Thread: Hotel English Outline

Wrote this up about 2 years ago. Never used it.

Class Structure


Each class will start with a review of the last class.

More advanced students will be expected to help the less advanced students.

A teaching method call role play will often be used.

Language enforcement will be insured with class activities and language games.

Only English is spoken in advanced classes.

The teacher will often move about the hotel and ask staff questions taken from classes.

Learning should be fun. They should look forward to their next class.

Beginner’s Hotel Course



How to form a simple sentence.

Subject, verb, object, how much, how many, question words (what when where, etc).

Pronouns: it, he, she, etc. Demonstrative pronouns, this that these, those.

Prepositions, in, on, near, behind, etc.

Functions: Turn off, turn on, open, plug in, etc.

State of being: Broken, doesn’t work, has a problem, needs to be repaired, etc.

Requests: May I, can I, do you, etc.

Adverbs of frequency: never, often, sometimes, etc.

Small talk: The weather, your trip, the Thai landscape, food, drink.

Giving directions: Turn right, go back, etc. Reading a map to help a guest.

Job-related vocabulary (most common questions in their department).

Pronunciation. Phonics, ed endings, vowel sounds, etc.

Language courtesies. May I, would you, please, etc.

Taboos: Why are you divorced, why aren’t you married, how old are you, etc.

Advanced Hotel Staff


Grammar: Do, does, past tenses, future tenses, comparatives (better, happier, most beautiful, etc). Adverbs of frequency: almost, nearly, etc.
Common verbs. Possessive pronouns: Mine, yours, his, etc.

Giving directions, giving suggestions, giving advice, information questions, telling the time, etc.

Job-related vocabulary. Job-related phrases, questions and replies. Greeting and parting guests, being friendly.

Regrets: Pardon me, I’m sorry, that’s too bad, sorry to hear that, etc.

Ordinal numbers: first, second, fiftieth, etc.

Lost and Found: How to describe people and things .. colours, shapes, size,
Physical features: Blond, tall, thin, etc.

Describing local tourist destinations. Dangers, cautions, specialized restaurants, water falls, etc.

Describing and explaining hotel features and services (pool room, fitness room, regulations, cautions).

Emergencies: Fire, floods, drowning, choking, bleeding, CPR, calming a victim down, helping a victim (what you can do, what you shouldn’t do).

Bell service (Greeting the guests, helping with luggage, showing the room). Registry staff ( telephone language courtesies, spelling a name with the phonetic alphabet, asking for personal data, common complaints, how to handle complaints, ). Driver (answering travel and distance questions). Housekeeping (what a guest might ask for), restaurant and bar vocabulary (some hints on serving, baby chairs, mixing drinks, etc.

Looks good. Why didn't you use it?

Low season hit. I did do one hotel gig though. Nice.

^ I reckon working on their English is challenging enough, rock.

Try and leave 'having a clue' to somebody else.

Originally Posted by Rocksteady

Like it and may give it a shot the next time I start a course. I think I will add that its probably best to prepare all the food for one table rather than a scatter gun approach - so that all of the customers can eat together rather than some poor smuck having to watch everyone tuck in while he waits for his special favourite and then has to eat alone with all watching.

That's right. And too, if you rent a room to two Western men with only one bed, someone will be sleeping on the floor .. well, most of us.

Hi, everybody, I am a newbie here.

By chance, I read your topic about hotel english outline. I am really interested in english for hotel staff.

I wonder, whether you could help me with the source of some material (free download e-books, audio, video files, etc...)?

I do aprreciate your help.