Today we study a paragrahp writing
Basic Paragraph Structure
In many languages, the fundamental unit of composition is the paragraph. A paragraph consists of several sentences that are grouped together. This group of sentences together discuss one main subject. In U.S. formal academic English, paragraphs have three principal parts. These three parts are the topic sentence, body sentences, and the concluding sentence. We will also talk briefly about details in paragraphs.
The Topic Sentence
A topic sentence usually comes at the beginning of a paragraph; that is, it is usually the first sentence in a formal academic paragraph. (Sometimes this is not true, but as you practice writing with this online lesson site, please keep to this rule unless you are instructed otherwise.) Not only is a topic sentence the first sentence of a paragraph, but, more importantly, it is the most general sentence in a paragraph. What does "most general" mean? It means that there are not many details in the sentence, but that the sentence introduces an overall idea that you want to discuss later in the paragraph.
For example, suppose that you want to write a paragraph about the natural landmarks of your hometown. The first part of your paragraph might look like this:
My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep.
(Notice how the first sentence begins with "My hometown..." a few spaces to the right of the paragraph edge. This is an indentation. All paragraphs in English MUST begin with an indentation.)
Note how the first sentence, My hometown, Wheaton, is famous for several amazing geographical features,is the most general statement. This sentence is different from the two sentences that follow it, since the second and third sentences mention specific details about the town's geography, and are not general statements.
Here are some examples of sentences that cannot be used as topic sentences. Can you figure out why they are inappropriate?
1.My hometown is famous because it is located by Wheaton River, which is very wide, and because it is built near an unusually steep hill called Wheaton Hill.
2.There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmission and two reasons why others like cars with manual transmission.
3.Clouds are white.
The problem with sentence #1 is that it contains too many details. Topic sentences are general, and details should appear later in the paragraph. A better topic sentence would be like the one mentioned above, My hometown is famous for several amazing geographical features.
Sentence #2 is not appropriate as a topic sentence because it mentions two topics, not just one. Paragraphs are usually about one main thing and so their topic sentences should also be about only one main thing.
The problem with sentence #3 is that it is toogeneral. It is also very boring! Would you like to read a paragraph with this topic sentence? Most people would not.
We can rewrite sentences #2 and #3 in the following ways to make it better:
•There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmission.
OR (in a different paragraph):
•There are two reasons why some people like cars with manual transmission.
•The shapes of clouds are determined by various factors.
Supporting Sentences
Consider again the above-mentioned, short paragraph:
My hometown, Wheaton, is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep.
(Again, note how this paragraph is indented on the first line, about five or seven spaces in from the left-hand edge of the paragraph. Always remember to indent your paragraphs!)
When a reader reads a topic sentence, such as My hometown, Wheaton, is famous for several amazing natural features,a question should usually appear in the reader's mind. In this case, the question should be like, "What are the natural features that make Wheaton famous?" The reader should then expect that the rest of the paragraph will give an answer to this question.
Now look at the sentences after the topic sentence. We can see that the second sentence in the paragraph, First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful,indeed gives an answer to this question. That is, the second sentence gives some explanation for the fact that Wheaton is a famous town. Similarly, we can see that the third sentence also gives some explanation for the fact that Wheaton is famous by giving another example of an "amazing natural feature," in this case, Wheaton Hill.
The second and third sentences are called supporting sentences. They are called "supporting" because they "support," or explain, the idea expressed in the topic sentence. Of course, paragraphs in English often have more than two supporting ideas. The paragraph above is actually a very short paragraph. At minimum, you should have at least five to seven sentences in your paragraph. Here we can see our paragraph about Wheaton with a few more supporting sentences in bold font:
My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is probably about six hundred years old.
In this lesson, we will talk about supporting sentences again in the section, "Details in Paragraphs," below.
The Concluding Sentence
In formal paragraphs you will sometimes see a sentence at the end of the paragraph which summarizes the information that has been presented. This is the concluding sentence. You can think of a concluding sentence as a sort of topic sentence in reverse.
You can understand concluding sentences with this example. Consider a hamburger that you can buy at a fast-food restaurant.* A hamburger has a top bun (a kind of bread), meat, cheese, lettuce, and other elements in the middle of the hamburger, and a bottom bun. Note how the top bun and the bottom bun are very similar. The top bun, in a way, is like a topic sentence, and the bottom bun is like the concluding sentence. Both buns "hold" the meat, onions, and so on. Similarly, the topic sentence and concluding sentence "hold" the supporting sentences in the paragraph. Let's see how a concluding sentence (in bold font) might look in our sample paragraph about Wheaton:
My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is probably about six hundred years old. These three landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown a famous place.
Notice how the concluding sentence, These three landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown a famous place,summarizes the information in the paragraph. Notice also how the concluding sentence is similar to, but not exactly the same as, the topic sentence.
Not all academic paragraphs contain concluding sentences, especially if the paragraph is very short. However, if your paragraph is very long, it is a good idea to use a concluding sentence.
Details in Paragraphs
The short paragraph in this lesson is a fairly complete paragraph, but it lacks details. Whenever possible, you should include enough details in your paragraphs to help your reader understand exactly what you are writing about. In the paragraph about Wheaton, three natural landmarks are mentioned, but we do not know very much about them. For example, we could add a sentence or two about Wheaton river concerning HOW wide it is or WHY it is beautiful. Consider this revision (and note the additional details in bold):
My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. On either side of this river, which is 175 feet wide, are many willow trees which have long branches that can move gracefully in the wind. In autumn the leaves of these trees fall and cover the riverbanks like golden snow. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep. Even though it is steep, climbing this hill is not dangerous, because there are some firm rocks along the sides that can be used as stairs. There are no trees around this hill, so it stands clearly against the sky and can be seen from many miles away. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is probably about six hundred years old. These three landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown a famous place.
If we wished, we could also add more details to the paragraph to describe the third natural feature of the area, the Big Old Tree.
Why are details important? Consider the example of the hamburger, mentioned above.* If the hamburger buns are the topic and concluding sentences, then the meat, the cheese, the lettuce, and so on are the supporting details. Without the food between the hamburger buns, your hamburger would not be very delicious! Similarly, without supporting details, your paragraph would not be very interesting.
A Note on Formality. In addition to having a particular kind of structure, academic paragraphs (and multi-paragraph essays, which will be topic of another lesson) are different from "ordinary writing" (such as letter writing) in that certain kinds of expressions are not allowed. For example, in formal essays, you should not use contractions such as don't or aren't. Instead, you should write out the words in full, for example, do not and are not.
Also, in formal essays you should avoid the first and second person. That is, do not use the pronouns I or you. The pronouns we and us are sometimes used in formal essays in some major fields, but in general you should not use these unless you are certain that they are customary in your field and/or your professor allows them. It is safer simply to use the third person.
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TOO INFORMAL
(Do not use) ACCEPTABLE
don't do not
doesn't does not
aren't are not
weren't were not
can't cannot
couldn't could not
won't will not
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ทักษะและการนำเสนอ
The 4 Language Skills
When we learn a language, there are four skills that we need for complete communication. When we learn our native language, we usually learn to listen first, then to speak, then to read, and finally to write. These are called the four "language skills":
• Skill #1: Listening
• Skill #2: Speaking
• Skill #3: Reading
• Skill #4: Writing
The four language skills are related to each other in two ways:
• the direction of communication (in or out)
• the method of communication (spoken or written)
Input is sometimes called "reception" and output is sometimes called "production". Spoken is also known as "oral".
Business Presentations & Public Speaking in English
A presentation is a formal talk to one or more people that "presents" ideas or information in a clear, structured way. People are sometimes afraid of speaking in public, but if you follow a few simple rules, giving a presentation is actually very easy. This tutorial guides you through each stage of giving a presentation in English, from the initial preparation to the conclusion and questions and answers. This tutorial is itself set out like a mini-presentation. You can follow it logically by starting at the Introduction and then clicking on the link at the foot of each page, or you can jump direct to the section you want from the list of contents on each page.
"Well Done!!!! All the basics, in an easy to use, easy to follow format! Finally, my students have some high quality, free material to use!"
John Herzig, Teacher, USA
Introduction
All presentations have a common objective. People give presentations because they want to communicate in order to:
• inform
• train
• persuade
• sell
A successful presentation is one of the most effective ways of communicating your message. And because English is so widely used in international business, a working knowledge of the vocabulary and techniques used in an English language presentation is a valuable asset.
We will start by exploring
the importance of preparation.
After that, we will consider
what equipment to use.
Then we will look at
how to "deliver" a presentation.
After delivery, we will examine
the language of presentations,
before moving on to
the presentation itself.
Finally, we will conclude with
a review of what we have covered.
Afterwards, you will be invited to
take a test and ask questions.
Preparation
Can you name the 3 most important things when giving any presentation?
Number 1 is . . . Preparation
Number 2 is . . . Preparation!
Number 3 is . . . Preparation!!
Preparation is everything!
With good preparation and planning you will be totally confident and less nervous. And your audience will feel your confidence. Your audience, too, will be confident. They will be confident in you. And this will give you control. Control of your audience and of your presentation. With control, you will be 'in charge' and your audience will listen positively to your message.
Objective
Before you start to prepare a presentation, you should ask yourself: "Why am I making this presentation?" Do you need to inform, to persuade, to train or to sell? Your objective should be clear in your mind. If it is not clear in your mind, it cannot possibly be clear to your audience.
Audience
"Who am I making this presentation to?" Sometimes this will be obvious, but not always. You should try to inform yourself. How many people? Who are they? Business people? Professional people? Political people? Experts or non-experts? Will it be a small, intimate group of 4 colleagues or a large gathering of 400 competitors? How much do they know already and what will they expect from you?
Venue
"Where am I making this presentation?" In a small hotel meeting-room or a large conference hall? What facilities and equipment are available? What are the seating arrangements?
Time and length
"When am I making this presentation and how long will it be?" Will it be 5 minutes or 1 hour? Just before lunch, when your audience will be hungry, or just after lunch, when your audience will be sleepy?
Method
How should I make this presentation?" What approach should you use? Formal or informal? Lots of visual aids or only a few? Will you include some anecdotes and humour for variety?
Content
"What should I say?" Now you must decide exactly what you want to say. First, you should brainstorm your ideas. You will no doubt discover many ideas that you want to include in your presentation. But you must be selective. You should include only information that is relevant to your audience and your objective. You should exclude all other ideas. You also need to create a title for your presentation (if you have not already been given a title). The title will help you to focus on the subject. And you will prepare your visual aids, if you have decided to use them. But remember, in general, less is better than more (a little is better than a lot). You can always give additional information during the questions after the presentation.
Structure
A well organised presentation with a clear structure is easier for the audience to follow. It is therefore more effective. You should organise the points you wish to make in a logical order. Most presentations are organised in three parts, followed by questions:
• Beginning
Short introduction welcome your audience
• introduce your subject
• explain the structure of your presentation
• explain rules for questions
• Middle
Body of presentation present the subject itself
• End
Short conclusion summarise your presentation
• thank your audience
• invite questions
Questions and Answers
Notes
When you give your presentation, you should be - or appear to be - as spontaneous as possible. You should not read your presentation! You should be so familiar with your subject and with the information that you want to deliver that you do not need to read a text. Reading a text is boring! Reading a text will make your audience go to sleep! So if you don't have a text to read, how can you remember to say everything you need to say? With notes. You can create your own system of notes. Some people make notes on small, A6 cards. Some people write down just the title of each section of their talk. Some people write down keywords to remind them. The notes will give you confidence, but because you will have prepared your presentation fully, you may not even need them!
Rehearsal
Rehearsal is a vital part of preparation. You should leave time to practise your presentation two or three times. This will have the following benefits:
• you will become more familiar with what you want to say
• you will identify weaknesses in your presentation
• you will be able to practise difficult pronunciations
• you will be able to check the time that your presentation takes and make any
necessary modifications
So prepare, prepare, prepare! Prepare everything: words, visual aids, timing, equipment. Rehearse your presentation several times and time it. Is it the right length? Are you completely familiar with all your illustrations? Are they in the right order? Do you know who the audience is? How many people? How will you answer difficult questions? Do you know the room? Are you confident about the equipment? When you have answered all these questions, you will be a confident, enthusiastic presenter ready to communicate the subject of your presentation to an eager audience.
Equipment
Easily your most important piece of equipment is...YOU! Make sure you're in full working order, and check your personal presentation carefully - if you don't, your audience will!
The overhead projector (OHP) displays overhead transparencies (OHTs or OHPTs). It has several advantages over the 35mm slide projector:
• it can be used in daylight
• the user can face the audience
the user can write or draw directly on the transparency while in use
The whiteboard (more rarely blackboard or greenboard) is a useful device for spontaneous writing - as in brainstorming, for example. For prepared material, the OHP might be more suitable.
The duster is used for cleaning the whiteboard. It is essential that the duster be clean to start with. You may consider carrying your own duster just in case.
Markers are used for writing on the whiteboard (delible - you can remove the ink) or flipchart (indelible - you cannot remove the ink). They are usually available in blue, red, black and green. Again, it's a good idea to carry a spare set of markers in case you are given some used ones which do not write well.
"A good workman never blames his tools."
The flipchart consists of several leaves of paper that you 'flip' or turn over. Some people prefer the flipchart to the whiteboard, but its use is limited to smaller presentations.
The Slide projector - which must be used in a darkened room - adds a certain drama. Some slide projectors can be synchronised with audio for audio-visual (AV) presentations. These projectors are typically used for larger presentations. The majority take 35mm slides or transparencies (as seen here), but projectors for 6x6cm slides are also available.
Transparencies are projected by an overhead projector or a slide projector onto a screen - in this case a folding screen which can be packed up and transported.
The notebook computer is increasingly being used to display graphics during presentations. It is often used in conjunction with an overhead projector, which actually projects the image from the computer screen onto the wall screen.
Handouts are any documents or samples that you 'hand out' or distribute to your audience. Note that it is not usually a good idea to distribute handouts before your presentation. The audience will read the handouts instead of listening to you.
Delivery
'Delivery' refers to the way in which you actually deliver or perform or give your presentation. Delivery is a vital aspect of all presentations. Delivery is at least as important as content, especially in a multi-cultural context.
Nerves
Most speakers are a little nervous at the beginning of a presentation. So it is normal if you are nervous. The answer is to pay special attention to the beginning of your presentation. First impressions count. This is the time when you establish a rapport with your audience. During this time, try to speak slowly and calmly. You should perhaps learn your introduction by heart. After a few moments, you will relax and gain confidence.
Audience Rapport
You need to build a warm and friendly relationship with your audience. Enthusiasm is contagious. If you are enthusiastic your audience will be enthusiastic too. And be careful to establish eye contact with each member of your audience. Each person should feel that you are speaking directly to him or her. This means that you must look at each person in turn - in as natural a way as possible. This will also give you the opportunity to detect signs of boredom, disinterest or even disagreement, allowing you to modify your presentation as appropriate.
Your objective is to communicate!
Body Language
What you do not say is at least as important as what you do say. Your body is speaking to your audience even before you open your mouth. Your clothes, your walk, your glasses, your haircut, your expression - it is from these that your audience forms its first impression as you enter the room. Generally speaking, it is better to stand rather than sit when making a presentation. Be aware of and avoid any repetitive and irritating gestures. Be aware, too, that the movement of your body is one of your methods of control. When you move to or from the whiteboard, for example, you can move fast or slowly, raising or reducing the dynamism within the audience. You can stand very still while talking or you can stroll from side to side. What effect do you think these two different approaches would have on an audience?
Cultural Considerations
Because English is so widely used around the world, it is quite possible that many members of your audience will not be native English-speakers. In other words, they will not have an Anglo-Saxon culture. Even within the Anglo-Saxon world, there are many differences in culture. If we hypothetically imagine a German working for an Israeli company making a presentation in English to a Japanese audience in Korea, we can see that there are even more possibilities for cultural misunderstanding. You should try to learn about any particular cultural matters that may affect your audience. This is one reason why preparation for your presentation is so important. Cultural differences can also be seen in body language, which we have just discussed. To a Latin from Southern France or Italy, a presenter who uses his hands and arms when speaking may seem dynamic and friendly. To an Englishman, the same presenter may seem unsure of his words and lacking in self-confidence.
Voice quality
It is, of course, important that your audience be able to hear you clearly throughout your presentation. Remember that if you turn away from your audience, for example towards the whiteboard, you need to speak a little more loudly. In general, you should try to vary your voice. Your voice will then be more interesting for your audience. You can vary your voice in at least three ways:
• speed: you can speak at normal speed, you can speak faster, you can speak more slowly - and you can stop completely! You can pause. This is a very good technique for gaining your audience's attention.
• intonation: you can change the pitch of your voice. You can speak in a high tone. You can speak in a low tone.
• volume: you can speak at normal volume, you can speak loudly and you can speak quietly. Lowering your voice and speaking quietly can again attract your audience's interest.
The important point is not to speak in the same, flat, monotonous voice throughout your presentation - this is the voice that hypnotists use to put their patients' into trance!
Visual aids
Of all the information that enters our brains, the vast majority of it enters through the eyes. 80% of what your audience learn during your presentation is learned visually (what they see) and only 20% is learned aurally (what they hear). The significance of this is obvious:
• visual aids are an extremely effective means of communication
• non-native English speakers need not worry so much about spoken English - they can rely more heavily on visual aids
It is well worth spending time in the creation of good visual aids. But it is equally important not to overload your audience's brains. Keep the information on each visual aid to a minimum - and give your audience time to look at and absorb this information. Remember, your audience have never seen these visual aids before. They need time to study and to understand them. Without understanding there is no communication.
Apart from photographs and drawings, some of the most useful visual aids are charts and graphs, like the 3-dimensional ones shown here:
Piecharts are circular in shape (like a pie).
Barcharts can be vertical (as here) or horizontal.
Graphs can rise and fall.
Audience Reaction
Remain calm and polite if you receive difficult or even hostile questions during your presentation. If you receive particularly awkward questions, you might suggest that the questioners ask their questions after your presentation.
Language
Say what you are going to say,
Simplicity and Clarity
If you want your audience to understand your message, your language must be simple and clear.
Use short words and short sentences.
Do not use jargon, unless you are certain that your audience understands it.
In general, talk about concrete facts rather than abstract ideas.
Use active verbs instead of passive verbs. Active verbs are much easier to understand. They are much more powerful. Consider these two sentences, which say the same thing:
1. Toyota sold two million cars last year.
2. Two million cars were sold by Toyota last year.
Which is easier to understand? Which is more immediate? Which is more powerful? N°1 is active and N°2 is passive.
Signposting
When you drive on the roads, you know where you are on those roads. Each road has a name or number. Each town has a name. And each house has a number. If you are at house N° 100, you can go back to N° 50 or forward to N° 150. You can look at the signposts for directions. And you can look at your atlas for the structure of the roads in detail. In other words, it is easy to navigate the roads. You cannot get lost. But when you give a presentation, how can your audience know where they are? How can they know the structure of your presentation? How can they know what is coming next? They know because you tell them. Because you put up signposts for them, at the beginning and all along the route. This technique is called 'signposting' (or 'signalling').
During your introduction, you should tell your audience what the structure of your presentation will be. You might say something like this:
"I'll start by describing the current position in Europe. Then I'll move on to some of the achievements we've made in Asia. After that I'll consider the opportunities we see for further expansion in Africa. Lastly, I'll quickly recap before concluding with some recommendations."
A member of the audience can now visualize your presentation like this:
• Introduction Welcome
• Explanation of structure (now)
• Body Europe
• Asia
• Africa
• Conclusion Summing up
• Recommendations
He will keep this image in his head during the presentation. He may even write it down. And throughout your presentation, you will put up signposts telling him which point you have reached and where you are going now. When you finish Europe and want to start Asia, you might say:
"That's all I have to say about Europe. Let's turn now to Asia."
When you have finished Africa and want to sum up, you might say:
"Well, we've looked at the three continents Europe, Asia and Africa. I'd like to sum up now."
And when you finish summing up and want to give your recommendations, you might say:
"What does all this mean for us? Well, firstly I recommend..."
The table below lists useful expressions that you can use to signpost the various parts of your presentation.
Signposting
Function
Language
Introducing the subject
• I'd like to start by...
• Let's begin by...
• First of all, I'll...
• Starting with...
• I'll begin by...
Finishing one subject...
• Well, I've told you about...
• That's all I have to say about...
• We've looked at...
• So much for...
...and starting another
• Now we'll move on to...
• Let me turn now to...
• Next...
• Turning to...
• I'd like now to discuss...
• Let's look now at...
Analysing a point and giving recommendations
• Where does that lead us?
• Let's consider this in more detail...
• What does this mean for ABC?
• Translated into real terms...
Giving an example
• For example,...
• A good example of this is...
• As an illustration,...
• To give you an example,...
• To illustrate this point...
Dealing with questions
• We'll be examining this point in more detail later on...
• I'd like to deal with this question later, if I may...
• I'll come back to this question later in my talk...
• Perhaps you'd like to raise this point at the end...
• I won't comment on this now...
Summarising and concluding
• In conclusion,...
• Right, let's sum up, shall we?
• I'd like now to recap...
• Let's summarise briefly what we've looked at...
• Finally, let me remind you of some of the issues we've covered...
• If I can just sum up the main points...
Ordering
• Firstly...secondly...thirdly...lastly...
• First of all...then...next...after that...finally...
• To start with...later...to finish up...
The Presentation
...say it,
Most presentations are divided into 3 main parts (+ questions):
1 INTRODUCTION
2 BODY
3 CONCLUSION
Questions
As a general rule in communication, repetition is valuable. In presentations, there is a golden rule about repetition:
1. Say what you are going to say,
2. say it,
3. then say what you have just said.
In other words, use the three parts of your presentation to reinforce your message. In the introduction, you tell your audience what your message is going to be. In the body, you tell your audience your real message. In the conclusion, you summarize what your message was.
We will now consider each of these parts in more detail.
Introduction
The introduction is a very important - perhaps the most important - part of your presentation. This is the first impression that your audience have of you. You should concentrate on getting your introduction right. You should use the introduction to:
1. welcome your audience
2. introduce your subject
3. outline the structure of your presentation
4. give instructions about questions
The following table shows examples of language for each of these functions. You may need to modify the language as appropriate.
Function
Possible language
• 1 Welcoming your audience
• Good morning, ladies and gentlemen
• Good morning, gentlemen
• Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman
• Good afternoon, everybody
• 2 Introducing your subject
• I am going to talk today about...
• The purpose of my presentation is to introduce our new range of...
• 3 Outlining your structure
• To start with I'll describe the progress made this year. Then I'll mention some of the problems we've encountered and how we overcame them. After that I'll consider the possibilities for further growth next year. Finally, I'll summarize my presentation (before concluding with some recommendations).
• 4 Giving instructions about questions
• Do feel free to interrupt me if you have any questions.
• I'll try to answer all of your questions after the presentation.
• I plan to keep some time for questions after the presentation.
Body
The body is the 'real' presentation. If the introduction was well prepared and delivered, you will now be 'in control'. You will be relaxed and confident.
The body should be well structured, divided up logically, with plenty of carefully spaced visuals.
Remember these key points while delivering the body of your presentation:
• do not hurry
• be enthusiastic
• give time on visuals
• maintain eye contact
• modulate your voice
• look friendly
• keep to your structure
• use your notes
• signpost throughout
• remain polite when dealing with difficult questions
Conclusion
Use the conclusion to:
1. Sum up
2. (Give recommendations if appropriate)
3. Thank your audience
4. Invite questions
The following table shows examples of language for each of these functions. You may need to modify the language as appropriate.
Function
Possible language
• 1 Summing up
• To conclude,...
• In conclusion,...
• Now, to sum up...
• So let me summarise/recap what I've said.
• Finally, may I remind you of some of the main points we've considered.
• 2 Giving recommendations
• In conclusion, my recommendations are...
• I therefore suggest/propose/recommend the following strategy.
• 3 Thanking your audience
• Many thanks for your attention.
• May I thank you all for being such an attentive audience.
• 4 Inviting questions
• Now I'll try to answer any questions you may have.
• Can I answer any questions?
• Are there any questions?
• Do you have any questions?
• Are there any final questions?
Questions
Questions are a good opportunity for you to interact with your audience. It may be helpful for you to try to predict what questions will be asked so that you can prepare your response in advance. You may wish to accept questions at any time during your presentation, or to keep a time for questions after your presentation. Normally, it's your decision, and you should make it clear during the introduction. Be polite with all questioners, even if they ask difficult questions. They are showing interest in what you have to say and they deserve attention. Sometimes you can reformulate a question. Or answer the question with another question. Or even ask for comment from the rest of the audience.
Review
...then say what you have just said.
In this seminar, you have learned:
• to allow plenty of time for preparation
• to ask the all-important question-words, why? who? where? when? how? and what?
• to structure your presentation into introduction, body, conclusion and
questions
• to write notes based on keywords
• to rehearse your presentation several times and modify it as necessary
• to select the right equipment for the job
• to use equipment effectively
• to make use of clear, powerful visual aids that do not overload your audience
• to use clear, simple language, avoiding jargon
• to use active verbs and concrete facts
• to explain the structure of your presentation at the beginning so that your listeners know what to expect
• to link each section of your presentation
• to signpost your presentation from beginning to end so that your listeners know where they are
• to say what you are going to say, say it, and say what you have just said
• to overcome your nerves
• to establish audience rapport
• to be aware of your body language
• to understand cultural differences
• to control the quality of your voice
• to maintain interest by varying the speed, volume and pitch of your voice
• to deal with listeners' questions politely
• to respond to your audience positively
When we learn a language, there are four skills that we need for complete communication. When we learn our native language, we usually learn to listen first, then to speak, then to read, and finally to write. These are called the four "language skills":
• Skill #1: Listening
• Skill #2: Speaking
• Skill #3: Reading
• Skill #4: Writing
The four language skills are related to each other in two ways:
• the direction of communication (in or out)
• the method of communication (spoken or written)
Input is sometimes called "reception" and output is sometimes called "production". Spoken is also known as "oral".
Business Presentations & Public Speaking in English
A presentation is a formal talk to one or more people that "presents" ideas or information in a clear, structured way. People are sometimes afraid of speaking in public, but if you follow a few simple rules, giving a presentation is actually very easy. This tutorial guides you through each stage of giving a presentation in English, from the initial preparation to the conclusion and questions and answers. This tutorial is itself set out like a mini-presentation. You can follow it logically by starting at the Introduction and then clicking on the link at the foot of each page, or you can jump direct to the section you want from the list of contents on each page.
"Well Done!!!! All the basics, in an easy to use, easy to follow format! Finally, my students have some high quality, free material to use!"
John Herzig, Teacher, USA
Introduction
All presentations have a common objective. People give presentations because they want to communicate in order to:
• inform
• train
• persuade
• sell
A successful presentation is one of the most effective ways of communicating your message. And because English is so widely used in international business, a working knowledge of the vocabulary and techniques used in an English language presentation is a valuable asset.
We will start by exploring
the importance of preparation.
After that, we will consider
what equipment to use.
Then we will look at
how to "deliver" a presentation.
After delivery, we will examine
the language of presentations,
before moving on to
the presentation itself.
Finally, we will conclude with
a review of what we have covered.
Afterwards, you will be invited to
take a test and ask questions.
Preparation
Can you name the 3 most important things when giving any presentation?
Number 1 is . . . Preparation
Number 2 is . . . Preparation!
Number 3 is . . . Preparation!!
Preparation is everything!
With good preparation and planning you will be totally confident and less nervous. And your audience will feel your confidence. Your audience, too, will be confident. They will be confident in you. And this will give you control. Control of your audience and of your presentation. With control, you will be 'in charge' and your audience will listen positively to your message.
Objective
Before you start to prepare a presentation, you should ask yourself: "Why am I making this presentation?" Do you need to inform, to persuade, to train or to sell? Your objective should be clear in your mind. If it is not clear in your mind, it cannot possibly be clear to your audience.
Audience
"Who am I making this presentation to?" Sometimes this will be obvious, but not always. You should try to inform yourself. How many people? Who are they? Business people? Professional people? Political people? Experts or non-experts? Will it be a small, intimate group of 4 colleagues or a large gathering of 400 competitors? How much do they know already and what will they expect from you?
Venue
"Where am I making this presentation?" In a small hotel meeting-room or a large conference hall? What facilities and equipment are available? What are the seating arrangements?
Time and length
"When am I making this presentation and how long will it be?" Will it be 5 minutes or 1 hour? Just before lunch, when your audience will be hungry, or just after lunch, when your audience will be sleepy?
Method
How should I make this presentation?" What approach should you use? Formal or informal? Lots of visual aids or only a few? Will you include some anecdotes and humour for variety?
Content
"What should I say?" Now you must decide exactly what you want to say. First, you should brainstorm your ideas. You will no doubt discover many ideas that you want to include in your presentation. But you must be selective. You should include only information that is relevant to your audience and your objective. You should exclude all other ideas. You also need to create a title for your presentation (if you have not already been given a title). The title will help you to focus on the subject. And you will prepare your visual aids, if you have decided to use them. But remember, in general, less is better than more (a little is better than a lot). You can always give additional information during the questions after the presentation.
Structure
A well organised presentation with a clear structure is easier for the audience to follow. It is therefore more effective. You should organise the points you wish to make in a logical order. Most presentations are organised in three parts, followed by questions:
• Beginning
Short introduction welcome your audience
• introduce your subject
• explain the structure of your presentation
• explain rules for questions
• Middle
Body of presentation present the subject itself
• End
Short conclusion summarise your presentation
• thank your audience
• invite questions
Questions and Answers
Notes
When you give your presentation, you should be - or appear to be - as spontaneous as possible. You should not read your presentation! You should be so familiar with your subject and with the information that you want to deliver that you do not need to read a text. Reading a text is boring! Reading a text will make your audience go to sleep! So if you don't have a text to read, how can you remember to say everything you need to say? With notes. You can create your own system of notes. Some people make notes on small, A6 cards. Some people write down just the title of each section of their talk. Some people write down keywords to remind them. The notes will give you confidence, but because you will have prepared your presentation fully, you may not even need them!
Rehearsal
Rehearsal is a vital part of preparation. You should leave time to practise your presentation two or three times. This will have the following benefits:
• you will become more familiar with what you want to say
• you will identify weaknesses in your presentation
• you will be able to practise difficult pronunciations
• you will be able to check the time that your presentation takes and make any
necessary modifications
So prepare, prepare, prepare! Prepare everything: words, visual aids, timing, equipment. Rehearse your presentation several times and time it. Is it the right length? Are you completely familiar with all your illustrations? Are they in the right order? Do you know who the audience is? How many people? How will you answer difficult questions? Do you know the room? Are you confident about the equipment? When you have answered all these questions, you will be a confident, enthusiastic presenter ready to communicate the subject of your presentation to an eager audience.
Equipment
Easily your most important piece of equipment is...YOU! Make sure you're in full working order, and check your personal presentation carefully - if you don't, your audience will!
The overhead projector (OHP) displays overhead transparencies (OHTs or OHPTs). It has several advantages over the 35mm slide projector:
• it can be used in daylight
• the user can face the audience
the user can write or draw directly on the transparency while in use
The whiteboard (more rarely blackboard or greenboard) is a useful device for spontaneous writing - as in brainstorming, for example. For prepared material, the OHP might be more suitable.
The duster is used for cleaning the whiteboard. It is essential that the duster be clean to start with. You may consider carrying your own duster just in case.
Markers are used for writing on the whiteboard (delible - you can remove the ink) or flipchart (indelible - you cannot remove the ink). They are usually available in blue, red, black and green. Again, it's a good idea to carry a spare set of markers in case you are given some used ones which do not write well.
"A good workman never blames his tools."
The flipchart consists of several leaves of paper that you 'flip' or turn over. Some people prefer the flipchart to the whiteboard, but its use is limited to smaller presentations.
The Slide projector - which must be used in a darkened room - adds a certain drama. Some slide projectors can be synchronised with audio for audio-visual (AV) presentations. These projectors are typically used for larger presentations. The majority take 35mm slides or transparencies (as seen here), but projectors for 6x6cm slides are also available.
Transparencies are projected by an overhead projector or a slide projector onto a screen - in this case a folding screen which can be packed up and transported.
The notebook computer is increasingly being used to display graphics during presentations. It is often used in conjunction with an overhead projector, which actually projects the image from the computer screen onto the wall screen.
Handouts are any documents or samples that you 'hand out' or distribute to your audience. Note that it is not usually a good idea to distribute handouts before your presentation. The audience will read the handouts instead of listening to you.
Delivery
'Delivery' refers to the way in which you actually deliver or perform or give your presentation. Delivery is a vital aspect of all presentations. Delivery is at least as important as content, especially in a multi-cultural context.
Nerves
Most speakers are a little nervous at the beginning of a presentation. So it is normal if you are nervous. The answer is to pay special attention to the beginning of your presentation. First impressions count. This is the time when you establish a rapport with your audience. During this time, try to speak slowly and calmly. You should perhaps learn your introduction by heart. After a few moments, you will relax and gain confidence.
Audience Rapport
You need to build a warm and friendly relationship with your audience. Enthusiasm is contagious. If you are enthusiastic your audience will be enthusiastic too. And be careful to establish eye contact with each member of your audience. Each person should feel that you are speaking directly to him or her. This means that you must look at each person in turn - in as natural a way as possible. This will also give you the opportunity to detect signs of boredom, disinterest or even disagreement, allowing you to modify your presentation as appropriate.
Your objective is to communicate!
Body Language
What you do not say is at least as important as what you do say. Your body is speaking to your audience even before you open your mouth. Your clothes, your walk, your glasses, your haircut, your expression - it is from these that your audience forms its first impression as you enter the room. Generally speaking, it is better to stand rather than sit when making a presentation. Be aware of and avoid any repetitive and irritating gestures. Be aware, too, that the movement of your body is one of your methods of control. When you move to or from the whiteboard, for example, you can move fast or slowly, raising or reducing the dynamism within the audience. You can stand very still while talking or you can stroll from side to side. What effect do you think these two different approaches would have on an audience?
Cultural Considerations
Because English is so widely used around the world, it is quite possible that many members of your audience will not be native English-speakers. In other words, they will not have an Anglo-Saxon culture. Even within the Anglo-Saxon world, there are many differences in culture. If we hypothetically imagine a German working for an Israeli company making a presentation in English to a Japanese audience in Korea, we can see that there are even more possibilities for cultural misunderstanding. You should try to learn about any particular cultural matters that may affect your audience. This is one reason why preparation for your presentation is so important. Cultural differences can also be seen in body language, which we have just discussed. To a Latin from Southern France or Italy, a presenter who uses his hands and arms when speaking may seem dynamic and friendly. To an Englishman, the same presenter may seem unsure of his words and lacking in self-confidence.
Voice quality
It is, of course, important that your audience be able to hear you clearly throughout your presentation. Remember that if you turn away from your audience, for example towards the whiteboard, you need to speak a little more loudly. In general, you should try to vary your voice. Your voice will then be more interesting for your audience. You can vary your voice in at least three ways:
• speed: you can speak at normal speed, you can speak faster, you can speak more slowly - and you can stop completely! You can pause. This is a very good technique for gaining your audience's attention.
• intonation: you can change the pitch of your voice. You can speak in a high tone. You can speak in a low tone.
• volume: you can speak at normal volume, you can speak loudly and you can speak quietly. Lowering your voice and speaking quietly can again attract your audience's interest.
The important point is not to speak in the same, flat, monotonous voice throughout your presentation - this is the voice that hypnotists use to put their patients' into trance!
Visual aids
Of all the information that enters our brains, the vast majority of it enters through the eyes. 80% of what your audience learn during your presentation is learned visually (what they see) and only 20% is learned aurally (what they hear). The significance of this is obvious:
• visual aids are an extremely effective means of communication
• non-native English speakers need not worry so much about spoken English - they can rely more heavily on visual aids
It is well worth spending time in the creation of good visual aids. But it is equally important not to overload your audience's brains. Keep the information on each visual aid to a minimum - and give your audience time to look at and absorb this information. Remember, your audience have never seen these visual aids before. They need time to study and to understand them. Without understanding there is no communication.
Apart from photographs and drawings, some of the most useful visual aids are charts and graphs, like the 3-dimensional ones shown here:
Piecharts are circular in shape (like a pie).
Barcharts can be vertical (as here) or horizontal.
Graphs can rise and fall.
Audience Reaction
Remain calm and polite if you receive difficult or even hostile questions during your presentation. If you receive particularly awkward questions, you might suggest that the questioners ask their questions after your presentation.
Language
Say what you are going to say,
Simplicity and Clarity
If you want your audience to understand your message, your language must be simple and clear.
Use short words and short sentences.
Do not use jargon, unless you are certain that your audience understands it.
In general, talk about concrete facts rather than abstract ideas.
Use active verbs instead of passive verbs. Active verbs are much easier to understand. They are much more powerful. Consider these two sentences, which say the same thing:
1. Toyota sold two million cars last year.
2. Two million cars were sold by Toyota last year.
Which is easier to understand? Which is more immediate? Which is more powerful? N°1 is active and N°2 is passive.
Signposting
When you drive on the roads, you know where you are on those roads. Each road has a name or number. Each town has a name. And each house has a number. If you are at house N° 100, you can go back to N° 50 or forward to N° 150. You can look at the signposts for directions. And you can look at your atlas for the structure of the roads in detail. In other words, it is easy to navigate the roads. You cannot get lost. But when you give a presentation, how can your audience know where they are? How can they know the structure of your presentation? How can they know what is coming next? They know because you tell them. Because you put up signposts for them, at the beginning and all along the route. This technique is called 'signposting' (or 'signalling').
During your introduction, you should tell your audience what the structure of your presentation will be. You might say something like this:
"I'll start by describing the current position in Europe. Then I'll move on to some of the achievements we've made in Asia. After that I'll consider the opportunities we see for further expansion in Africa. Lastly, I'll quickly recap before concluding with some recommendations."
A member of the audience can now visualize your presentation like this:
• Introduction Welcome
• Explanation of structure (now)
• Body Europe
• Asia
• Africa
• Conclusion Summing up
• Recommendations
He will keep this image in his head during the presentation. He may even write it down. And throughout your presentation, you will put up signposts telling him which point you have reached and where you are going now. When you finish Europe and want to start Asia, you might say:
"That's all I have to say about Europe. Let's turn now to Asia."
When you have finished Africa and want to sum up, you might say:
"Well, we've looked at the three continents Europe, Asia and Africa. I'd like to sum up now."
And when you finish summing up and want to give your recommendations, you might say:
"What does all this mean for us? Well, firstly I recommend..."
The table below lists useful expressions that you can use to signpost the various parts of your presentation.
Signposting
Function
Language
Introducing the subject
• I'd like to start by...
• Let's begin by...
• First of all, I'll...
• Starting with...
• I'll begin by...
Finishing one subject...
• Well, I've told you about...
• That's all I have to say about...
• We've looked at...
• So much for...
...and starting another
• Now we'll move on to...
• Let me turn now to...
• Next...
• Turning to...
• I'd like now to discuss...
• Let's look now at...
Analysing a point and giving recommendations
• Where does that lead us?
• Let's consider this in more detail...
• What does this mean for ABC?
• Translated into real terms...
Giving an example
• For example,...
• A good example of this is...
• As an illustration,...
• To give you an example,...
• To illustrate this point...
Dealing with questions
• We'll be examining this point in more detail later on...
• I'd like to deal with this question later, if I may...
• I'll come back to this question later in my talk...
• Perhaps you'd like to raise this point at the end...
• I won't comment on this now...
Summarising and concluding
• In conclusion,...
• Right, let's sum up, shall we?
• I'd like now to recap...
• Let's summarise briefly what we've looked at...
• Finally, let me remind you of some of the issues we've covered...
• If I can just sum up the main points...
Ordering
• Firstly...secondly...thirdly...lastly...
• First of all...then...next...after that...finally...
• To start with...later...to finish up...
The Presentation
...say it,
Most presentations are divided into 3 main parts (+ questions):
1 INTRODUCTION
2 BODY
3 CONCLUSION
Questions
As a general rule in communication, repetition is valuable. In presentations, there is a golden rule about repetition:
1. Say what you are going to say,
2. say it,
3. then say what you have just said.
In other words, use the three parts of your presentation to reinforce your message. In the introduction, you tell your audience what your message is going to be. In the body, you tell your audience your real message. In the conclusion, you summarize what your message was.
We will now consider each of these parts in more detail.
Introduction
The introduction is a very important - perhaps the most important - part of your presentation. This is the first impression that your audience have of you. You should concentrate on getting your introduction right. You should use the introduction to:
1. welcome your audience
2. introduce your subject
3. outline the structure of your presentation
4. give instructions about questions
The following table shows examples of language for each of these functions. You may need to modify the language as appropriate.
Function
Possible language
• 1 Welcoming your audience
• Good morning, ladies and gentlemen
• Good morning, gentlemen
• Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman
• Good afternoon, everybody
• 2 Introducing your subject
• I am going to talk today about...
• The purpose of my presentation is to introduce our new range of...
• 3 Outlining your structure
• To start with I'll describe the progress made this year. Then I'll mention some of the problems we've encountered and how we overcame them. After that I'll consider the possibilities for further growth next year. Finally, I'll summarize my presentation (before concluding with some recommendations).
• 4 Giving instructions about questions
• Do feel free to interrupt me if you have any questions.
• I'll try to answer all of your questions after the presentation.
• I plan to keep some time for questions after the presentation.
Body
The body is the 'real' presentation. If the introduction was well prepared and delivered, you will now be 'in control'. You will be relaxed and confident.
The body should be well structured, divided up logically, with plenty of carefully spaced visuals.
Remember these key points while delivering the body of your presentation:
• do not hurry
• be enthusiastic
• give time on visuals
• maintain eye contact
• modulate your voice
• look friendly
• keep to your structure
• use your notes
• signpost throughout
• remain polite when dealing with difficult questions
Conclusion
Use the conclusion to:
1. Sum up
2. (Give recommendations if appropriate)
3. Thank your audience
4. Invite questions
The following table shows examples of language for each of these functions. You may need to modify the language as appropriate.
Function
Possible language
• 1 Summing up
• To conclude,...
• In conclusion,...
• Now, to sum up...
• So let me summarise/recap what I've said.
• Finally, may I remind you of some of the main points we've considered.
• 2 Giving recommendations
• In conclusion, my recommendations are...
• I therefore suggest/propose/recommend the following strategy.
• 3 Thanking your audience
• Many thanks for your attention.
• May I thank you all for being such an attentive audience.
• 4 Inviting questions
• Now I'll try to answer any questions you may have.
• Can I answer any questions?
• Are there any questions?
• Do you have any questions?
• Are there any final questions?
Questions
Questions are a good opportunity for you to interact with your audience. It may be helpful for you to try to predict what questions will be asked so that you can prepare your response in advance. You may wish to accept questions at any time during your presentation, or to keep a time for questions after your presentation. Normally, it's your decision, and you should make it clear during the introduction. Be polite with all questioners, even if they ask difficult questions. They are showing interest in what you have to say and they deserve attention. Sometimes you can reformulate a question. Or answer the question with another question. Or even ask for comment from the rest of the audience.
Review
...then say what you have just said.
In this seminar, you have learned:
• to allow plenty of time for preparation
• to ask the all-important question-words, why? who? where? when? how? and what?
• to structure your presentation into introduction, body, conclusion and
questions
• to write notes based on keywords
• to rehearse your presentation several times and modify it as necessary
• to select the right equipment for the job
• to use equipment effectively
• to make use of clear, powerful visual aids that do not overload your audience
• to use clear, simple language, avoiding jargon
• to use active verbs and concrete facts
• to explain the structure of your presentation at the beginning so that your listeners know what to expect
• to link each section of your presentation
• to signpost your presentation from beginning to end so that your listeners know where they are
• to say what you are going to say, say it, and say what you have just said
• to overcome your nerves
• to establish audience rapport
• to be aware of your body language
• to understand cultural differences
• to control the quality of your voice
• to maintain interest by varying the speed, volume and pitch of your voice
• to deal with listeners' questions politely
• to respond to your audience positively
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 6 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2551
ภาษาอังกฤษสำหรับไกด์
ภาษาอังกฤษสำหรับไกด์
English for Tour Guides
(from englishclub.com)
Being a tour guide is a very important job. In many cases, the tour guide is a traveller's first impression of a foreign country. In other cases a tour guide may be responsible for teaching tourists about the culture and sites in a city or town. In addition, many tour guides hold the responsibility of teaching tourists about safety. Even if you are only responsible for taking a tourist from the airport to his or her hotel, it is your responsibility to make the short trip interesting, informative, and safe. The following pages will help you learn some important vocabulary and phrases that you can use with your English-speaking tourists. Check your understanding as you go.
คำศัพท์
Vocabulary (nouns)
activities
Things to do
There are lots of activities that the whole family will enjoy.
architecture
Design of a building
The architecture of this building is typical of the Renaissance age.
art gallery
place to look at professional paintings and drawings
We are going to visit the art gallery where local painters exhibit their art.
attractions
Places for tourists to see
The water park is our most recent attraction .
bearings
Feeling for understanding one's location/surroundings in an unknown area
If you're having trouble getting your bearings just remember that the mountains are west.
business district
Area in a city that has many offices
Keep in mind that this is the business district so that grocery store may be expensive.
castle
A building for royalty
No one has lived in this castle since the last king died twenty years ago.
church
A place to worship God
The church is the central meeting place in this town.
conveniences
Things that make life easier
There you will find all of your conveniences, from suntan lotion to shampoo.
custom
Something people of a region do often
It's a custom to hang beads in the windows at this time of year.
en route
On the way
While we are en route to the hotel I will point out the beach and the golf course.
entertainment district
A place where there are theatres and concert halls
If you want to catch a movie while you're here, the entertainment district is off to your left.
exception
Something/someone that does not follow the usual rules or expectations With the exception of Johnson Street, it is safe to walk around here at night.
exhibition
Objects (i.e. art) displayed for a short time for the public to view
It may be tough to find parking with the car exhibition on this week.
grocery store/supermarket
Place to buy food to take home
Since you have a kitchenette at your hotel you will need to know where the grocery store is.
highlight
The best part
People often say that the highlight of their trip is the botanical gardens.
legend
A person or story known for a long time
According to an old legend, a sea monster lives in this lake.
lobby
Front entrance
We will meet in the lobby at 8 am sharp.
locals
People who live in an area
The locals are usually happy to show tourists around.
location
Place where something can be found
This location is the best because you don't need to bother renting a car.
map
Shows roads and directions to places
I'll give you each a map so you can follow along as we walk.
market
Place to buy fresh food and homemade items
Every Sunday there is a farmer's market on Wade Street.
monument
A statue/structure that honours an event or person
This monument honours the men and women who died during the war.
museum
A place where historical items are displayed
The museum charges a small fee for adults, but children are free.
necessities
Things that people need for every day living
We recommend that you only carry necessities in your purse and leave everything else at the hotel.
original state
The way something appeared from the beginning
Except for the roof, this home has been left in its original state.
photograph
Picture taken with a camera
You may not take photographs here, but you can purchase a postcard.
postcard
A card with a picture on one side(usually an object or place that tourists see) that can be mailed without an envelope
The gift shop has many great souvenirs, such as postcards of the beautiful waterfalls.
questions or concerns
Things that tourists may want to say or ask
The plane almost missed the runway because it was such a bad storm.
request
Something that has been asked for politely
The driver has made a request that you throw all of your garbage in the bin at the front on your way out.
restaurant district
Part of a town/city with many places to eat
You will see there are many more eateries to choose from when we head to the restaurant district.
ritual
Tradition, custom, action (religious or cultural) that people do often
It is an old native ritual to dance during the sunrise.
scenery
Natural beauty to look at
It is impossible to capture the beauty of this scenery in pictures.
settlers
People who first made a home in an area
The original settlers relied on oxen to carry their wares.
shopping district
Area of town where there are many stores
You may want to save some spending money because we'll be visiting the shopping district this afternoon.
site
Place,location
This is the site of a very famous battle.
stairway/stairwell
Steps going up or down
The stairwell is very steep, so please watch your step.
street people
People who live on the street, often begging for money
You may be surprised how many street people ask you for money.
surroundings
Things that you see around you
I hope you enjoy the castle and its surroundings, including the secret garden.
voice
The sound you make when speaking
I apologize for my voice today as I have a bit of a cold.
voucher
A piece of paper that shows you have paid
Don't forget to bring your voucher for a free coffee in the hotel lobby.
waterfront
Piece of land next to an ocean, lake, or river
There will be plenty of live entertainment down at the waterfront.
window
Glass that you look out
We can peer in the window but I think they are probably closed for the day.
Vocabulary (verbs)
arrive
Reach a destination
I am glad to see you all arrived safely.
close
To finish
We will close the tour with a view of the city at sunset.
continue on
Keep going
If you're all finished looking here, we will continue on with the tour.
depart
Leave
The last ferry departs at 4pm, so make sure you don't miss it.
enjoy
Have a good experience
I have enjoyed meeting all of you today.
expect
Think that something will be/happen a certain way
You probably weren't expecting to see snow.
permit
Allow
You are permitted to have a beverage on the bus, but please do not eat any food.
proceed
Go forward
Please proceed all the way to the back of the bus.
raise (a hand)
Lift
If you have any questions during the tour, please raise your hand.
recommend
Suggest
We recommend that you only keep a small amount of cash in your wallet.
refer
Suggest
I will gladly refer you to my favourite restaurants, if you are interested.
relax
Sit back and enjoy time in peace
Tomorrow you will have a day to just relax on the beach.
show someone around
Take people to see an area
When we get to the museum someone else will show us around.
sit back
Relax in a seated position
Please sit back and enjoy the bus tour.
speak up
Talk louder
If you need me to speak up or slow down, please let me know.
Vocabulary (adjectives)
ancient
Very old
The ancient village has been left untouched.
beautiful/gorgeous
Very nice looking
You will find beautiful homemade jewellery in that shop.
breathtaking
When a view is very impressive
Under the starlight the waterfall is simply breathtaking.
customary
Traditional
It is customary to shake hands and bow as you enter.
dangerous
Not safe
It is dangerous to accept a ride from a local.
devastating
Very sad, unfortunate
The tsunami was devastating for local hotels.
elegant
Attractive, yet simple
There is an elegant dining room for guests to eat in.
enormous
Very large
This enormous sculpture stands one-hundred feet high.
exciting
Akes one feel very happy/energetic
It's so exciting to see new places, isn't it?
extensive
Covers a lot
This house has an extensive history, and you can read more in the brochures.
fascinating
Very interesting to learn about/see
It is fascinating to know how people lived back then.
haunted
Believed to have ghosts living there
The house is said to be haunted and no one has lived in it for fifty years or more.
heritage
Of historical importance
The government named this school as a heritage site last year.
international
Around the world
Every year it is an international celebration, with people coming from as far away as Africa.
lovely
Very nice (appearance or personality)
This is a lovely place to sit and watch the local birds.
magnificent
Amazing
This part of town is known for its magnificent wall murals.
popular
Liked by many
June is the most popular time for tourists to come here.
prevalent
Jery noticeable
Crime is prevalent in the old parts of town.
reconstructed
Built again
The village was reconstructed after the major fire in 1910.
restored
Returned to its original state
All of the antique furniture has been professionally restored.
safe
Not dangerous
The water is safe to drink here.
scenic
Nice to look at (nature) We will go up to the balcony for a scenic view of the grounds.
superb
Very good (i.e. service, food, entertainment)
The children put on a superb concert at Christmas time.
thrilling
Exciting
Cliff jumping is a thrilling experience for those of you who aren't afraid of heights.
unbelievable
Too amazing/strange to seem true
It is unbelievable what some of these street entertainers can do.
visible
Able to be seen
The top of the tower may not be visible because of the fog.
Explaining Rules, Safety and Etiquette
When giving a tour there may be rules and safety precautions that you need to explain. It is best if you memorize a speech rather than read from a card. People will pay more attention to you and understand you more clearly if you look into their eyes as you speak. After you have explained the rules and safety precautions make sure that guests have understood you, by asking, "Are there any questions about this?" or "Is everyone clear on the rules?". Also, tourists will appreciate any helpful advice you can give them, such as where to exchange their money, what types of transportation to use, and how to obey the traffic rules. Finally, if there are any customs or matters of etiquette that you think tourists should be aware of, this is a good time to let them know.
Explaining rules
Tour Guide
• You are strictly forbidden from taking photographs inside the museum.
• Please stay on the marked path.
• I'm sure this goes unsaid, but remember to place all trash in the garbage bins.
• Please pay attention to the time. We don't want to keep the driver waiting.
• Classes are in session, so we need to keep our voices down.
• The bus will be leaving at 5:00 pm sharp.
• You'll have some free time to look around after lunch.
• Please meet back here in one hour.
Explaining safety
Tour Guide
• Please keep your seltbelts fastened at all times.
• I ask that you keep your hands inside the train.
• As a safety precaution, please stand behind the yellow line.
• For your own safety, we ask that you refrain from putting your arms out the window.
• Please do not feed the animals.
• Please remain seated until we come to a full stop.
• Please stay with your group at all times.
• Please keep to the sidewalk.
• I do not recommend swimming here. The water is very rough.
• We suggest only carrying small amounts of cash.
• These rules are for your own comfort and safety.
Explaining etiquette and customs
Tour Guide
• It is customary in our country to tip the friendly bus driver.
• In this region we bow rather than shake hands during a first meeting.
• Though the all-inclusive includes tips for the servers, it does not include tips for the bellboy.
• To indicate that you want to get on or off the bus simply wave your hand at the driver.
Showing Places of Interest
Silence can be uncomfortable during a tour. While you can't talk the whole time, you should try to know as much about the history, scenery, and culture (in English) for the places where you are giving tours so that you can keep the tourists interested. If you ever run out of something to say, you can always point out something such as a landmark or a type of tree or flower. Here are some different ways you can point out interest points during the tour.
Tour Guide
• In front of you is...
• On your right/left you will see...
• Up ahead...
• On your left you will see...
• As we turn the corner here, you will see...
• In the distance...
• If you look up you will notice...
• Off to the north...
• Look to the east...
• To your west...
• In a few minutes we'll be passing...
• We are now coming up to...
• As you will see...
• You may have noticed...
• Take a good look at...
• I'd like to point out...
• Keep your eyes open for...
Tourist Questions
• Is that the...you were talking about?
• Are we going to pass the...?
• Are we going to see any...?
• Is it on the right or the left?
• I don't see it. Can you point it out again?
• Did I miss it?
• Will we see it on the way back?
Sample Conversation
Guide:
It's about a three minute ride up to the top of the mountain. As we pass the two towers the gondolla may sway a little.
Man:
This thing is safe, right?
Guide:
Yes, you don't have anything to worry about. We do about 100 trips a day up the mountain, and these tours have been going on for over ten years without any accidents. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as we ascend. It isn't uncommon to see deer and even bears.
Woman:
What's that mountain to the left called?
Guide:
That's Mount Karen. And to the right of that with the three small points is Mount Brown. Now, if you look up straight ahead, you should be able to see a large eagle's nest. Does everyone see it there?
Man:
Are there any baby birds?
Guide:
That's a good question. I haven't seen any yet, but we usually see them around this time of year.
Woman:
What's that lake down there, to the right of the green meadow?
Guide:
I'm glad you asked. That's John Lake. It's actually a man made pond that was built as part of a conservation effort over twenty years ago. During the 70's there was a lot of clearcutting of forests in the area, and much of the wildlife was lost. Since John Lake was built, ducks, swans, and geese have returned to the area.
Man:
Is this the highest mountain in this region?
Guide:
No, actually, Mount Heather, which you we will be able to see in just a minute or so has the highest peak. But, this is the highest mountain for recreational purposes like skiing and guided tours.
Woman:
Can you ski throughout the year?
Guide:
No, it warms up enough to actually suntan up there in the summer. Oh, look everyone. There are two deer feeding in the clearing right below us.
Man:
Thanks, that should be a great photo. So... what is there to do besides ski at the top of the hill at this time of year?
Guide:
Oh, there's plenty to do. We have horseback riding, snowmobile tours, and a petting zoo for children. If you look to your left you'll see the snowmobile trail going through the mountain.
Sample Tour Guide Speech
Welcoming tourists:
Hello everyone. My name is Luca. On behalf of Suntan Tours I'd like to welcome you all to Los Cabos. The bus ride to your hotel will take about fifteen minutes. Right now I'd like to take a minute to familiarize you with the area and discuss some brief safety precautions. Firstly, I ask that you remain seated until we reach our destination and that you not eat or drink while on the bus. Secondly, please realize that it is against the law to get drunk in public. Enjoy your vacation, but do drink responsibly and do not drink and drive.
Describing the location:
I promise you are going to enjoy your stay here in San Jose, Los Cabos. This is a beautiful, quiet city where you can relax, sit by the beach, enjoy great meals and feel very safe. You can walk into town and enjoy the fountains or take a moonlit walk along the water. Please do not swim here. This is not a safe place to swim because there is a strong undertow. Cabos San Lucas is the place to go if you want to enjoy swimming in the ocean. You can take a short bus ride from your hotel. There you will also enjoy entertainment and dancing.
Introducing special events and offers:
Suntan tours offers a variety of special discounts depending on your travel plans. We have golf packages, as well as guided whale boat tours, and fishing charters. There will be a short information session at 1pm in the lobby of the hotel tomorrow where you can learn all about these offers. We recommend that you do not purchase packages from street vendors as they are not always 100 percent reliable. They also may charge you more than what they say. Please take my advice and allow Suntan tours to book all of your day trips and activities while you are here.
Offering advice:
If you need to exchange your dollars into pesos, please use a bank or money exchange. We don't recommend exchanging your money at the hotel because you won't get a fair rate. Some restaurants will accept American or Canadian money, but you are better off to exchange your money and pay with pesos. Or, if you prefer, you can always use your credit cards. Also, if you want to get around the city, or travel to Cabos San Lucas, we recommend that you take the local bus rather than a taxi. The bus costs about one American dollar, and the driver can give you change if you don't have the exact amount. If you do decide to take a taxi make sure that you negotiate a price before you go.
Closing remarks:
We're going to be pulling up to the hotel in just a few minutes. Please sit back and enjoy the view of the ocean on the left hand side of the bus as we enter the city. I ask that you remain in your seats until we have come to a complete stop. Javier will be meeting us at the bus to help you with your bags. Please double check to make sure your bag has been taken off the bus. On behalf of Suntan Tours, have a wonderful vacation in San Jose and I hope to see you tomorrow at the information session.
English for Tour Guides
(from englishclub.com)
Being a tour guide is a very important job. In many cases, the tour guide is a traveller's first impression of a foreign country. In other cases a tour guide may be responsible for teaching tourists about the culture and sites in a city or town. In addition, many tour guides hold the responsibility of teaching tourists about safety. Even if you are only responsible for taking a tourist from the airport to his or her hotel, it is your responsibility to make the short trip interesting, informative, and safe. The following pages will help you learn some important vocabulary and phrases that you can use with your English-speaking tourists. Check your understanding as you go.
คำศัพท์
Vocabulary (nouns)
activities
Things to do
There are lots of activities that the whole family will enjoy.
architecture
Design of a building
The architecture of this building is typical of the Renaissance age.
art gallery
place to look at professional paintings and drawings
We are going to visit the art gallery where local painters exhibit their art.
attractions
Places for tourists to see
The water park is our most recent attraction .
bearings
Feeling for understanding one's location/surroundings in an unknown area
If you're having trouble getting your bearings just remember that the mountains are west.
business district
Area in a city that has many offices
Keep in mind that this is the business district so that grocery store may be expensive.
castle
A building for royalty
No one has lived in this castle since the last king died twenty years ago.
church
A place to worship God
The church is the central meeting place in this town.
conveniences
Things that make life easier
There you will find all of your conveniences, from suntan lotion to shampoo.
custom
Something people of a region do often
It's a custom to hang beads in the windows at this time of year.
en route
On the way
While we are en route to the hotel I will point out the beach and the golf course.
entertainment district
A place where there are theatres and concert halls
If you want to catch a movie while you're here, the entertainment district is off to your left.
exception
Something/someone that does not follow the usual rules or expectations With the exception of Johnson Street, it is safe to walk around here at night.
exhibition
Objects (i.e. art) displayed for a short time for the public to view
It may be tough to find parking with the car exhibition on this week.
grocery store/supermarket
Place to buy food to take home
Since you have a kitchenette at your hotel you will need to know where the grocery store is.
highlight
The best part
People often say that the highlight of their trip is the botanical gardens.
legend
A person or story known for a long time
According to an old legend, a sea monster lives in this lake.
lobby
Front entrance
We will meet in the lobby at 8 am sharp.
locals
People who live in an area
The locals are usually happy to show tourists around.
location
Place where something can be found
This location is the best because you don't need to bother renting a car.
map
Shows roads and directions to places
I'll give you each a map so you can follow along as we walk.
market
Place to buy fresh food and homemade items
Every Sunday there is a farmer's market on Wade Street.
monument
A statue/structure that honours an event or person
This monument honours the men and women who died during the war.
museum
A place where historical items are displayed
The museum charges a small fee for adults, but children are free.
necessities
Things that people need for every day living
We recommend that you only carry necessities in your purse and leave everything else at the hotel.
original state
The way something appeared from the beginning
Except for the roof, this home has been left in its original state.
photograph
Picture taken with a camera
You may not take photographs here, but you can purchase a postcard.
postcard
A card with a picture on one side(usually an object or place that tourists see) that can be mailed without an envelope
The gift shop has many great souvenirs, such as postcards of the beautiful waterfalls.
questions or concerns
Things that tourists may want to say or ask
The plane almost missed the runway because it was such a bad storm.
request
Something that has been asked for politely
The driver has made a request that you throw all of your garbage in the bin at the front on your way out.
restaurant district
Part of a town/city with many places to eat
You will see there are many more eateries to choose from when we head to the restaurant district.
ritual
Tradition, custom, action (religious or cultural) that people do often
It is an old native ritual to dance during the sunrise.
scenery
Natural beauty to look at
It is impossible to capture the beauty of this scenery in pictures.
settlers
People who first made a home in an area
The original settlers relied on oxen to carry their wares.
shopping district
Area of town where there are many stores
You may want to save some spending money because we'll be visiting the shopping district this afternoon.
site
Place,location
This is the site of a very famous battle.
stairway/stairwell
Steps going up or down
The stairwell is very steep, so please watch your step.
street people
People who live on the street, often begging for money
You may be surprised how many street people ask you for money.
surroundings
Things that you see around you
I hope you enjoy the castle and its surroundings, including the secret garden.
voice
The sound you make when speaking
I apologize for my voice today as I have a bit of a cold.
voucher
A piece of paper that shows you have paid
Don't forget to bring your voucher for a free coffee in the hotel lobby.
waterfront
Piece of land next to an ocean, lake, or river
There will be plenty of live entertainment down at the waterfront.
window
Glass that you look out
We can peer in the window but I think they are probably closed for the day.
Vocabulary (verbs)
arrive
Reach a destination
I am glad to see you all arrived safely.
close
To finish
We will close the tour with a view of the city at sunset.
continue on
Keep going
If you're all finished looking here, we will continue on with the tour.
depart
Leave
The last ferry departs at 4pm, so make sure you don't miss it.
enjoy
Have a good experience
I have enjoyed meeting all of you today.
expect
Think that something will be/happen a certain way
You probably weren't expecting to see snow.
permit
Allow
You are permitted to have a beverage on the bus, but please do not eat any food.
proceed
Go forward
Please proceed all the way to the back of the bus.
raise (a hand)
Lift
If you have any questions during the tour, please raise your hand.
recommend
Suggest
We recommend that you only keep a small amount of cash in your wallet.
refer
Suggest
I will gladly refer you to my favourite restaurants, if you are interested.
relax
Sit back and enjoy time in peace
Tomorrow you will have a day to just relax on the beach.
show someone around
Take people to see an area
When we get to the museum someone else will show us around.
sit back
Relax in a seated position
Please sit back and enjoy the bus tour.
speak up
Talk louder
If you need me to speak up or slow down, please let me know.
Vocabulary (adjectives)
ancient
Very old
The ancient village has been left untouched.
beautiful/gorgeous
Very nice looking
You will find beautiful homemade jewellery in that shop.
breathtaking
When a view is very impressive
Under the starlight the waterfall is simply breathtaking.
customary
Traditional
It is customary to shake hands and bow as you enter.
dangerous
Not safe
It is dangerous to accept a ride from a local.
devastating
Very sad, unfortunate
The tsunami was devastating for local hotels.
elegant
Attractive, yet simple
There is an elegant dining room for guests to eat in.
enormous
Very large
This enormous sculpture stands one-hundred feet high.
exciting
Akes one feel very happy/energetic
It's so exciting to see new places, isn't it?
extensive
Covers a lot
This house has an extensive history, and you can read more in the brochures.
fascinating
Very interesting to learn about/see
It is fascinating to know how people lived back then.
haunted
Believed to have ghosts living there
The house is said to be haunted and no one has lived in it for fifty years or more.
heritage
Of historical importance
The government named this school as a heritage site last year.
international
Around the world
Every year it is an international celebration, with people coming from as far away as Africa.
lovely
Very nice (appearance or personality)
This is a lovely place to sit and watch the local birds.
magnificent
Amazing
This part of town is known for its magnificent wall murals.
popular
Liked by many
June is the most popular time for tourists to come here.
prevalent
Jery noticeable
Crime is prevalent in the old parts of town.
reconstructed
Built again
The village was reconstructed after the major fire in 1910.
restored
Returned to its original state
All of the antique furniture has been professionally restored.
safe
Not dangerous
The water is safe to drink here.
scenic
Nice to look at (nature) We will go up to the balcony for a scenic view of the grounds.
superb
Very good (i.e. service, food, entertainment)
The children put on a superb concert at Christmas time.
thrilling
Exciting
Cliff jumping is a thrilling experience for those of you who aren't afraid of heights.
unbelievable
Too amazing/strange to seem true
It is unbelievable what some of these street entertainers can do.
visible
Able to be seen
The top of the tower may not be visible because of the fog.
Explaining Rules, Safety and Etiquette
When giving a tour there may be rules and safety precautions that you need to explain. It is best if you memorize a speech rather than read from a card. People will pay more attention to you and understand you more clearly if you look into their eyes as you speak. After you have explained the rules and safety precautions make sure that guests have understood you, by asking, "Are there any questions about this?" or "Is everyone clear on the rules?". Also, tourists will appreciate any helpful advice you can give them, such as where to exchange their money, what types of transportation to use, and how to obey the traffic rules. Finally, if there are any customs or matters of etiquette that you think tourists should be aware of, this is a good time to let them know.
Explaining rules
Tour Guide
• You are strictly forbidden from taking photographs inside the museum.
• Please stay on the marked path.
• I'm sure this goes unsaid, but remember to place all trash in the garbage bins.
• Please pay attention to the time. We don't want to keep the driver waiting.
• Classes are in session, so we need to keep our voices down.
• The bus will be leaving at 5:00 pm sharp.
• You'll have some free time to look around after lunch.
• Please meet back here in one hour.
Explaining safety
Tour Guide
• Please keep your seltbelts fastened at all times.
• I ask that you keep your hands inside the train.
• As a safety precaution, please stand behind the yellow line.
• For your own safety, we ask that you refrain from putting your arms out the window.
• Please do not feed the animals.
• Please remain seated until we come to a full stop.
• Please stay with your group at all times.
• Please keep to the sidewalk.
• I do not recommend swimming here. The water is very rough.
• We suggest only carrying small amounts of cash.
• These rules are for your own comfort and safety.
Explaining etiquette and customs
Tour Guide
• It is customary in our country to tip the friendly bus driver.
• In this region we bow rather than shake hands during a first meeting.
• Though the all-inclusive includes tips for the servers, it does not include tips for the bellboy.
• To indicate that you want to get on or off the bus simply wave your hand at the driver.
Showing Places of Interest
Silence can be uncomfortable during a tour. While you can't talk the whole time, you should try to know as much about the history, scenery, and culture (in English) for the places where you are giving tours so that you can keep the tourists interested. If you ever run out of something to say, you can always point out something such as a landmark or a type of tree or flower. Here are some different ways you can point out interest points during the tour.
Tour Guide
• In front of you is...
• On your right/left you will see...
• Up ahead...
• On your left you will see...
• As we turn the corner here, you will see...
• In the distance...
• If you look up you will notice...
• Off to the north...
• Look to the east...
• To your west...
• In a few minutes we'll be passing...
• We are now coming up to...
• As you will see...
• You may have noticed...
• Take a good look at...
• I'd like to point out...
• Keep your eyes open for...
Tourist Questions
• Is that the...you were talking about?
• Are we going to pass the...?
• Are we going to see any...?
• Is it on the right or the left?
• I don't see it. Can you point it out again?
• Did I miss it?
• Will we see it on the way back?
Sample Conversation
Guide:
It's about a three minute ride up to the top of the mountain. As we pass the two towers the gondolla may sway a little.
Man:
This thing is safe, right?
Guide:
Yes, you don't have anything to worry about. We do about 100 trips a day up the mountain, and these tours have been going on for over ten years without any accidents. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as we ascend. It isn't uncommon to see deer and even bears.
Woman:
What's that mountain to the left called?
Guide:
That's Mount Karen. And to the right of that with the three small points is Mount Brown. Now, if you look up straight ahead, you should be able to see a large eagle's nest. Does everyone see it there?
Man:
Are there any baby birds?
Guide:
That's a good question. I haven't seen any yet, but we usually see them around this time of year.
Woman:
What's that lake down there, to the right of the green meadow?
Guide:
I'm glad you asked. That's John Lake. It's actually a man made pond that was built as part of a conservation effort over twenty years ago. During the 70's there was a lot of clearcutting of forests in the area, and much of the wildlife was lost. Since John Lake was built, ducks, swans, and geese have returned to the area.
Man:
Is this the highest mountain in this region?
Guide:
No, actually, Mount Heather, which you we will be able to see in just a minute or so has the highest peak. But, this is the highest mountain for recreational purposes like skiing and guided tours.
Woman:
Can you ski throughout the year?
Guide:
No, it warms up enough to actually suntan up there in the summer. Oh, look everyone. There are two deer feeding in the clearing right below us.
Man:
Thanks, that should be a great photo. So... what is there to do besides ski at the top of the hill at this time of year?
Guide:
Oh, there's plenty to do. We have horseback riding, snowmobile tours, and a petting zoo for children. If you look to your left you'll see the snowmobile trail going through the mountain.
Sample Tour Guide Speech
Welcoming tourists:
Hello everyone. My name is Luca. On behalf of Suntan Tours I'd like to welcome you all to Los Cabos. The bus ride to your hotel will take about fifteen minutes. Right now I'd like to take a minute to familiarize you with the area and discuss some brief safety precautions. Firstly, I ask that you remain seated until we reach our destination and that you not eat or drink while on the bus. Secondly, please realize that it is against the law to get drunk in public. Enjoy your vacation, but do drink responsibly and do not drink and drive.
Describing the location:
I promise you are going to enjoy your stay here in San Jose, Los Cabos. This is a beautiful, quiet city where you can relax, sit by the beach, enjoy great meals and feel very safe. You can walk into town and enjoy the fountains or take a moonlit walk along the water. Please do not swim here. This is not a safe place to swim because there is a strong undertow. Cabos San Lucas is the place to go if you want to enjoy swimming in the ocean. You can take a short bus ride from your hotel. There you will also enjoy entertainment and dancing.
Introducing special events and offers:
Suntan tours offers a variety of special discounts depending on your travel plans. We have golf packages, as well as guided whale boat tours, and fishing charters. There will be a short information session at 1pm in the lobby of the hotel tomorrow where you can learn all about these offers. We recommend that you do not purchase packages from street vendors as they are not always 100 percent reliable. They also may charge you more than what they say. Please take my advice and allow Suntan tours to book all of your day trips and activities while you are here.
Offering advice:
If you need to exchange your dollars into pesos, please use a bank or money exchange. We don't recommend exchanging your money at the hotel because you won't get a fair rate. Some restaurants will accept American or Canadian money, but you are better off to exchange your money and pay with pesos. Or, if you prefer, you can always use your credit cards. Also, if you want to get around the city, or travel to Cabos San Lucas, we recommend that you take the local bus rather than a taxi. The bus costs about one American dollar, and the driver can give you change if you don't have the exact amount. If you do decide to take a taxi make sure that you negotiate a price before you go.
Closing remarks:
We're going to be pulling up to the hotel in just a few minutes. Please sit back and enjoy the view of the ocean on the left hand side of the bus as we enter the city. I ask that you remain in your seats until we have come to a complete stop. Javier will be meeting us at the bus to help you with your bags. Please double check to make sure your bag has been taken off the bus. On behalf of Suntan Tours, have a wonderful vacation in San Jose and I hope to see you tomorrow at the information session.
ภาษาอังกฤษสำหรับพนักงานต้อนรับบนเครื่องบิน
ภาษาอังกฤษสำหรับพนักงานต้อนรับบนเครื่องบิน
English for Airline Staff
Getting airline passengers safely and happily from one destination to another requires teamwork. The airline industry employs many different people, from pilots and flight crew to caterers and grounds crew. Many of these jobs require communication in English, whether it be among co-workers or with passengers. Most airline companies require that the flight crew be fluent in at least two languages. English is the most common second language that crew members need to learn. Whether your job is to book passengers on their flights, assist passengers with luggage, or fly the airplane itself, these pages can help you learn important words and expressions to use on the job in the airline industry. Read through the vocabulary, listen to the spoken English, and take the quizzes to test your comprehension.
คำศัพท์ที่น่าสนใจ
Airline Vocabulary
airfare
noun cost of a plane ticket The cost of your meal is covered in your airfare.
aisle
noun the long empty space that you walk down Please keep your bags out of the aisle so that nobody trips.
aisle seat
noun the seat that is next to the aisle I'll give you an aisle seat in case you need to walk around with the baby.
assist
verb help Please wait until everyone is off the plane so that we can assist you.
baggage
noun the bags and suitcases that travellers put their belongings in I'm afraid your baggage got on the wrong airplane.
baggage, luggage claim
noun place where you pick up your baggage after arrival The announcement will direct you to the correct baggage claim.
blanket
noun warm covering If you feel cold I can get you a blanket.
boarding pass
noun part of the ticket that you give to the crew as you step onto the plane Your must present your boarding pass at the gate.
bumpy, rough
adj up and down movement of the aircraft It might be a bumpy ride because we are flying through a storm.
cabin
noun interior of the aircraft There is no smoking allowed inside the
cabin.
call light
noun a button passengers can press to get a crew member's attention If you need anything, just press the call light.
captain
noun the person who is in charge of the plane Would the kids like to go and meet the captain?
charter
noun discount airline If you take a charter it will cost you half as much.
cockpit
noun the part of the plane where the captain and his co-pilots sit We aren't doing any more tours of the cockpit because it's almost time to land.
comfortable
adjective feel good physically, able to relax Because you have long legs you might be more comfortable in an aisle seat.
complimentary
adjective free of charge We offer complimentary coffee or tea, but you have to pay for alcohol.
co-pilot
noun person who helps the captain fly the plane If the captain gets sick the co-pilot can take over.
domestic
adjective within the same country You should be at the airport two hours ahead of time for domestic flights.
emergency exit
noun section of the plane that opens in the case of an accident Are you comfortable sitting next to the emergency exit?
e-ticket
noun airfare purchased on the internet You will need to present your identification along with your e-ticket.
excess baggage
noun heavier/more bags than you are allowed You can either pay for your excess baggage or leave one of your bags behind.
first-class
noun/adj more expensive seating, with better services When you sit in first-class you get a better meal to eat.
gate
noun place where passengers go to wait to board a plane Gate 3B is down this hall and to your right.
headset, earphones
noun device that allows passengers to listen to music or a movie We will be coming around to sell headsets for five dollars.
international
adj worldwide For international departures, go up one level.
jet lag
noun tiredness due to travelling through different time zones I'm used to travelling now. My body doesn't suffer from jet lag anymore.
land
verb returning to the ground after being in the air We will be landing in Tokyo in approximately ten minutes.
life vest, life jacket
noun a blow-up device that you put on in an emergency over water Please take a moment to locate the life vest under your seat.
motion sickness
noun a bad feeling in the stomach that passengers get during a rough ride There is a paper bag in front of you in case you experience motion sickness.
overbooked
adj more passengers than available seats The flight is overbooked. Four of our passengers will have to wait for the next flight.
overhead bin/compartment
noun place above the seats for storing luggage You'll have to put your bag under your seat because all of the overhead bins are full.
over-sized baggage
adj items that do not fit in suitcases Infant car seats and sporting equipment can be picked up at the over-sized baggage counter.
oxygen mask
noun a device that goes over a person's face, provides air in case of cabin air pressure loss Put your oxygen mask on first before putting one on your child.
passport
noun document that proves a person's identification and nationality Please have your passport out when you go through security.
pilot
noun the person who drives the plane The pilot is circling over the airport until it is safe to land.
refreshments
noun drinks and snacks It's a short flight, so we will be serving refreshments but not a meal.
row
noun a number of seats beside each other You are in seat B of row nine.
runway
noun the strip of land that an airplane takes-off and lands on The plane almost missed the runway because it was such a bad storm.
seatbelt
noun device that holds passengers in their seats Please remain in your seats
while the seatbelt light is on.
steward (male), stewardess (female), flight attendant, air host
noun man or woman who provides service for passengers during a flight Ask one of the stewardesses for a pillow if you're tired.
stopover
noun touching down at more than one airport during a flight It's not a direct flight. We're making one stopover in Toronto.
take off
noun/verb when the plane leaves the ground We are next in line to take off on this runway.
taxi in, out
verb driving an airplane to the correct place for taking off or deboarding Please remain in your seats until we taxi in to the gate.
touch down
verb, noun when the aircraft wheels land on the ground That was a very
smooth touch down.
turbulence
noun rough flight This turbulence should only last a few minutes.
wheelchair
noun a seat for pushing elderly, disabled, or injured people A steward will take you to the gate with a wheelchair.
window seat
noun seat next to the window where passengers can look out If your child wants a window seat I can move you back a row.
Checking In Passengers
Check-in Assistant
• Can I see your ticket, please?
• Do you have your passport with you?
• I'm afraid your passport has expired.
• Do you have a second piece of identification?
• I'll need to see your child's birth certificate.
• How many bags are you checking?
• Will you be bringing a carry-on bag?
• I'm afraid that bag exceeds the size restrictions.
• Did you pack your bags yourself?
• Would you like an aisle or a window seat?
• Would you like a wheelchair?
• You'll board at Gate 7.
• Please be at the gate thirty minutes before your scheduled flight.
• Did you need any tags for your luggage?
• Your flight is expected to take off on time.
• Your flight has been delayed by one hour.
• Flight 87B to Toronto has been canceled.
• I'm afraid you're too late to check-in.
• Your flight is overbooked. Would you be interested in giving up your seat?
• Enjoy your flight.
Passenger
• I'm not sure which of these papers is my ticket.
• Is it possible to get an aisle seat?
• I requested a vegetarian meal. Can you check to confirm?
• Can I take my child through security?
• Is the flight on time?
• Will they be serving a meal today?
• Will they be showing an inflight movie?
• Where can I get a luggage cart?
• Can I use my laptop on board?
ตัวอย่างบทสนทนา
Sample Conversation
Check-in Assistant: Hello. Are you flying to St. Martin today?
Passenger: Yes, I have my ticket here.
Check-in Assistant: Great. I'll need to see your passport as well.
Passenger: I have an e-ticket. Uh...is this the part you need?
Check-in Assistant: Actually I just need your name and I can find you on the computer.
Passenger: Oh OK. It's Bates. Frank Bates.
Check-in Assistant: Great. Here we are. Oh, you're traveling with an infant today.
Passenger: Yes, my daughter Mia. She's 14 months.
Check-in Assistant: Okay. I'll need to see your daughter's birth certificate to prove that she is under two years of age.
Passenger: Here you are. Say, would we be able to get an aisle seat? I may have to walk her around if she gets fussy.
Check-in Assistant: Sure. I'll put you near the washroom too.
Passenger: Thanks. Can I take my stroller to the gate?
Check-in Assistant: Yes, we'll check it in the over-sized luggage after you board. Are you just checking these two bags today?
Passenger: Yes, I'll take my knapsack as my carry-on.
Check-in Assistant: Did you pack these bags yourself?
Passenger: Yes.
Check-in Assistant: Okay. Here is your boarding pass. Be at the gate one hour prior to boarding time. You will be able to preboard because you are traveling with
an infant. Our flight crew will have some special instructions for take-off and landing.
การประกาศ
Airline Announcements
Listen to some typical public announcements made in an airport or airplane.
Double-click the left button (>) to start. Click the middle button to stop. Click the right button to pause. Click it again to continue.
ก่อนขึ้นเครื่อง
Pre-boarding Announcement
Good afternoon passengers. This is the pre-boarding annoucement for flight 89B to Rome. We are now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes time. Thank you.
ประกาศครั้งสุดท้าย
Final Boarding Announcement
This is the final boarding call for passengers Erin and Fred Collins booked on flight 372A to Kansas City. Please proceed to gate 3 immediately. The final checks are being completed and the captain will order for the doors of the aircraft to close in approximately five minutes time. I repeat. This is the final boarding call for Erin and Fred Collins. Thank you.
ประกาศของพนักงานต้อนรับบนเครื่องบิน
Pre-flight Announcement
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 4B7 with service from Hong Kong to San Francisco. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes time. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Thank you for choosing Mountain Airlines. Enjoy your flight.
ประกาศของกัปตัน
Captain's Announcement
Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain speaking. First I'd like to welcome everyone on Rightwing Flight 86A. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 33, 000 feet at an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The time is 1:25 pm. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side we are expecting to land in London approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. The weather in London is clear and sunny, with a high of 25 degrees for this afternoon. If the weather cooperates we should get a great view of the city as we descend. The cabin crew will be coming around in about twenty minutes time to offer you a light snack and beverage, and the inflight movie will begin shortly after that. I'll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the flight.
ประกาศแนะนำเรื่องความปลอดภัยบนเครื่องบิน
Safety Briefing
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the crew I ask that you please direct your attention to the monitors above as we review the emergency procedures. There are six emergency exits on this aircraft. Take a moment to locate the exit closest to you. Note that the nearest exit may be behind you. Count the number of rows to this exit. Should the cabin experience sudden pressure loss, stay calm and listen for instructions from the cabin crew. Oxygen masks will drop down from above your seat. Place the mask over your mouth and nose, like this. Pull the strap to tighten it. If you are traveling with children, make sure that your own mask is on first before helping your children. In the unlikely event of an emergency landing and evacuation, leave your carry-on items behind. Life rafts are located below your seats and emergency lighting will lead you to your closest exit and slide. We ask that you make sure that all carry-on luggage is stowed away safely during the flight. While we wait for take off, please take a moment to review the safety data card in the seat pocket in front of you.
English for Airline Staff
Getting airline passengers safely and happily from one destination to another requires teamwork. The airline industry employs many different people, from pilots and flight crew to caterers and grounds crew. Many of these jobs require communication in English, whether it be among co-workers or with passengers. Most airline companies require that the flight crew be fluent in at least two languages. English is the most common second language that crew members need to learn. Whether your job is to book passengers on their flights, assist passengers with luggage, or fly the airplane itself, these pages can help you learn important words and expressions to use on the job in the airline industry. Read through the vocabulary, listen to the spoken English, and take the quizzes to test your comprehension.
คำศัพท์ที่น่าสนใจ
Airline Vocabulary
airfare
noun cost of a plane ticket The cost of your meal is covered in your airfare.
aisle
noun the long empty space that you walk down Please keep your bags out of the aisle so that nobody trips.
aisle seat
noun the seat that is next to the aisle I'll give you an aisle seat in case you need to walk around with the baby.
assist
verb help Please wait until everyone is off the plane so that we can assist you.
baggage
noun the bags and suitcases that travellers put their belongings in I'm afraid your baggage got on the wrong airplane.
baggage, luggage claim
noun place where you pick up your baggage after arrival The announcement will direct you to the correct baggage claim.
blanket
noun warm covering If you feel cold I can get you a blanket.
boarding pass
noun part of the ticket that you give to the crew as you step onto the plane Your must present your boarding pass at the gate.
bumpy, rough
adj up and down movement of the aircraft It might be a bumpy ride because we are flying through a storm.
cabin
noun interior of the aircraft There is no smoking allowed inside the
cabin.
call light
noun a button passengers can press to get a crew member's attention If you need anything, just press the call light.
captain
noun the person who is in charge of the plane Would the kids like to go and meet the captain?
charter
noun discount airline If you take a charter it will cost you half as much.
cockpit
noun the part of the plane where the captain and his co-pilots sit We aren't doing any more tours of the cockpit because it's almost time to land.
comfortable
adjective feel good physically, able to relax Because you have long legs you might be more comfortable in an aisle seat.
complimentary
adjective free of charge We offer complimentary coffee or tea, but you have to pay for alcohol.
co-pilot
noun person who helps the captain fly the plane If the captain gets sick the co-pilot can take over.
domestic
adjective within the same country You should be at the airport two hours ahead of time for domestic flights.
emergency exit
noun section of the plane that opens in the case of an accident Are you comfortable sitting next to the emergency exit?
e-ticket
noun airfare purchased on the internet You will need to present your identification along with your e-ticket.
excess baggage
noun heavier/more bags than you are allowed You can either pay for your excess baggage or leave one of your bags behind.
first-class
noun/adj more expensive seating, with better services When you sit in first-class you get a better meal to eat.
gate
noun place where passengers go to wait to board a plane Gate 3B is down this hall and to your right.
headset, earphones
noun device that allows passengers to listen to music or a movie We will be coming around to sell headsets for five dollars.
international
adj worldwide For international departures, go up one level.
jet lag
noun tiredness due to travelling through different time zones I'm used to travelling now. My body doesn't suffer from jet lag anymore.
land
verb returning to the ground after being in the air We will be landing in Tokyo in approximately ten minutes.
life vest, life jacket
noun a blow-up device that you put on in an emergency over water Please take a moment to locate the life vest under your seat.
motion sickness
noun a bad feeling in the stomach that passengers get during a rough ride There is a paper bag in front of you in case you experience motion sickness.
overbooked
adj more passengers than available seats The flight is overbooked. Four of our passengers will have to wait for the next flight.
overhead bin/compartment
noun place above the seats for storing luggage You'll have to put your bag under your seat because all of the overhead bins are full.
over-sized baggage
adj items that do not fit in suitcases Infant car seats and sporting equipment can be picked up at the over-sized baggage counter.
oxygen mask
noun a device that goes over a person's face, provides air in case of cabin air pressure loss Put your oxygen mask on first before putting one on your child.
passport
noun document that proves a person's identification and nationality Please have your passport out when you go through security.
pilot
noun the person who drives the plane The pilot is circling over the airport until it is safe to land.
refreshments
noun drinks and snacks It's a short flight, so we will be serving refreshments but not a meal.
row
noun a number of seats beside each other You are in seat B of row nine.
runway
noun the strip of land that an airplane takes-off and lands on The plane almost missed the runway because it was such a bad storm.
seatbelt
noun device that holds passengers in their seats Please remain in your seats
while the seatbelt light is on.
steward (male), stewardess (female), flight attendant, air host
noun man or woman who provides service for passengers during a flight Ask one of the stewardesses for a pillow if you're tired.
stopover
noun touching down at more than one airport during a flight It's not a direct flight. We're making one stopover in Toronto.
take off
noun/verb when the plane leaves the ground We are next in line to take off on this runway.
taxi in, out
verb driving an airplane to the correct place for taking off or deboarding Please remain in your seats until we taxi in to the gate.
touch down
verb, noun when the aircraft wheels land on the ground That was a very
smooth touch down.
turbulence
noun rough flight This turbulence should only last a few minutes.
wheelchair
noun a seat for pushing elderly, disabled, or injured people A steward will take you to the gate with a wheelchair.
window seat
noun seat next to the window where passengers can look out If your child wants a window seat I can move you back a row.
Checking In Passengers
Check-in Assistant
• Can I see your ticket, please?
• Do you have your passport with you?
• I'm afraid your passport has expired.
• Do you have a second piece of identification?
• I'll need to see your child's birth certificate.
• How many bags are you checking?
• Will you be bringing a carry-on bag?
• I'm afraid that bag exceeds the size restrictions.
• Did you pack your bags yourself?
• Would you like an aisle or a window seat?
• Would you like a wheelchair?
• You'll board at Gate 7.
• Please be at the gate thirty minutes before your scheduled flight.
• Did you need any tags for your luggage?
• Your flight is expected to take off on time.
• Your flight has been delayed by one hour.
• Flight 87B to Toronto has been canceled.
• I'm afraid you're too late to check-in.
• Your flight is overbooked. Would you be interested in giving up your seat?
• Enjoy your flight.
Passenger
• I'm not sure which of these papers is my ticket.
• Is it possible to get an aisle seat?
• I requested a vegetarian meal. Can you check to confirm?
• Can I take my child through security?
• Is the flight on time?
• Will they be serving a meal today?
• Will they be showing an inflight movie?
• Where can I get a luggage cart?
• Can I use my laptop on board?
ตัวอย่างบทสนทนา
Sample Conversation
Check-in Assistant: Hello. Are you flying to St. Martin today?
Passenger: Yes, I have my ticket here.
Check-in Assistant: Great. I'll need to see your passport as well.
Passenger: I have an e-ticket. Uh...is this the part you need?
Check-in Assistant: Actually I just need your name and I can find you on the computer.
Passenger: Oh OK. It's Bates. Frank Bates.
Check-in Assistant: Great. Here we are. Oh, you're traveling with an infant today.
Passenger: Yes, my daughter Mia. She's 14 months.
Check-in Assistant: Okay. I'll need to see your daughter's birth certificate to prove that she is under two years of age.
Passenger: Here you are. Say, would we be able to get an aisle seat? I may have to walk her around if she gets fussy.
Check-in Assistant: Sure. I'll put you near the washroom too.
Passenger: Thanks. Can I take my stroller to the gate?
Check-in Assistant: Yes, we'll check it in the over-sized luggage after you board. Are you just checking these two bags today?
Passenger: Yes, I'll take my knapsack as my carry-on.
Check-in Assistant: Did you pack these bags yourself?
Passenger: Yes.
Check-in Assistant: Okay. Here is your boarding pass. Be at the gate one hour prior to boarding time. You will be able to preboard because you are traveling with
an infant. Our flight crew will have some special instructions for take-off and landing.
การประกาศ
Airline Announcements
Listen to some typical public announcements made in an airport or airplane.
Double-click the left button (>) to start. Click the middle button to stop. Click the right button to pause. Click it again to continue.
ก่อนขึ้นเครื่อง
Pre-boarding Announcement
Good afternoon passengers. This is the pre-boarding annoucement for flight 89B to Rome. We are now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes time. Thank you.
ประกาศครั้งสุดท้าย
Final Boarding Announcement
This is the final boarding call for passengers Erin and Fred Collins booked on flight 372A to Kansas City. Please proceed to gate 3 immediately. The final checks are being completed and the captain will order for the doors of the aircraft to close in approximately five minutes time. I repeat. This is the final boarding call for Erin and Fred Collins. Thank you.
ประกาศของพนักงานต้อนรับบนเครื่องบิน
Pre-flight Announcement
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 4B7 with service from Hong Kong to San Francisco. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes time. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Thank you for choosing Mountain Airlines. Enjoy your flight.
ประกาศของกัปตัน
Captain's Announcement
Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain speaking. First I'd like to welcome everyone on Rightwing Flight 86A. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 33, 000 feet at an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The time is 1:25 pm. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side we are expecting to land in London approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. The weather in London is clear and sunny, with a high of 25 degrees for this afternoon. If the weather cooperates we should get a great view of the city as we descend. The cabin crew will be coming around in about twenty minutes time to offer you a light snack and beverage, and the inflight movie will begin shortly after that. I'll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the flight.
ประกาศแนะนำเรื่องความปลอดภัยบนเครื่องบิน
Safety Briefing
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the crew I ask that you please direct your attention to the monitors above as we review the emergency procedures. There are six emergency exits on this aircraft. Take a moment to locate the exit closest to you. Note that the nearest exit may be behind you. Count the number of rows to this exit. Should the cabin experience sudden pressure loss, stay calm and listen for instructions from the cabin crew. Oxygen masks will drop down from above your seat. Place the mask over your mouth and nose, like this. Pull the strap to tighten it. If you are traveling with children, make sure that your own mask is on first before helping your children. In the unlikely event of an emergency landing and evacuation, leave your carry-on items behind. Life rafts are located below your seats and emergency lighting will lead you to your closest exit and slide. We ask that you make sure that all carry-on luggage is stowed away safely during the flight. While we wait for take off, please take a moment to review the safety data card in the seat pocket in front of you.
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