Hospitality and Tourism
This section includes a six-part series of lessons by Keith Harding at two levels with step-by-step notes for teachers, plus other lessons on the subject of hospitality and tourism.
The language of Hospitality and Tourism
Hospitality and Tourism is often described as 'the pleasure industry' or 'the welcome industry'. It’s an industry where communication is the key feature. It’s also an international industry and will involve a range of inter-cultural encounters. The language of this industry is quite clearly English in an international context, but it is also the language of meeting needs, of providing high levels of service, of understanding people, of delighting people, of solving problems.
From a teaching point of view the emphasis is firmly on functional language – giving information, making recommendations, dealing with problems and so on – and on creating realistic situational practice where language functions can be demonstrated and developed alongside basic service-oriented performance.
What does the series cover?
This series of lessons looks at a number of different Hospitality and Tourism encounters:
- Giving information
- Checking in at hotels and airports
- Tour-guiding
- Working as a holiday rep
- Providing hospitality at tourism events
- Travel agency situations
There are some additional lessons and ideas for teaching hospitality and tourism students in 'Essential skills'.
Inside Hospitality and Tourism
Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism
In this introduction to his series of resources for English learners in the Hospitality and Tourism industry, Keith Harding provides some tips for using the materials, including teaching pre-work and in-work students, mixed ability classes and how to balance grammar and vocabulary with a focus on communication and functional language.
Giving information: Tourist information centres
The first lesson plan in this series by Keith Harding gives students practice using written and spoken forms for giving information and making recommendations. The lesson is available at two levels - elementary and intermediate - and contains comprehensive teacher's notes and student worksheets.
Checking in at hotels and airports
The second lesson plan in this series by Keith Harding gives students practice in using questions and instructions for checking in, using numbers and making requests. The lesson is available at two levels - elementary and intermediate - and contains comprehensive teacher's notes and student worksheets.
Guiding
The third lesson plan in this series by Keith Harding gives students practice in describing buildings and places, using prepositions and the passive. The lesson is available at two levels - elementary and intermediate - and contains comprehensive teacher's notes and student worksheets.
Holiday reps
The fourth lesson plan in this series by Keith Harding is available at two levels - elementary and intermediate - and contains comprehensive teacher's notes and student worksheets. The elementary lesson gives students practice using the present simple for duties and routines, and describing job skills, while the intermediate lesson practises dealing with problems and difficulties, and softening angry language.
Event hospitality
The fifth lesson plan in this series by Keith Harding is available at two levels - elementary and intermediate - and contains comprehensive teacher's notes and student worksheets. The elementary lesson practices phrases and vocabulary on topics such as offering help and serving food, while the intermediate lesson practises more detailed language relating to team-building and event planning.
Travel agents
The sixth lesson plan in this series by Keith Harding is available at two levels - elementary and intermediate - and contains comprehensive teacher's notes and student worksheets. The elementary lesson practises vocabulary related to holidays and dealing with bookings, while the intermediate lesson concentrates on language related to advertising and superlatives.
Essential skills
More practical materials and ideas for teaching students working in the hospitality and tourism industry.
