LISTEN AND ENJOY IT

Thursday 20 December 2012

PROJECT: TOURIST DESTINATIONS 2013

Here you have the document with the guidelines you need to do the project.
Good luck! =)
PROJECT

A TOURIST ATTRACTIONS QUESTIONNAIRE


Assignment: This project should be carried out at one of the top tourist attractions we can find in Madrid. You must interview two people and ask for permission to video-record the interview. If not, at least ask permission to record the sound. Do it in pairs. Some interviews will be published on the blog www.agr8tourblog4u.blogspot.com for educational purposes.
Aim: To use English as a tool for communication and to get to know the people who visit our country (nationalities, reasons for travelling, accommodation chosen, opinion about tourist attractions…)
Assessment criteria: It will be graded from 1 to 10 and will be part of the mark of the oral skills.
Deadline: By Friday 1st February 2013. You will have to send me or hand in the files (with an extension I can see and listen to) and the transcription of the dialogues. The files will be named as yoursurname_initialofyourname_tourist_attractions1 and your surname_initialofyoursurname_tourist_attractios2 (no capital letters); I won't correct any files that don't follow this.


You can begin like this:
Good morning/afternoon/evening. I’m a student of Tourist Accommodation Management / Travel Agencies and Events Management / Tourism at Hotel Escuela High School, Madrid. We are doing a project about tourist attractions in Madrid. Would you mind answering a few questions? If you don’t mind, we would like to record the interview as a class practice. Thanks a lot.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS:

  1. Where are you from?
  2. How long are you staying in Madrid?
  3. What is the purpose of your visit?
  4. Where are you staying (type of accommodation)?
  5. What monuments or places have you visited so far?
  6. Which one did you like most? Why?
  7. Could you give us a short description that summarises its main features?
  8. Did it fulfil your expectations? If not, why not?
  9. From you point of view, which are the top five visitor attractions in Madrid?

Student recommends one or two more places to visit (one of them has to be a ‘natural attraction’).

         Thanks for your help. Enjoy your stay.

Tuesday 18 December 2012

PODCASTS: ENGLISH SPEAKING TOURIST DESTINATIONS

These are some of the podcasts you have created. You can listen to them. Can you identify the people who are speaking?
If you want to, you can also download them and listen to them on your smart phone, iphone, tablet, MP4 and so on.
You can also add a comment below.
Congratulations! You've done a very good job! :-)

Tourist Accommodation Management:

San Francisco: Ir a descargar

New York: Ir a descargar

Sydney: Ir a descargar

Dublin: Ir a descargar
 
Travel Agencies and Events Management:
 
Liverpool: Ir a descargar

Dublin: Ir a descargar

London: Ir a descargar
 
Los Angeles: Ir a descargar

Merry Christmas!!!

Hi, students and friends, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2013!
Please click on here.

I hope you like this one too.

 Best wishes.

Monday 17 December 2012

AT THE AIRPORT

Looking forward to watching some of your videos? Here are some of the videos and audios you recorded in order to carry out the survey at Barajas airport.
Good job! :-)

Tuesday 11 December 2012

FILM OV

 Do you feel like going to the cinema? How about one of the following films?

Argo
Life of Pi
The Angels' Share

Or why not going to Imax?

Monday 19 November 2012

HOTEL FACILITIES: SYMBOLS

Here you can practise more vocabulary related to hotel facilities. Look at the symbols and choose the correct facility or service.

This is another website where you can see the symbols with their explanation.

Monday 22 October 2012

CHOOSING A HOTEL

Choose a hotel. Think about its facilities and services. Write a brief description and, when you think you are ready to speak, go to the following link and practise. ;-) You will have to register first!

Tuesday 16 October 2012

JOB PROFILE: TOUR GUIDE

You can have a look at the duties a tourist information assistant has to carry out on this site.

If you want to become a tour guide here you can watch a video in which they tell you about the tourism industry and the opportunities it offers if you are interested in this field and you love travelling, meeting new people, etc. It also shows you the importance of history, geology and some other areas in order to become a good professional.

Wednesday 10 October 2012

JOB PROFILE: RECEPTIONIST

Here you can read about the job profile of a receptionist and the qualities and qualifications that are required in the UK.
Once you are familiarised with the main duties a hotel receptionist has to carry out you can watch the following video. It is very useful and interesting! ;)

HOTEL FACILITES

What hotel facilities can you think of? 

Have a look at the following questions, watch the video that follows and answer the questions.
  1. Where is the hotel they advertise?
  2. What is the name of the capital? 
  3. In which ocean is it located?
  4. How far is the hotel from Malé?
  5. What means of transport do they take to go from Malé to the hotel?
  6. Name as many facilities as you can from the video. What adjectives do they use to describe them?



Here you have another video. It shows you a hotel in Miami.
Which hotel do you prefer? Why?
The Palms Hotel and Spa - Hotel Miami Beach
Unwind in a tropical and secluded ambience, just minutes away from exciting South Beach, and leave our oasis feeling re-balanced, relaxed, and rejuvenated. Fresh from a top-to-bottom renovation in 2010, The Palms Hotel & Spa will awaken your spirit with its all-new offerings, including 251 soothing guest rooms and suites with spa-inspired bathrooms, The Palms Spa -- an Aveda destination spa presenting soul-reviving spa experiences, natural gourmet cuisine at Essensia and a selection of inviting meeting and event facilities, all inspired by the hotel's lush landscape and seaside setting.

Friday 5 October 2012

INTERVIEW AT BAJARAS AIRPORT 2012

Here you have the document with the guidelines you need to do the project.
Good luck!
PROJECT
A PASSENGER SURVEY AT BARAJAS AIRPORT

 
Assignment: This project should be carried out at Barajas airport. You (each student) must interview two people and ask for permission to video-record the interview. If not, at least ask permission to record the sound. Do it in pairs. Some interviews will be published on the blog http://www.agr8tourblog4u.blogspot.com/ for educational purposes.
Aim: To use English as a tool for communication and to get to know the people who visit our country (nationalities, reasons for travelling, accommodation expectations…)
Assessment criteria: It will be graded from 1 to 10 and will be part of the mark of the oral skills.
Deadline: By Monday 12th November. You will have to send me or hand in the files (with an extension I can see and listen to) and the transcription of the dialogues.


You can begin like this:
Good morning/afternoon/evening. I’m a student of Tourist Accommodation Management / Hotel Management / Travel Agencies and Events Management / Tourism at Hotel Escuela High School, Madrid. We are doing a project about why people travel. Would you mind answering a few questions? If you don’t mind, we would like to record the interview as a class practice. Thanks a lot.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS: CHECK-IN/DEPARTURE AREA

  1. Where are you from?
  2. Where are you travelling to? What’s the name of the airport?
  3. How long have you been here?
  4. Have you been in Spain before?
  5. Where did you stay? (Accommodation)
  6. What’s a hotel for you?

a) A bed for the night
¨
c) A bit of luxury once in a while
¨
b) The office when away from the office
¨
d) Home far from home
¨

  1. What is/was the purpose of your visit?
  2. How often do you travel abroad?
  3. Which countries have you visited?
  4. What did you like most about Spain?

         Thanks for your help. Have a nice trip.




Friday 13 July 2012

Friday 18 May 2012

BOOKING A HOLIDAY

Listen to the following conversation that takes place in a travel agency. The customer wants to travel somewhere hot for a beach holiday in November. Which of these places do they choose -The Gambia, Spain, Tenerife, Lanzarote, La Gomera or France? What is wrong with the places he doesn't choose?
Listen and write down as many details as possible:
Name of hotel
Room
Meal Plan
Dates and times of departure and arrival
Airports
Clients' Names
Telephone number
Booking reference number

(From HARDNG, K. (1998) Going International. English for Tourism. OUP, U. 3, p. 32)

Friday 11 May 2012

DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS IN A HOTEL

Watch the video below and answer the following questions:
  • What happens?
  • How does the receptionist deal with the problem?
  • What would you have done?

Friday 27 April 2012

WINDSOR HOTEL AND GRAND AMERICA HOTEL PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS

Watch the following videos. Then identify and answer the following questions:
  1. Location
  2. Facilities
  3. Similarities
  4. Differences
  5. Which video do you prefer? Why?
  6. To what kind of people would you recommend these hotels? Why?

 

EMIRATES PALACE IN ABU DHABI

This video will help you when showing guests the facilities our hotel has.

Tuesday 27 March 2012

VOCABULARY RELATED TO TOURISM

Have a look at the following text found on http://www.english-at-home.com/vocabulary/planning-a-holiday/. Do you know all the words in bold letter? Can you remember what they mean? Now read the text and look up the new vocabulary.

Many people take their main holiday in summer, and although some people choose a last-minute break, others plan their holiday months in advance.
The beginning of the year is a good time for people to start looking at holiday brochures. Tour operators (companies that organise holidays) as well as travel agents (the people that sell holidays) give lots of information about holiday destinations and types of holiday. Apart from the traditional two-week beach holiday, you can choose from a range of holidays: a cruise (holiday on a ship), an activity holiday (a holiday that involves walking, cycling, climbing or other sports), a city break (a weekend or a few days in a different city) and so on. A lot of people choose a package holiday, where flights and accommodation are included in the price. But many people prefer an independent holiday, where they make their own travel arrangements.
If you travel independently, you will need to book your flights or train tickets. Unless you have an onward destination, you will probably book a return journey. Then you will need to make a reservation at a hotel, or another place to stay, such as a campsite (if you are camping in a tent), or a caravan site (if you are staying in a caravan), or a B&B (a bed and breakfast).
For all types of foreign holidays, it is essential that you check you have all your travel documents. Make sure your passport hasn't expired, and that you have a visa if necessary. If you are travelling to some countries, you also need to make sure that all your vaccinations (protection against illness) are up to date. For some countries you might need a vaccination against hepatitis, or yellow fever, for example.
As your departure date gets nearer, you can start to plan the details of your journey. Perhaps it will be a good idea to buy a guide book, or a phrase book, if you don't speak much of the local language. Some people like to read up on (= get lots of background information) on where they are going, and find out about the places of interest and "must-see" sights. It's also fun to make a packing list, so you don't forget any vital clothes or toiletries.
It's also a good idea to buy local currency in advance, if your flight gets in (= arrives) in the middle of the night, when no banks are open. Most airlines also advise you to take out (=get) travel insurance just in case your flight is delayed or cancelled, or if you get ill and need to be repatriated (sent back to your country).
Don't forget to make arrangements for your pets and your house while you're away. Put your dog into kennels (a dog hotel), and leave a key with your neighbour just in case! Hopefully your neighbour will keep an eye on your house while you're on holiday! Finally, get to the airport with plenty of time to spare. Nowadays it can take much longer to get through security and onto the plane. Have a nice trip and send your neighbour a postcard!

Thursday 22 March 2012

Thursday 15 March 2012

TRACY CHAPMAN - FAST CAR

Sheila recomended us this song.
She hopes you like it.

Wednesday 14 March 2012

PARQUE DE EUROPA TRAVEL AGENCIES (January 2012)

Here is a presentation with the monuments the students of Travel Agencies and Events Management spoke about in Parque de Europa.

Monday 27 February 2012

SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE - LISTENING

Listen to the following recorded information on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and write down some details you can understand, such as the nickname it receives, when it was built, how long it took to be built, number of people employed, measures, number of railway lines and road lanes, number of vehicles per day, museum opening hours and any other piece of information that can be relevant for the correct understanding.



(From HARDING, K. (1999) Going International, OUP, U. 9, list 2, p. 128)

Sunday 26 February 2012

LISTENINGS - CONFERENCE ROOMS

Listen to the following conversation between the Conference and Banqueting Manager of the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, and the Conference Co-ordinator of the ETOA (European Tour Operators Association). They are discussing the Albemarle Suite.
As you listen, write down the names of the rooms and give as much information as you can regarding size and equipment.




(From HARDING, K. & HENDERSON, P. (2004) High Season, OUP, U. 10, 3 Listening, p. 111)


Now listen to a conference co-ordinator discussing the programme for the Hoteliers' Annual Conference to be held at a hotel in Edinburgh. Write down as much as you can regarding the programme as well as the things which have been changed from the original one.




(From HARDING, K. & HENDERSON, P. (2004) High Season, OUP, U. 10, 7 Listening, p. 117)

Friday 24 February 2012

FAIR TRADE - RISE AGAINST - PRAYER OF THE REFUGEE & HELP IS ON THE WAY

Warm-up:
  • Do you agree with the statement 'we live in a consumer society'? Why?
  • Do you spend a lot of money on clothes? What is your favourite brand?
  • What do you usually spend your money on? Mobiles? Videogames? Clothes?

Watch the video below and answer the following questions:
  1. Where does it take place?
  2. What kind of peple can you see?
  3. Are they young?
  4. Where are they from?
  5. What products can you see?
  6. Do you buy them?
  7. Do you usually have a look at the label of the products you buy?
  8. Have you ever bought any fair trade products?




Listen and put the song in the right order.



Here you have another videoclip by Rise Against titled 'Help Is On the Way'. Watch it and answer the questions.
  • What natural disasters does it show? Do you know any others?
  • What do you do when something like this happens?
  • Do you belong to any non-governmental organizations (NGO)? What is the name? What do you do?
  • Write a brief summary of the story.

Thursday 23 February 2012

PROJECT: TOURIST ATTRACTIONS INTERVIEW 2012 - AUDIOS AND VIDEOS

Here you can see and listen to some of your classmates (Laura, Maribel & Yolanda) when carrying out the interviews about tourist attractions in Madrid. Thanks again for your contribution.



Here there are two interviews carried out by José. This one is with a woman from Barcelona.




And here is the second interview, this time with a woman from Argentina.




And this is Adrián interviewing an American girl in Alcalá de Henares.

Wednesday 22 February 2012

NATURAL DISASTERS

If you want to practise vocabulary related to natural disasters, have a look at this page and do the exercises that have to do with that vocabulary.

VIDEOS - DIALOGUES AT THE HOTEL

Here you have some videos which can help you to improve your oral skills when dealing with guests at a hotel. They are cartoons.

Checking in:




Solving problems:


Checking out:

BOOKING CONFERENCE ROOMS

Have a look at the video below. You will see a man advertising a company specialised in booking venues for different types of hotels.

Wednesday 15 February 2012

CONFERENCE ROOMS

Have a look at this link to see meeting room equipment.
Look at this picture and mention the items you can see.

Sunday 12 February 2012

AT THE AIRPORT- VIDEO

Have a look at the following video and do a similar one with your partner.


Aiport Migrations and Customs

VIDEO: CHECKING IN

Here you have another video that can be useful for the oral exams and for your future professional career.

SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY 2012

What do you know about Adele?
Listen and do the activity I've given you.


Someone Like You-Adele for Blog1

How about this one? Where have you listen to this song? What film does it belong to?


And this is a tribute to Whitney Houston, who died last Saturday 11th February. Dedicated especilly to Maribel.




Wednesday 8 February 2012

AT THE TRAVEL AGENCY

I have found this video. It is about booking a holiday (destination, accommodation, etc.) I'm sure you will find it very useful =).

Tuesday 7 February 2012

EVENTS MANAGEMENT

Within the dynamic and growing events industry there is a demand for suitably qualified graduates who have the ability to plan and manage events. Events range from major events such as the Olympic Games to arts, cultural, sporting, entertainment, business and trade events, exhibitions and conferences.

Why don't you try to develop, plan and run a live event? Here are some pages which can be helpful.
Australia Events
Sports and Events Tourism Exchange South Africa
The worldwide events guide
If you do it, let me know and you will present it to your classmates.

COMPARISON

Here you have another website (quite different from some others) where you can study and practise the use of the comparatives and the superlatives. At the end you have some quizzes and interactive exercises. Choose the most suitable ones depending on your level.

PORTAL EDUCAMADRID

III Jornadas Integración de las TIC en la enseñanza. 1, 2 & 3 Junio 2011.

Monday 30 January 2012

PARQUE DE EUROPA

Sunny but a bit cold when visiting London!

TTAAEM (30-1-12)


TTAAEM (30-1-12)




TAM (31-1-12)

TAM (31-1-12)

Monday 16 January 2012

PASSIVE VOICE - PPT

Here is a very good presentation about the passive voice and causative have and get. I hope you find it useful. At the end of the presentation you will find some links in case you want to do some more practise.

Tuesday 10 January 2012

INTERVIEW AT BARAJAS AIRPORT 2011-2012 - VIDEOS

Do you feel like watching some of the videos recorded by your classmates at Barajas? If so, here you are some of them.
Thank you, students!





Monday 9 January 2012

PROJECT: TOURIST ATTRACTIONS INTERVIEW 2012

Here you have the document with the guidelines you need to do the project.
Good luck! =)
PROJECT

A TOURIST ATTRACTIONS QUESTIONNAIRE




Assignment: This project should be carried out at one of the top tourist attractions we can find in Madrid. You must interview two people and ask for permission to video-record the interview. If not, at least ask permission to record the sound. Do it in pairs. Some interviews will be published on the blog www.agr8tourblog4u.blogspot.com for educational purposes.
Aim: To use English as a tool for communication and to get to know the people who visit our country (nationalities, reasons for travelling, accommodation chosen, opinion about tourist attractions…)
Assessment criteria: It will be graded from 1 to 10 and will be part of the mark of the oral skills.
Deadline: By Friday 3rd February 2012. You will have to send me or hand in the files (with an extension I can see and listen to) and the transcription of the dialogues.


You can begin like this:
Good morning/afternoon/evening. I’m a student of Tourist Accommodation Management / Travel Agencies and Events Management / Tourism at Hotel Escuela High School, Madrid. We are doing a project about tourist attractions in Madrid. Would you mind answering a few questions? If you don’t mind, we would like to record the interview as a class practice. Thanks a lot.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS:

  1. Where are you from?
  2. How long are you staying in Madrid?
  3. What is the purpose of your visit?
  4. Where are you staying (type of accommodation)?
  5. What monuments or places have you visited so far?
  6. Which one did you like most? Why?
  7. Could you give us a short description that summarises its main features?
  8. Did it fulfil your expectations? If not, why not?
  9. From you point of view, which are the top five visitor attractions in Madrid?

Student recommends one or two more places to visit (one of them has to be a ‘natural attraction’).



         Thanks for your help. Enjoy your stay.