✈️ Speaking: Specific Purposes B1 - Lesson 2: Handling Basic Travel Scenarios
Welcome back! Using English while traveling can be exciting. This lesson will give you the key phrases you need to handle two of the most common situations with confidence: checking into a hotel and asking for information.
Scenario 1: Checking into a Hotel
Listen to this conversation between a traveler, Mr. Sok, and a hotel receptionist. Notice the polite and direct phrases they use.
Receptionist: "Good evening, sir. Welcome to The City Centre Hotel. How can I help you?"
Mr. Sok: "Hello, I have a reservation1 under the name 'Sok'."
Receptionist: "Let me check for you... Yes, Mr. Sok. A double room for three nights. May I have your passport, please?"
Mr. Sok: "Of course. Here it is."
Receptionist: "Thank you. Everything is in order. Your room is 904 on the 9th floor. Here is your key card. Breakfast is from 7 AM to 10 AM in the restaurant."
Mr. Sok: "Great, thank you. One quick question, what time is check-out2?"
Receptionist: "Check-out is at 11:30 AM, sir."
Mr. Sok: "Perfect. Thanks for your help."
Scenario 2: Asking for Information
Now, let's listen to a traveler, Lina, asking for help at an airport information desk. Notice how she gets attention politely and asks clear questions.
Lina: "Excuse me, I'm a bit lost. Could you help me?"
Information Officer: "Of course. Where are you trying to go?"
Lina: "I'm looking for the gate for my flight to Kuala Lumpur. My boarding pass says Gate C22."
Information Officer: "Okay. You are in Terminal A right now. You need to take the airport shuttle3 train to Terminal C."
Lina: "Oh, I see. Where can I find the shuttle?"
Information Officer: "Just follow the signs for 'Skytrain'. Go down this escalator, and you will see it on your right. The train comes every three minutes."
Lina: "That's very helpful. Thank you so much!"
Key Phrases for Your Trip
Memorize these useful phrases to make your travel experience smoother.
- At Your Hotel:
- "Hello, I'd like to check in. I have a reservation under the name..."
- "What's the Wi-Fi password?"
- "What time is breakfast served?"
- "Could you please call a taxi for me?"
- When Asking for Information (The Polite Formula):
- Step 1 (Get Attention): "Excuse me..." / "Sorry to bother you..."
- Step 2 (Ask Your Question): "Where can I find...?" / "How do I get to...?" / "What time does...?" / "How much is...?"
- Step 3 (Show Thanks): "Thank you for your help." / "That's great, thanks."
💡 Listening for Key Information
Sometimes the answers can be fast. Focus on listening for the most important words.
When checking in, listen for:
- Numbers: Your room number, floor number, prices.
- Times: Breakfast time, check-out time.
When asking for directions4, listen for:
- Place words: "left," "right," "straight," "next to," "across from."
- Verbs: "follow," "go down," "take," "turn."
Don't be afraid to ask for repetition! A very useful phrase is: "Sorry, could you say that again, please?"
🧠 Practice Quiz: Choose the Best Phrase
Read the situation and choose the best phrase to use.
1. You arrive at your hotel. It's your first time there. What is the first thing you should say to the receptionist?
A) "Where is my room?"
B) "I want a room now."
C) "Hello, I'd like to check in, please."
→ Best Phrase: C. It's polite, clear, and the most common way to start the check-in process.
2. You are in a train station and cannot find the ticket office. You see an employee. What do you say?
A) "Ticket office. Where?"
B) "Excuse me, where can I find the ticket office?"
C) "I need to buy a ticket right now."
→ Best Phrase: B. It uses the polite formula: "Excuse me" + a clear "Where can I...?" question.
📝 Your Mission: Travel Role-Play
Your mission is to practice these scenarios with a partner.
- Find a friend or classmate to practice with. One person is the traveler, the other is the hotel receptionist or information officer.
- Role-Play 1 (Hotel Check-in): The traveler should check in and ask at least two questions (e.g., about check-out time and Wi-Fi).
- Role-Play 2 (Asking for Information): The traveler should politely ask for directions to a place (e.g., the nearest ATM, the bus station, or a coffee shop).
- Switch roles and do it again! The more you practice, the more confident you will become.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Reservation: (Noun) - ការកក់ (kaa kɑk) - An arrangement for a room in a hotel, a table in a restaurant, etc. to be kept for you. ↩
- Check-out: (Noun/Verb) - ការចាកចេញពីសណ្ឋាគារ (kaa' chak'chenh pii san'thaa'kii) - The act of leaving and paying for your room at a hotel. ↩
- Shuttle: (Noun) - រថយន្តรับส่ง (roth'yon rap'song) / រថយន្តដឹកជញ្ជូន (rɔt'yʊən dək cun'cuun) - A bus, train, or plane that travels regularly between two places. ↩
- Directions: (Noun) - ទិសដៅ (tɨh daɯ) - Instructions that tell you how to get to a place. ↩
- Confirmation: (Noun) - ការបញ្ជាក់ (kaa bɑɲ'ceak) - A statement, document, etc., that says that something is true or definite. (e.g., a booking confirmation). ↩