Lesson 12 – Today is Thursday “the” 2nd “of “April
What we did today
- Phrasal verbs
- “sh” pronunciation continued
- Ordering food in a restaurant
- Reflections on the course
The /ʃ/ (sh) sound often appears in words with endings like:
- -tion -sion -cial -tial
- “ti” → /ʃ/ sh
- nation, national nayshun nashunul
- action ”akshun”
- patient, patience ”payshunt”
Often happens before -on, -al, -ent
- “ci” → /ʃ/ ”sh”
- special speshul
- social soshul
- musician
- delicious
- official
- artificial
- beneficial ” bennyfishul”
- “si” → /ʃ/
- tension tenshun
- vision vizhun
- Asia / Asian
- “ch” → /ʃ/
- chef sheff
- machine MAsheen
- brochure BRO-shurr
- champagne
Often from French-origin words
- “s” → /ʃ/
- sure (sounds like sea shore)
- sugar, sugary
- “ss” → /ʃ/
- mission
- pressure
- “x” → /ʃ/
- anxious ankshuss
- luxurious luck-shoor-ius
- “ce” → /ʃ/
- ocean ”oh-shun”
spinach “spiinidge”
Host welcoming & seating
Host: Good evening, welcome. Do you have a reservation with us tonight?
Guest: Yes, it should be under Andersson.
Host: Let me just check… yes, I have you here for two at 7:30. Would you prefer a table inside or on the terrace?
Guest: Inside, please.
Host: Of course. If you’d like to follow me. (you-ud)
Host: Here we are. Would this table be alright for you?
Guest: Yes, that’s perfect.
Host: Great. Your server will be with you in just a moment. Please let me know if you need anything in the meantime.
Taking drinks
Server: Good evening, my name’s Anna and I’ll be looking after you tonight.
Server: Can I get you started with something to drink, or would you like a few more minutes?
Guest: We’re ready, thanks.
Server: Lovely. Can I recommend our house cocktail or perhaps a glass of wine?
Guest: I’ll have a glass of red wine. What do you recommend?
Server: Our Rioja is very popular and pairs well with most dishes. wine pairings
Guest: That sounds good, I’ll have that. “ay-ull”
Guest 2: Just still water for me, please.
Server: Of course—still or sparkling?
Guest 2: Still, please.
Server: Perfect, I’ll bring those right over.
Taking food orders
Server: Have you had a chance to look through the menu?
Guest: Yes, we have a couple of questions.
Server: Of course, go ahead.
Guest: What would you recommend?
Server: The grilled salmon is one of our signature dishes, and the beef tenderloin is also very popular.
Guest: I’ll start with the soup, and then have the salmon.
Server: Certainly. And how would you like the salmon cooked?
Guest: Just as the chef recommends.
Guest 2: I’ll have the steak, medium rare.
Server: Not a problem. Would you like any sides with that?
Guest 2: Yes, fries, please.
Server: Perfect. I’ll put that through for you. Please let me know if you have any allergies or dietary requirements.
- I have a nut/seafood/shellfish/an egg allergy
- I’m intolerant to gluten
- I’m sensitive to wheat (vete)
- I’m lactose intolerant. lactose-free milk gluten-free bread
- Is there any wheat in the recipe/in the dish?
- almond flour
- Do you have any caffeine-free / decaffeinated coffee / “decaf” coffee
- to have a milk protein allergy
- I’m a vegetarian/ I’m a vegan “VEE-gun” (no animal products whatsoever)
- allergic to eggs, allergic to..
Communicating with the kitchen
Server: Chef, I’ve got a new order for table 12.
Chef: Go ahead.
Server: One soup starter, one salmon, and one steak, medium rare, with fries. “sammun”
Chef: Any modifications? (chips instead of pancakes)
Server: No modifications, no allergies.
Chef: Alright, pick-up in about 15 minutes.
Server: Thank you.
Serving + checking back
Server: Here’s your soup to start. Please be careful, the bowl is hot.
Guest: Thank you.
(After a few minutes)
Server: How is everything so far?
Guest: Very good, thank you.
(Main course arrives)
Server: And here we have the grilled salmon and the steak with fries. Server: Does everything look alright?
Guest: Yes, it looks great.
Server: Enjoy your meal. I’ll check back with you shortly.
Server: Is everything alright with your food? Does it taste alright? Is everything ok?
Guest: It tastes wonderful, thank you. It’s delicious. Yes, it’s really tasty.
Problems
This is not what I expected. The fish is undercooked, almost raw. The soup is tasteless/too cold/salty. The soup is not hot enough.
undercooked meat, fish, etc (anything solid)
Staff response:
I’m sorry to hear that, I’ll take care of it right now/rightaway. I’ll get you a new one.
shortly = soon
The doctor will be with you shortly.
He presented the figures briefly.
Typical Desserts
Cakes & baked desserts
- Chocolate cake
- Cheesecake (which flavours? strawberry, passionfruit, blackcurrants, lemon
- Carrot cake
- Apple pie
- Brownies
- Muffins
- Lemon pie, lemon marengue
- cherry pie Tcherry with a glass of sherry
Cold Desserts
- Ice cream (various flavours)
- Gelato
- Sorbet (sor-bay)
- Frozen yoghurt
Creamy & classic desserts
- Crème brûlée
- Chocolate mousse
- Panna cotta
- Custard ”kusstard”
- vanilla sauce
- Rice pudding ”risifrutti”
- creme caramel
Fruit-based desserts
- Fruit salad
- Apple crumble ”krumbull”
- Berry/fruit tart
Rich / indulgent desserts (creamy, sugary, and filling – sickly)
- Chocolate fondant
- Tiramisu
- Profiteroles ”Proff-itt-er-roles”, like eclairs (French)
- Waffles with chocolate sauce
- Pancakes with chocolate, pancakes with sugar and lemon juice, with ice cream
- fried banana with ice-cream
- frozen yoghurt (lower fat than ice cream, lighter and more refreshing than ice cream)
- blackcherry yoghurt, fruit-flavoured yoghurts, fruits of the forest
Vegetarian / vegan options
- Vegan chocolate cake ”veegan”
- Fruit salad
- Sorbet
- Coconut pudding
Cheeseboard
- Selection of local cheeses
• Soft cheese (e.g. brie, camembert)
• Hard cheese (e.g. cheddar, parmesan)
• Blue cheese
• Served with crackers, bread, grapes, nuts, chutney
granulated sugar
caster sugar (finer than granulated sugar)
icing sugar
Coffee & hot drinks
- Espresso
• Double espresso
• Americano
• Cappuccino
• Latte
• Flat white
• Macchiato
• Mocha
• Iced coffee/iced tea
• Filter coffee
• Decaf coffee
• Tea (black, green, herbal, Jasmine)
Useful phrases
- Would you like to see the dessert menu?
• Can I tempt you with something sweet or with a cocktail?
Would you like anything else?
• Our desserts are homemade.
• The cheesecake is very popular.
• Would you like coffee, tea, or something from our cheeseboard?
• Our cheeseboard comes with crackers and chutney.
• What kind of coffee would you like?
• We also have today’s dessert special.
Practise
- Dessert + coffee
Server: Would you like to see the dessert menu?
Guest: Yes, please. What do you recommend?
Server: The cheesecake is very popular, especially the blueberry flavour.
Guest: That sounds nice. I’ll have that.
Server: Would you like coffee with it?
Guest: Yes, a cappuccino, please
- Sharing dessert
Server: Can I tempt you with something sweet?
Guest: Maybe. What’s your best-seller?
Server: The chocolate fondant.
Guest: Great, we’ll share one.
Server: Would you like anything to drink with that?
Guest: Two lattes, please.
- Cheeseboard option
Server: Would you prefer dessert or a cheeseboard?
Guest: What’s on the cheeseboard?
Server: A selection of soft and hard cheeses with crackers and chutney. “chee-ziz”
Guest: That sounds perfect. We’ll take one.
Server: Any drinks with that?
Guest: A glass of the house red and a double espresso, please.
- Light option
Server: Would you like dessert?
Guest: I’d like something light.
Server: We have fruit salad or sorbet.
Guest: I’ll take the mango sorbet.
Server: Would you like tea or coffee?
Guest: Green tea, please. Have you got Jasmine tea?
- Indecisive guest
Server: Can I get you anything for dessert?
Guest: I’m not sure… what do you suggest?
Server: If you like something rich, try the tiramisu.
Guest: Okay, I’ll try that.
Server: Great choice. Coffee?
Guest: Yes, a flat white.
🧠 Reflections on the course
- What new words and phrases did you learn in this course?
- Which words are most useful for you?
- What was easy for you?
- What was difficult for you?
- Do you feel more confident speaking English now? Why?
💼 Real-life use
- Have you used English at work or in real life? What happened?
- What phrases will you use first in your job?
😊 Personal reflection
- What are you most proud of?
- What do you want to improve?
- How will you continue learning English?
✨ Finish the following:
- “Before this course, I could not…, but now I can…”
- “In the future, I want to…”