​Male+pauses


Picture
Where is the...

restroom (US)
washroom (Canada)
loo, lavatory, toilet (UK etc.)
WC (Europe)
men's, gents', women's, ladies'


meeting room
exit
parking
stairs
lift (UK)
elevator (US)


Lang1234.com

Directions
​►Female+pauses, or ​►without pauses
​►​Male without pauses
Groundskeeper
Picture
I do not know.  ?
I'll show you.  ➜ ➜
Follow me.  ➜ ➜
meters
feet

turn  ⤴
left  ◀
right  ➜
straight  |

end of the hall  ||
through the door  ∩
next to  ))
opposite  ><
take the elevator (US)  ⇅
take the lift (UK)  ⇅

floor
lower level  _
upper level  ‾

basement
ground floor
first  1
second  2
third  3
top
  • You can practice with a Test for this section.
  • The introductory set of Numbers, Time, and Hotel 1 can be downloaded as a group here (6MB).
  • Click for comparison of 35 courses in hotel English
  • If there are foreign workers who do not know the local language where they work, they also need to (A) have visual cues for their work (Hotel Management  2009), and (B) gradually learn the local language, to avoid isolation. They can use the best courses in the List of Language Courses.

The next lesson, for the front desk, is Hotel 2. There are also courses for Restaurant workers and small stores. Click any course in the upper right corner.
1 Comment

Hotel Guests

4/12/2013

1 Comment

 
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Hotel and Mountains
Guests sometimes stay in a hotel where no one speaks their language, These guests need a few words of English (or other common language) to arrive, enjoy their visit, and leave. They need the lessons in Hotel 1 to ask questions, Numbers and Time to understand answers, and the following words at the Front desk:
Picture
❶
My name is...
My language is...
Here is my passport.
❷
I want internet.
I want to check out.
I want to check out late.
The confirmed price is...

❸
tax
service charge
meals
telephone
❹
credit card
debit card
check
cash

1 Comment

Hotels 2

4/10/2013

0 Comments

 
Person at front desk
Reception 
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Room Requests 
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Wants 
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Other Aspects of the Room 
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Equipment 
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Getting Around 
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Where Is? (advanced) 
Male+pauses
Picture
WORKERS AT THE FRONT DESK NEED TO SAY
Male+pauses, or without pauses
➊
May I help you?
May I see your passport?
May I see your credit card?
May I see your identification?
➋
May I see your confirmation?
The government wants us to see that.
The owner wants us to see that.
The manager wants us to see that.
➌
Here is a list of prices.
I am studying English.
Thank you for coming here.
Enjoy your trip.

WORKERS AT THE FRONT DESK NEED TO UNDERSTAND
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Learn the Following Too:
Numbers
Time
Alphabet
Hotel 1
Hotel Guests
Telephone
Picture
➍
I have a booking.
I made a reservation under...
I want to check in.
I want to register.
➎
I want to get my room.
I want a room.
I want to have a room.
➏
My name is...
The name is...
The name is under...
➐
How much is...?
What does that cost?
How much is that in dollars?
➑
Convert that to yuan.
Give that in euros.
What is the exchange rate?
Can you give me change for...
➒
My money is missing.
I lost my credit card.


These recordings from Lang1234.com are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

ROOM REQUESTS
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Hotel room with doors outside
Picture
➀
The room has...
The room does not have...
I will give you room 21.
➁
2 beds
1 large bed
a private bathroom
a bathroom ensuite 

➂
air conditioning
a fan
a window that opens
➃
a kitchen
a kitchenette
a cooking area
a refrigerator 
➄
a hair dryer
a balcony
a view of the garden
internet
➅
I want...
the password
an extra key
a wake-up call
➆
to send a fax
to receive a fax


Lang1234.com

WANT
Male+pauses, or without pauses
reception desk
Picture
❶
I want...
I need...
I'd like...
I would like...
I should prefer...
I must have...
❷
Give me...
You have to give me...
You've got to give me...
You must give me...
Can you give me...?
Can't you give me...?
❸
Let me have...
Do you have...?
Don't you have...?
Is there...?
Isn't there...?
I do want...
❹
I don't want...
I do not want...
I must not have...
You must not give me...
I do not like...
I dislike...

Lang1234.com

OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ROOM
Male+pauses, or without pauses
room and window
Picture
➊
I am very sorry.
I will give you room 32.
I will send someone to clean it now.
I will send someone to fix the heat.
I will send someone to fix the fan.

➋
The room is...
The room is not...

I want another room.

➌
nice
good
perfect
comfortable

➍
big
quiet
modern
traditional
➎
near the stairs
next to the bar
close to the restaurant
➏
far from the lift
a long way 

from the pool
➐
warm
hot
boiling
baking
➑
cool
cold
freezing
chilly
➒
dirty
unclean
filthy
bug-infested
➓
small
tiny
cramped


Lang1234.com

EQUIPMENT
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Picture
➀
The instructions are in the room.
Push the switch marked...
Press the lever on the left.

➁
Turn the dial so the mark points up.
Then turn right for colder, left for hotter.
Someone will fix it in 20 minutes

➂
How do I use the...?
air conditioning
toilet
hot water
cold water
shower

➃
refrigerator
microwave
television
TV
radio
➄
A TV in the next room is noisy.
People next door are loud.
➅
is broken
doesn't work
does not work
does not run

➆
needs repair
needs fixing
must be fixed
should be repaired
➇
is noisy
overflowed
spilled
leaked
drips


Lang1234.com

GETTING AROUND THE AREA
Male+pauses, or without pauses
Picture
❶
I will telephone for you.
Whom do you want to call?
There is an international phone at....
❷
The driver can wait for you.
You can call this number for a taxi.
The restaurant will call a taxi for you.
The museum can phone a car for you.

❸
Show them this address.
Would you like a guide?
You can rent a car at...
❹
I will write the address and phone.
You can walk.
You can take a taxi.

❺
How do I make a telephone call?
How can I call?
How should I phone?
I must call...
❻
How do I get to...
How do I go to...
How can I get a car to...
Where can I find a taxi to...
How do I get back to the hotel? 
❼
What will the weather be?
Have you heard a weather forecast?
Will it rain?
What temperature will it be?
What is that in Fahrenheit?
What is that in Celsius?

❽
Where is a good...
Can you recommend a...

restaurant
shop to buy...
store to get...

❾
church
mosque
temple
pharmacy
drugstore

❿
doctor who speaks English
English-speaking dentist


Lang1234.com
NOTES

The lessons do not explain local public transport, city buses or underground. These are hard the first time, even for visitors who know the local language, and are dangerous if guests miss their stop and are lost. I do not want to encourage beginners in English to describe them. If foreign-language guests are not happy with taxis, tourist buses, or private cars, they need detailed instructions in their own language in a good guidebook or website.

The best hotels may send a young guide when foreigners use local public transport the first time, and be sure they know how to call for help.

Long distance buses and trains are easier, and hotels can send travelers to the station or an agency, or get tickets for them. In many countries travelers will need to negotiate prices and classes, so a guide or translator will help.

The front desk and concierge need a translator app on a tablet (Apple, Android or Windows). They will use it when a guest goes beyond the worker's language abilities. The app needs to display alternate keyboards to let the guest type in the guest's own language and alphabet, which the app will translate to the hotel worker, and it will translate the worker's answers. Voice translation is a good feature, but typing will be needed when the app misunderstands a voice.

Doctors and dentists who speak English can be found through IAMAT and Dental Departures.
WHERE (ADVANCED)

Male+pauses

Simple questions were covered in Hotel 1. This list covers more questions from more guests. 

Front desk staff will understand these. Better housekeepers, gardeners and maintenance staff will also understand these.
Picture
➊
Where is the... 
lobby
concierge
➋
bellman
bellhop
porter
➌
entrance

garage (US)
garage (UK)
➍
taxi
bus
tour
➎

fire escape
ice
vending machine
washing machine
laundry
garden
ballroom


Lang1234.com
0 Comments

Telephone

4/5/2013

0 Comments

 
Hello ​►Female+pauses, or ​►Slow Male+pauses
Text in 12 languages
Telephone ​►Male+pause, or ​►​without pauses

English for Receptionists, Callers, and Travelers
Top businesses and hotels hire receptionists who speak many languages. 

Businesses which want to trade with foreigners need to teach receptionists and telephone operators a short list of words in many languages.

Bosses and travelers also need to learn these words, so they can speak to receptionists at other companies.
Picture of telephone

Picture
☺ Smile! People can hear a smile in your voice.
❶
Hello.
Goodbye.
Please.
❷
Yes.
No
Maybe.
❸
Sorry.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
❹
Speak slowly.
I do not know.
I do not understand.
Lang1234.com

Use translate button above right to Translate this column into your language. 
Or click for text in 12 languages.  

Telephone

​►Male+pauses, or ​►​without pauses
Picture
❺
What languages do you speak?
I speak...
I speak a few words.
❻
The person who speaks English will return at 10.
No one here speaks Thai.
❼
Wait.
Speak louder.
Repeat.
Send an email to...
❽
I want to speak to Marie Li.
Marie Li is out.
Marie Li will be back at...
Marie Li does not work here.
Marie Li is not a guest here.
❾
You have the wrong number.
What is the number for Marie Li?
Call this number...
❿
When should I call?
What is your number?
What is your email?
What is your name?
Goodbye.


Lang1234.com
Learn these, so you understand people's answers:

Numbers 0-9 for phone numbers.
Clock times.
Days of the week
.
Letters, to spell email addresses and websites.
0 Comments

Restaurants

3/20/2013

1 Comment

 
Restaurant tables
HELLO
Hello ​►Female+pauses, or  ​►Slow Male+pauses
Text in 12 languages

More lessons are below:

Waiters ​►Male+pauses
Restaurant ​►Male+pauses, or ​​►without pauses
Other Foods  ​►Male+pauses, or ​►without pauses
Wants ​►Male+pauses, or  ​►​without pauses
Picture
❶
Hello.
Goodbye.
Please.
❷
Yes.
No
Maybe.
❸
Sorry.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
❹
Speak slowly.
I do not know.
I do not understand.

Lang1234.com

Use translate button above to Translate this column into your language. 
Or click for text in 12 languages.  


Hold or right-click to download MP3
Female+pauses, or Male+pauses, slow

☺ Smile! Many travelers like to see a smile.

Fruit
WAITERS NEED TO SAY

Hold or right-click to download MP3
​►​Male+pauses
Picture
❺
We close at 2300.
Please sit anywhere.
You will have a table in 10 minutes.
Are you ready to order?
What would you like?
❻
Would you like-
   to sit here?
   a drink?
   more time?

❼
May I suggest-
   soup?
   a salad?
   an appetizer?
   dessert?

❽
Would you like-
   coffee?
   water?
   bottled water or tap water?
   the food spicy or mild?
   anything else?
❾
   ground pepper?
   grated cheese?
   to take the rest with you?
   the bill?
❿

The specials are...
Most people like...
I like...
The plate is hot.
How would you like that cooked?
⓫
Which salad dressing would you like?
The mustard dressing is low fat. 
The vinegar and lemon juice have no fat.
The oil, vinegar, and lemon juice have no sodium.
⓬

Sorry, we do not have that.
We cannot give you more to drink.
We can call a taxi.


Lang1234.com


You can practice with a Test for this section.

Bowl of soup

WAITERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND
Hold or right-click to download MP3
​►Male+pauses, or ​►​without pauses
Picture
⓭
I want more...
   bread.
   butter.
   coffee.
   cream.
⓮
I want another...
   spoon.
   fork.
   knife.
   straw.
⓯
   glass.
   cup.
   bowl.
   plate.
⓰
I want the...
   check.
   bill.
⓱
How big is it?
Rare.
Medium.
Well done.
⓲
I am allergic to shrimp.
I am allergic to wheat.
I am vegetarian.
I am diabetic.
⓳
Hold the rice.
Can I have yam instead of rice?
Can you substitute yam for rice?
⓴
Can I have the dressing on the side?
Which has low fat?
Which has low sugar?
Which has low sodium?
❷❶
Bring the check.
Is service included?


Lang1234.com

Food on bread

OTHER FOODS
​Waiters need to know all foods on the menu

Hold or right-click to download MP3
​►Male+pauses, or ​►​without pauses
Picture
➀
chicken
meat
goat 
lamb
mutton

beef
pork 
fish 
➁
soy
cheese
yogurt
eggs
➂
corn
rice
pasta 
plantain
potatoes 
➃
nuts 
fruit
vegetables 
lentils
beans
➄
pie 
pizza
stew 
sandwich
casserole
➅
curry
sauce
filling
fried
baked
➆
beer
wine
milk
tea
➇
chocolate
cake
ice
ice cream
➈
sweet
hot
cold
thick
thin


Lang1234.com
Cooks + flame

WANT
Hold or right-click to download
​►Male+pauses, or ​►​without pauses
Picture
❶
I want...
I need...
I'd like...
I would like...
I should prefer...
I must have...
❷
Give me...
You have to give me...
You've got to give me...
You must give me...
Can you give me...?
Can't you give me...?
❸
Let me have...
Do you have...?
Don't you have...?
Is there...?
Isn't there...?
I do want...
❹
I don't want...
I do not want...
I must not have...
You must not give me...
I do not like...
I dislike...


Lang1234.com
1 Comment
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Photos used under Creative Commons from oldandsolo, Renaud Camus, upyernoz, Scott Ableman, KellyB., midorisyu, Luz Adriana Villa A., World-wide-gifts.com, Bill Selak, LollyKnit, dirkvorderstrasse, GuySie, ruurmo, Dzhingarova, Golf Resort Achental, nan palmero, mueritz, Casa Velas Hotel, jenny downing, stevendepolo, Gauravonomics