Lesson 2  – Tuesday 4th February
What’s the weather like where you are?
It’s wintry weather. It’s minus 2 (degrees).
It’s too windy to use an umbrella.
It’s snowing here now. It’s cloudy.
It’s stormy weather today.
Can you hear the thunder? There’s lightning in the distance.
There’s a thunderstorm forecast for this afternoon (=event)
It’s sunny. It’s cloudy. It’s overcast (= just one grey cover)
it’s rainy. It’s snowy.
It’s foggy
There’s a heatwave coming (= unusual heat)
It’s so hot that there is a fire warning.
There’s a drought (no rain) “ a drowt”

a vending machine
a ticket machine
an ATM – a bank machine – a cash machine (“a hole in the wall” machine)

 

guest, customer or client?

1. The hotel staff greeted the guest/guests warmly and showed them to their room.
2. The supermarket gives points to every customer who shops here.
3. We want every guest to feel at home during their stay with us.
4. A business consultant helps shops sell more. The shop is their client. (personal service)
5. A customer uses general bank services (e.g. opening an account and withdrawing money)
6. A client has a more personal relationship with the bank (e.g. working with a financial advisor or investing)
7. Mr. Jones has a personal banker who helps him invest his money. He is a client.
8. Any customer can open a new bank account at the branch.

a client – more exclusive
a customer – an everyday service

doctor – a patient
She’s in hospital. She’s an in-patient.
A lawyer has clients.

 

What jobs can you find in a hotel, restaurant, bar or café?
Have you ever worked in the hospitality industry? If yes, what was your job?
What skills and personal qualities do you need to work in a hotel or restaurant?

a waiter / a waitress
I’ll be your server tonight (US)
a bartender
a concierge
a kitchen assistant
the head chef
the sous-chef
a housekeeper
a receptionist
the manager
the deputy manager (number 2)
a porter
customer service (department)
a repairman, a maintenance worker
He works in potwash. He is a kitchen assistant.
he’s a security officer, he’s a security guard
She’s an entertainer. She organises shows and quizzes.
He’s a children’s entertainer.
She’s an events organiser.
She works as “meet ‘n greet” (like a doorman)

I don’t like working nights. (to work nights)
They’re seasonal workers (for the summer, for the fruit picking season)

What qualities do you need to have? = what qualities does one need? (“man” in Swedish)
You need to have patience. I need to be patient. “pay-shunt” You can’t be impatient. immature
You need to be friendly and welcoming.
You need to have a friendly attitude.
You need to be service-minded “mine-did”
You need to be able to cope with stress. You should work well under stress.
You need to be a good timekeeper. (= keep to a schedule)
You must be punctual.
You need to be a good teamworker. You should work well in a team.

Before I worked as a waitress I did some training. (= skills needed for a job)

 

“blah blah”
WHAT?! (sounds angry)
Sorry, what did you say?
I didn’t catch that.
Pardon?
Can you repeat that? Can you say that again?
I didn’t understand it. I didn’t get it.

 

Job roles in hospitality
I’m a receptionist. I’m responsible for checking in guests and answering the phone
I’m a waiter/a waitress. I’m responsible for taking food orders and serving food.
I’m a breakfast waitress. I’m responsible for organising breakfast and filling up the breakfast buffet. I’m responsible for explaining to guest how the breakfast buffet works.
I’m a housekeeper. I’m responsible for cleaning the hotel bedrooms.
He’s a porter. He’s responsible for carrying guests’ baggage to their rooms.
He’s a chef. He’s responsible for preparing/planning the menu. He’s responsible for cooking the food.
The head chef is responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly.
A school cook, a restaurant chef
She’s the manager. She’s responsible for the smooth running of the business/hotel.
She’s responsible for writing reports
An administrator/an events organiser is responsible for planning and booking conferences.
She’s a bartender. She’s responsible for mixing drinks and serving drinks.
They serve both alcoholic and non-alcohol drinks
HR is responsible for employee welfare.

a chef
We work in maintenance. We’re responsible for repairing things that are broken. We’re responsible for maintaining equipment.
They are responsible for polishing the glasses before they put them away.

Grammar – prepositions of time at, in, on, by or until?
I will see you in 10 minutes. I will go home in an hour. (= future – how long?)
I will do my homework on/at the weekend.
 by the weekend (= your deadline)
I won’t be there on Friday. (on = for a day)
I won’t be there on Friday morning, but I can get there in the afternoon. (in the morning/afternoon/evening)
I wake up at 6am most days.
I need to return my library book by Friday otherwise I will have to pay a fine.
I have until Friday to return my book otherwise I will have to pay a fine. (the whole period from NOW until Friday)