Movie Theater - Customer Service Practice

Situation: A customer from Canada wants to see a movie at a Thailand movie theater but needs help choosing a film and purchasing a ticket.

Customer: Excuse me, do you speak English?
Employee: Yes, I do. How may I help?
Customer: I'd like to see a film. Do you have a schedule?
Employee: Yes, here's our marquee with today's schedule.
Customer: I'm sorry, I don't read Thai. I'd like to see The Bourne Legacy. Is it in English?
Employee: Yes, it is. I'm sorry our schedule here is only listed in Thai. It is available, however, in English online and you can see our current listing of shows at our web site www....
Customer: Thanks. I see people buying tickets from an automated ticket machine over there instead of waiting in line. Can I buy a ticket there, also?
Employee: Sorry, you have to fill out an application and pay a membership fee to be able to access that service. For now, I'd recommend waiting in line, but don't worry, the line moves along quickly. At the counter, the clerk will show you a chart and ask you to choose a seat. If this is your first time at a movie theater in Thailand, don't be surprised when after you're shown a preview of coming attractions that everyone stands for a short while to pay respects to the royal family. It's a Thai custom.
Customer: Thanks, I didn't know that.
Employee: Ticket prices are also cheaper today. Wednesdays our theater tickets are discounted. We call it "Movie Day."
Customer: Woah, I came on the right day!
Employee: I hope you enjoy your film and come again.
Customer: Thanks. You've been very helpful.

Discussion

1. Do you work in customer service and interact with foreign customers?
2. What gives you the most difficulty, language or customs?
3. What do you do if you didn't understand a customer?

Cabin Steward - Customer Service Practice

Situation:  Welcoming a customer boarding a flight.

Flight Attendant: Welcome aboard Flight 2012!

Mr. Kim: Thank you.Can you tell us where Row 10 is (Mr. Kim holds up a boarding pass).

Flight Attendant: Yes, it's the exit row, the second row past the first-class cabin. You're in seats A and B which are on the right side of the plane just behind the lavatory.

Mr. Kim: They told us when we checked in that we were in an exit row. What do we need to do?

Flight Attendant: If you're physically capable and willing, you'll have to open the emergency door if necessary. Read the safety card in the pocket of the seat in front of you for directions.

Mr. Kim: Where can we put our carry-on bags?

Flight Attendant: It looks like you have two. One can go underneath the seat in front of you. The other will have to be stowed in the overhead compartment.

Mr. Kim: Will I be able to get it later?

Flight Attendant: Sure. After take-off the captain will turn off the seatbelt sign and you'll be able to get up and move about the cabin.

Conversation Practice

1. Are you generally satisfied with cabin service when you fly?
2. Do you listen to cabin stewards when they review safety procedures or
   do you tune them out?
3. Where do you prefer to sit on the plane, aisle or window seat?

Do you order a special meal or eat what's on the daily menu?

Are you that passenger that tries to squash an over-sized bag in the overhead luggage bin?

Where's the safest place to sit on a plane?

Have you every had to report a suspicious or bothersome passenger to a cabin steward?

Vocabulary

tune them out - to ignore someone, not listen to someone

Over the Moon

Adele, currently the world's biggest-selling pop star, announced that she is pregnant.

The singer broke the news to her fans on her web site, saying she was excited to be expecting and was over the moon with her pregnancy.

In an earlier interview with People Magazine, Adele talked about motherhood and wanting to have three sons by age 30

Vocabulary

broke the news - revealed new information (sometimes good, sometimes bad)
expecting - pregnant

over the moon - very happy

Conversation Practice

1. Have you ever been over the moon?
2. How is motherhood changing? (women postponing family for careers, difficulty in juggling motherhood and career, etc.)
3. Can you name any of Adele's songs?

Spelling Bee Champ

Snigdha Nandipati spelled "guetapens" correctly to win the 2012 national spelling bee in the USA. 

The teenager has had a lot of time to train for the event.

When she was just a kindergartener her father, Krishnarao Nandipati, would have her spell out sign names on the way to school.

Krishnarao Nandipati was so impressed he began entering his daughter in competitions when she was just a 3rd grader.

Indian Americans have had a lock on the competition in recent years, winning the bee five times in a row and 10 of the last 14 years.

Vocabulary

had a lock - dominated an event

Conversation Practice

Sometimes letters in other languages can give us trouble. The Spanish "R" can be difficult for English speakers and the letters "j and "y" can confuse Spanish speakers. Asian speakers may experience trouble with he letters "l" and "r," and "v" and "b."

Are you a good speller? What letters give you the most difficulty?

"Spell" idioms

spell out something - explain something
spell trouble - cause trouble
under one's spell - to be captivated by someone

Not That MacIntosh!

Can you bring me a McIntosh?

A: You know, I studied English for a long time before I went to the U.K, but sometimes I was still confused when people would ask me simple questions I should have known?

B: How so?

A: One day, when it was raining outside and we were getting ready to go outside, my home stay sponsor asked me to bring him a McInstosh.

B: A McIntosh?

A: After scratching my head a few times, he saw I was confused and explained that in England people refer to raincoats as a McIntosh. I thought he wanted me to bring him a computer!

B: How funny! I guess it could have been worse?

A: How so?

B: He could have asked you for a “London Fog”!

British/North American Vocabulary

Here's a sample list of different vocabulary that have the same meaning.

British	American	British	American
boot (of car)	trunk (of automobile)	chemist	drugstore
chips	French fries	the cinema	the movies
crossroads	intersection	cutlery	silverware
dustbin	trashcan	flat	apartment
holiday	vacation	lift	elevator
mobile (phone)	Cell phone	motorway	freeway,highway
petrol	gas, gasoline	post	mail
pub	bar	lew	rest room
telly	TV	torch	flashlight
trousers	pants	tube (train)	subway

Speedaholic

'Speedaholics'

Some call it life on the treadmill.

One out of every two Korean office workers in a survey considered themselves so-called "speedaholics" who are constantly under pressure to get things done quickly.

 When asked why, the majority said they are always short on time. Others said they can't stand doing things slowly.

The majority pointed to an excessive workload as the number one reason for becoming a speedaholic.  

Discussion

1.    Are you a speedaholic?  Explain.

2.    When do you feel the need for speed?

3.    Do you think being a speedaholic is positive or negative?

4.    Why are office workers trending to “speedaholicism” these days?

5.    What happens to the health of speedaholics?

6.    What occupations are well suited to speedaholics?

7.    What occupations would you rather see people take their time at?

8.    How well do you manage your time?

9.    Do you prefer to take quick action or think before you act?

10. Do you plan well or wait until the last minute to finish a project?

speed idioms

up to speed

If you are up to speed with something, you have the latest information about it.

After Bill got his son a math tutor, little Billie was able to get up to speed with the other children in his class.

Before we start the is morning's meeting, I'm going to bring you up to speed on what's happening with unithe new union bargaining agreement.

full speed ahead

with complete energy and enthusiasm

The movie studio decided to go full speed ahead on its plans for an overseas theme park.

Social Networking

Social Networking

People use social networking sites to share ideas, opinions and interests. Millions post comments, videos, pictures, links and other content.

 Social media is still young and evolving. Take the example of Facebook. It was launched in 2004 as a social network just for

Harvard students. Facebook now has hundreds of millions of active users.

Not everyone is happy about that, however. Some students are not okay with older people using it.

 Public officials recognize the ways social media have changed the way people communicate. The White House has its own Facebook page.  

 President Obama, however, has also warned students to be careful about what they post on Facebook because it could be pulled up again later in their lives and come back to haunt them.

Vocabulary

• pulled up - revealed
• come back to haunt them - cause someone problems 

Conversation Practice 

1. What are the pro's and con's of social networking? 
2. Do you have a social networking account (Facebook, Twitter, Naver)?
3. How has social networking changed your life?
4. How has social networking changed the business world?
5. What do you think about older people using social networking sites like facebook?
6. How has social media changed world politics (Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street)?
7. Has social media opened up new market for unknown artists artists (music, film, etc.)?
8. What do you think about cyber bullying? Solutions?
9. What's your opinion on blogs that spread rumors?
10. Should on-line entertainment web sites that report on celebrities be regulated?
11. What do you think about on-line dating services?
12. Have you ever "googled" your name?

Global Warming: Cows?

India's cows – all 283 million of them - have entered the climate change debate.

The gas (methane) cows produce in India is a bigger factor in global warming than all their vehicles on the road.

Scientists have begun experimenting with new diets to make cows less “gassy.”

Researchers are also busy working on technology which can reuse the methane gas for energy. 

Since killing cows is illegal in India, old cows might one day be used as alternative sources of energy, powering electricity in homes.

Discussion

1.  What do you think about the impact of cows on global warming?
2. Would you give up eating meat to reduce global warming (Paul McCartney, Beatles, proposed going meatless one day a week)?
3. Do you think global warming is a serious issue or is it being overemphasized?
4. Can global warming be good news for some countries?
5. What do you do in your daily life to decrease global warming?

Vocabulary

on the road – being driven

carbon footprints – term used to describe energy usage

at the same time – also, too

entered -  come into   

Message in a Bottle

In 2009, Corey Swearingen put a letter in a bottle and tossed it into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. It was his high school science project.


A year later, his teacher received a message from Ireland on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean that the bottle had washed ashore where it was found by another high school student.

Discussion


1. What would you write on your message in a bottle?
2. If you left a message on your favorite entertainer's voicemail, what would you say?
3. Tomorrow, a giant meteor will hit planet earth. What's the last message you will ever write?
4. Did you pass messages in class when you were a student?
5. Do you ever use "I didn't get your message" to get out of doing something?
6. Do you instant message often? What "IM" expressions do you use?

Culture Shock

goal

1. Learn to talk about differences and similarities between your culture and other countries.
2. Learn where to obtain information on countries and learn about their local culture.

warm-up

1. Who has visited another country?
2. What differences did you notice in customs and culture?
3. What was hard to get used to?
4. What's your most interesting story?
5. What's your funniest story?

topics to think about

1. Greetings 
2. Dining 
3. Personal space 
4. Homes
5. Dating
6. Holidays
7. Safety
8. Taxis
9. Laundry
10. Bathhouses
11. Movies theaters
12. Elevators
13. Fashion
14. Superstitions
15. Medicine
16. Education
17. Generations
18. "Bangs" - pc bang / nohrebang / game bang
19. Recreation
20. Socializing
21. Cars
22. Shopping
23. Foods
24. Supermarket
25. Television 
26. Movies
27. Entertainment
28. Sauna
29. Crime
30. Work 
31. Family 
32. Marriage 
33. Education
34. Hobbies
35. Birthdays
36. Sports
37. Electronics

Conversation Questions: Culture

1. What do you like about your culture?
2. What do you dislike about your culture?
3. How do young people in your culture differ from the older generation?
4. What cultures confuse you?
5. If you could change one thing about your culture, what would it be?
6. Have you considered marrying or dating someone outside your culture?
7. Have you considered living in a country other than your own? 
8. If you met someone visiting your country, what advice would you give her/him?
9. What other cultures have you met people from?
10. What's important to keep in mind when visiting another culture?
11. Do you think "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" is good advice?   
12. What cultures do you admire?

Women Passes Driver's Exam After 950 Attempts

Woman Passes Driver's Test after 950th try!

Functions	Language Focus	Talk Tips	Vocabulary	Grammar
talking about driving and motivation	Countable Noncountable	expressing likes and dislikes	beat - overcome	Conditional – “If I study hard, I will pass my test.”

A woman in South Korea who took a driver's exam on an almost daily basis finally passed after 950 times.

The aspiring driver spent more than 5 million won in application fees.

Cha Sa-soon, 68, squeaked by with a score of 60 but got an "A" in perseverance. After completing the driving portion, she became a national celebrity and received a free vehicle courtesy of Hyundai Motors.

Proverb

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” / meaning - don't give up

Student Activity

Pair work. Students ask classmates about personal goals they refuse to give up on.

Discussion                                                                                                        

1. What do you think about Cha Sa-soon's 950 attempts to pass her driver's exam?
2. What do you like about driving?
3. What do you hate about driving?
4. Do you think people's character sometimes changes when they get behind the wheel?
5. Have you tried driving in other countries?
6. Do you prefer to drive or use public transportation?
7. What music do you listen to when you drive?
8. Do you talk on the phone or text message when you drive?  
9. Do you use GPS to get around?
10. How do you beat the high cost of gasoline?
11. Do you think you might buy a hybrid or electric vehicle someday?
12. Are you usually the designated driver or are your friends?
13. Who are better drivers, men or women?  
14. If you bumped someone’s car when parking, would you leave a note or “run away”?

Vocabulary                                                                                                                  

aspiring - hopeful

beat - cope with

The Grammy: And The Winner Is...

Grammy Winner: Adelle

The Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards are presented annually in the USA by the Recording Academy for outstanding work in the music industry. With over 100 categories and 30 genres, the Grammys has become a major televised event.

The "Grammy" award was named after the first record player,  the "gramophone,” invented by Thomas Edision, USA.

Music Categories

There are four general categories among the many awards handed out.

 They are:

1. Album of the Year
2. Record of the Year
3. Song of the Year
4. Best New Artist

Student Activity

In pairs or small groups, discuss who you would nominate from your country in each of the above music categories.

Music: Made in America

Many of today’s popular genres of music originated in the USA. How many can you name? (see answers below)

Discussion: Music 

1. What kind of music do you like?
2. Do you listen to music when you are out and about?
3. Do you like musicals?
4. Do you like singing karaoke style?
5. Do you listen to music at work or while doing your homework?
6. Do you sing in the shower?
7. Do you watch music television or "idol" shows? 
8. Do you go to concerts?  Last concert?
9. Have you ever competed in a singing contest?
10. Do you have a music collection?   What kind?
11. If you could play any musical instrument, what would it be?
12. If you could start a band, what type of music would you play? 
13. What's one of your favorite songs?
14. What's your favorite karaoke song to sing?  
15. What kind of music do you exercise to? 
16. What kind of music do you relax to?
17. What kind of music do you usually listen to?
18. What kind of songs do you like to sing?
19. What kinds of music are popular in your country?
20. What kinds of music do you dislike?  
21. How have your musical tastes changed?
22. When do you usually listen to music?
23. Who is your favorite group?
24. Who is your favorite singer?
25. Who is the most famous musician in your country? Group? 

Music: Made in America (answers)

Rock

Jazz

Blues

Rap

R & B

House

Soul

Bluegrass

Ragtime

Country

Music Idioms

And all that jazz

meaning: When everything is included.

Blow your own horn

meaning: If you blow your own horn, you brag about yourself.

Change your tune

meaning: When someone changes the way they think and talk about something.

Clear as a bell

meaning: When something is very clear and easily understood.

Face the music

meaning: When you have to accept the consequences for something you have done wrong.

Fine tuning

meaning: When you need to make small adjustments to improve something.

Hit the right note

meaning: When you speak or act in a way that has a positive effect on people.

It takes two to tango
meaning: When things go wrong and both sides are to blame.

March to the beat of your own drum

meaning: If people march to the beat of their own drum, they do things the way they want to.

Music to my ears

meaning: Good news.

Play by ear

meaning: To improvise, deal with something without guidelines or rules.

Pull out all the stops

meaning: When you do everything possible to be successful at something.

Strike a chord

meanng: To remind someone of something.