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11. A. Making travel plans.
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My name is Janet. My friend Peter will be coming to the U.S. with his family in August. He asked me to help him with some of his travel vocabulary. I told him to study everything he had already learned in his English classes but to keep in mind cultural differences. I told him to have an open mind and the experience will be much more fun!
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First,
we need to get our pictures taken for our passports.
Second, we need to apply for
our passports.
Third, we need to buy a travel
guide and read all about the U.S. We want to visit New York and
Miami.
Fourth, we need to buy our
plane tickets.
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| Fifth, we need
to make our hotel reservations. |
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| Then, we need to
start practicing speaking English. |
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11. B. Making reservations.
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| My friend Janet in the U.S. told me to make reservations in advance. |
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On the telephone
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How much is that per night?
Do you accept credit cards?
I will fax my request, also. Please confirm my reservation with a fax.
Thank you!
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11. C. In August in the hotel
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Hello. We have a reservation
for five nights. Our name is Hilker.
-Welcome. Your rooms are on the fifth floor. The elevator is through the lobby, around the corner.
-Breakfast is served in the lobby from 7 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
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Is there a view?
-Yes, there is a very pretty view of the park.
Is there public transportation nearby?
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-Yes. Outside, go straight ahead. One block from here there is a subway station. Also, in front of the hotel, there is a taxi stand. You ask for the first taxi in the line . If you want a cab downtown, you hold your arm up in the air as you see one coming.
In the U.K. people say queue (pronounced like the letter
Q.) The concept of waiting in the queue is very
important in the U.K. You must always wait your turn, unlike many
European countries.
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| What color are the taxis here? |
-They
are various colors but they all have a sign on the top of
the car saying "taxi." Look at the sign in the window to see
if it is "free" or "occupied".
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I would like to get my clothing washed. Do
you have a laundry service?
-Yes, we do. There is a laundry bag and a list of prices in your room. The maid will pick it up in the morning.
Thank you. You are very helpful.
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Excuse me.
There is a problem with my bathroom...television,
telephone, the hairdryer, door.
Can you fix it?
-Yes, of course. Someone will be there right away .
We would like more.towels, shampoo, soap.
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We would like
to order room service.
I would like the steak, rare, medium rare, medium, well-done.
My mom would like the soup and a salad. My dad would like the chicken
and for my sister and brother, a pizza.
-No problem. That will be ready in thirty minutes.
In the U.K., people say straight away.
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11. D. At the Concierge's desk.
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Pardon
me. Where is the nearest post office? I need to buy
stamps.
-There is a post office downtown but it is far from here. You
can also purchase stamps at some small shops where postcards
are sold.
Can I buy souvenirs near the hotel, too?
-Yes, there are many shops. Turn right at the corner and there
is a large shopping street.
Will I also be able to change money there?
-Yes, or you can exchange it here at the hotel. But, the rate
is better at the bank. The banks here are open from 9:00 a.m.
until 5:00 p.m. There are also currency exchanges but the rate
is not very good. If you have a credit card or a debit card,
you can use an ATM /cash machine
A what?
-An ATM. It means "automated teller machine." Sorry. We use many three-letter abbreviations here in the U.S.A.
Oh, yes, now I understand.
My mother would like to get a hair cut. Is there a salon nearby?
-Yes, right next door.
My father forgot his razor. Can we buy one here?
-Yes, there is a drug store next to the salon. They have everything from aspirin to pencils.
Do they have maps, film and batteries?
-Yes, drug stores in the U.S.A. sell almost everything.
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Thank you. We appreciate your help.
-Have a nice day! |
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11. E. More shops and helpful things.
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Where is the .
Shoe repair, dry cleaner, camera shop, optical shop, dentist, laundromat , travel agency, Internet café, the Tourism Office?
This may also be called a laundrette.
Where is a mailbox? What color is it?
-It is dark blue .
In Australia and the U.K., the mailboxes are red.
Can you help me send a fax?
Where can I get .
a calling card, a ticket for the bus, the train, a ticket (to enter a place), a reservation for...?
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11. F. Travel troubles.
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I am lost.
Please help
me.
I lost my...map, key, wallet, credit card,
passport.
Can you help me place a call?
Please call the police for me.
Please call an ambulance for me.
Please ask a taxi to take me to the nearest hospital.
Parents: please go to our travel tip site and print a card with this information for your family members to carry with them when traveling.
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