EXECUTIVE ENGLISH TELEPHONE COURSE
By Viv Quarry
(www.vivquarry.com)
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VOCABULARY
1. What items on the list would you probably not find at a one star hotel?
2. What do you think the noun is for the verb 'to book'?
3. Imagine that you are travelling with your wife/husband and young son. What would you need in your room?
4. Your are organising a two week conference for 20 executives from your company. What features would be important in your choice of a hotel?
5. How might you pay a reservation fee?
6. You need to wake up at 5.30am to get a flight home. What would you ask the hotel receptionist to do?
7. It is winter and you didn't sleep very well last night because you were cold. Your head wasn't comfortable either. You call reception. What do you say?
8. You want to leave the hotel the following day. You ring reception. What do you say?
9. Where would the best hotel location be for:
a) an international conference in a very big city?
b) a sales representative who had to visit various companies and shops?
c) a tourist staying in a seaside town?
GRAMMAR PRESENTATION - THE FUTURE
Six verb tenses and one structure are used to express future time in English:
1. The present simple: Future event based on a timetable or programmed event.
E.g. What time does your flight get into London?
2. The present continuous: Future arrangement made between people.
E.g. The tv repair man is coming to fix the tv tomorrow.
3. The future simple (will):
a) A spontaneous decision. E.g. It's hot in here. I'll open the window.
b) A simple prediction about the future. E.g. I think the meeting will start on time.
c) A future fact. E.g. The next conference will be in New York.
4. The future continuous:
a) An activity in progress at a specified or clear future time.
E.g. Don't phone at 8pm because I'll be putting the baby to bed.
b) A action which takes place naturally without individual decision-making.
E.g. PILOT: We'll be flying at a height of 20,000 metres. TEENAGER: Will you be using the car tonight, Dad?
5. 'Going to' future structure:
a) A decision planned before speaking.
E.g. I'm going to retire next year.
b) A prediction based on present evidence or with supporting reasons.
E.g. It's cloudy. It's going to rain soon.
6. The future perfect simple: An action or state finished before a specified or clear future time.
E.g. Will you have finished the report by 9 o'clock?
7. The future perfect continuous: Similar to 6, but with focus on activity and duration.
E.g. If you don't see him soon, he'll have been waiting for over two hours.