U10 Choose a Tour

Hello class!!




a) Click on the link below and choose a national tour that you would like to take yourself. 


http://www.tourbymexico.com/tours/about.htm


                                   


Why did you choose that tour? What´s your favorite part? Have you been there before? Share your information in the box below. 

b) If you are studying Tourism, which site do you consider more interesing to visit? Why?
If you are studying Gastronomy, can you find interesting places where there are special and popular dishes?
Be ready to discuss this in class. 


Saludos!
rb

U9 The Catering Industry

Hello everyone!

I. Read the following extract, and post your comments about catering in special events. 

The catering business is tough. You need to be extremely organized, yet flexible enough to be able to deal with last minute changes. You also need a strong affinity for people and a kind of intuition as to what people enjoy in different environmental settings.

Customers today are looking for the catered experience to be more restaurant-like. Many caterers are now offering signature dishes and house specialties as customers broaden their culinary experience. Others are offering family-style menu, especially for large informal functions and even corporate meetings..

As with any business, your success will be directly related to the soundness of planning and the working of that plan. Start small and keep it simple. Understand exactly what your client wants, and give him what he wants in the way of service that reflects upon the client in a complimentary manner.

2. Did you find any new words in the text? Which are they?

U9 The Business Traveller

Hello everyone!!


Choose one of the two questions below and write your answer in the box below. 


1. What special facilities do business travellers expect?


2. Imagine you are the hotel manager where a group of Americans is coming to stay in your hotel in Mexico. How would you write a Welcome Note for the group?

3. Click on the link below and watch the video. Write down the practical guide for Business Travelers. We´ll discuss them in class. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE-dJ90Fqsg&feature=related




Regards,
rb

U8 Off-site services

Traveling to Canada!

Read the following information and note the details of these three tours.


Yukon Northern Lights Adventure Package 

• A discount of $35 will be applied if paying by cash or local debit card.                                           On this tour you will enjoy the northern lights in the warmth of the hotsprings pool located just steps away from your quaint cabin at the Takhini Hotsprings Valley Retreat. THIS IS AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE!
  
  Tour Includes
  • Return airfare from Vancouver with Air North, Yukon's Airline
  • 2-nights accommodation based on double occupancy
  • 4-hour Aurora Borealis - Northern Lights Viewing Tour with Northern Tales
  • Meals (2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners)
  • 24 hour beverage service (coffee, tea, water) 
  • 2-entry passes to the hot springs 
  • Airport transfers to and from the Yukon airport (airport transfers to and from the Vancouver airport are not included) 

  
  

   Luxury Peru Gourmet Tour

  

   A fabulous Gourmet tour of discovery through Peru combining cooking classes with tours to the highlights of Peru. All accommodations are in 5 star with private tours with creative cooking classes introducing such wonderful dishes as ceviche, rocoto relleno and aji de gallina. Lima - Arequipa - Colca Canyon - Cuzco - Machu Picchu - Nazca - Ica

  11 days / 10 nights. 
  Our Price Includes:
  

  • Accommodation in double rooms and at selected first class hotels.
  • All meals as per the itinerary, not including alcoholic beverages. Some alcoholic beverages included on the Hiram Bingham train and in the new Las Casitas Del Colca lodge.
  • Transfers, tours, excursions all in private with English speaking guides. Cooking lessons as per the itinerary in small groups.
  • All internal flight tickets.
  • Luxury train tickets.

  • All entrance fees and tips.
  FIRST CONDITIONAL 
  Look at the examples, then write a sentence using each form, and post them in the box below.
  If + Present Tense, will
  1. If you go to Canada, you´ll see Northern Lights.
  If + Present Tense, modal verb
  2. If you take the Gourmet Tour, you can visit Machu Picchu.
  
   Do you know any other interesting tours?

U6 MONEY MATTERS

Hello everyone!


Have you thought about going abroad? Where would you like to go? With whom? For how long? 


Choose a country/city where you would like to go. Check the following web sites, and find out the price for an airplane ticket to the place you would like to visit.  


Click Here

http://www.aa.com/homePage.do?locale=es_MX&pref=true


How much is the airplane ticket? Write the price in numbers and in words. Can you find a less expensive flight perhaps with a different company?


Leave your comments in the box below. 


Buon Viaggio!
rb

U5 TU HOTEL SERVICES

I. Do you understand what the following signs mean? Post your ideas in the box below. 

II. Click on the following link. You will watch a video about different signs. Some of them are funny and weird. 


I dare you to design and create your own sign for our school, bring it to class, and talk about it. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ti3orpfOGo&feature=related


Enjoy!
rb

U5 G RESTAURANT SERVICES

I. CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW. WATCH THE VIDEO AND CHOOSE TWO OR THREE USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR YOU. POST YOUR CHOICES IN THE COMMENTS BOX, AND TRY NOT TO REPEAT THE ONES YOUR CLASSMATES USED. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLACfxlmfT4&feature=related

U3 G STAFFING AND INTERNAL ORGANIZATION

Hiring For Your Restaurant

I. Choose one of the positions and write one or two responsibilities. Which position is your favorite? Why? Which position you hate? Why?

Cooks

Wait Staff

Host

Bartender

Dishwasher

Busboy

II. Imagine you and three/four partners have enough money to buy and run a small restaurant. Think about the following questions. Write a short paragraph about them and be ready for class discussion.

1. Which country/city/town/village/ street would it be in?
2. What type of food would you serve?
3. What kind of clientele would you try to attract?
4. What special activities would you offer?
5. What would you call it?
6. How would you divide the work?

U3 TU STAFFING AND INTERNAL ORGANIZATION

I. Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the words below.

Employee Hierarchy at a Hotel

assistant manager  / catering director / administrative director / hotel's Chief Executive Officer / restaurant manager / general manager / human resources director / front office manager / employees/ management staff / wine manager

A hotel's organizational structure depends largely on the quality, competence and hierarchy of its staff. At the top of the hotel pyramid is the  (1) ________________. Underneath the CEO is the (2) ______________, headed by the hotel (3) ________________. The general manager, who oversees all hotel operations on a daily basis, may hire an (4)________________to help with his myriad duties and supervision. Underneath the general manager, a hotel may have a (5) ________________,  (6)________________, (7)___________________,(8) ___________________, (9)______________________, (10)__________________, etc. Underneath the managerial staff are the (11)________________who work in food and beverage services, marketing and sales, room service, housekeeping and maintenance. The size of the hotel and the type of services it offers determines the complexity of its organizational employee structure.

II. Imagine you and three/four partners have enough money to buy and run a small hotel. Think about the following questions. Write a short paragraph about them and be ready for class discussion.

• Which country/city/town/village/ street would it be in?
• How many rooms? With what sort of views?
• What type of food would you serve?
• What kind of clientele would you try to attract?
• What special activities would you offer?
• What would you call it?
• How would you divide the work? 

U2 HOTEL FACILITIES

I. READ THE FOLLOWING TEXT. 

Most hotels offer their guests many facilities and amenities for their use and enjoyment. The facilities may include pools, sauna and steam room, a number of restaurants, a health center, tennis courts, putting greens, programs for children, a business center, etc. Throughout the course of the day a guest may ask a hotel employee about any one of them. Questions that guests might have are: does the hotel have a particular facility, where it is located, when are it’s hours of operation, how much does it cost, do the facility staff speak English, etc. Guests may also ask about facilities or places outside the hotel. Such places may be a diving school, an historical site to visit, a hot night club, or a panoramic vista. The list could be endless. The more knowledgeable hotel staff are about the local facilities and points of interest, the better service they will be able to give to the guests. 

NOW, WHICH FACILITY DO YOU CONSIDER MORE IMPORTANT? WHY?

Expressions- Hotel Facilities

Look at these examples of guests requests about facilities. Then, create your own, post it, and wait for a response from your classmates. 

Question: Where can we (… see a good a good live band)? 

Response: You might want to try (…The Saxophone Restaurant). 

Question: I am looking for (… hot night club. Do you know of any)? 

Response: Well, one of my favorite places is ( … The Pink Pony). 

Question: Do you know where I can find (… fine jewelry)? 

Response: You may enjoy shopping at (…The Diamond Shop). 

Question: Could you recommend a (… good Italian restaurant)? 

Response: I would highly recommend ( … Guido’s). 

Question: Where’s a good place (… to see a movie)? 

Response: Have you been to (…the cinema at Central Festival)? 

Question: What is there to do (… here that is different)? 

Response: What about a tour of (…James Bond Island)? 

III. FOR CLASS. Imagine that you are traveling abroad for summer vacation, and you have three cities in mind: Paris, New York City, and Tokyo. Use different resources to find more information about the cities. Then, compare the accommodations based on price, amenities, and location. Then, make a recommendation to a partner. Be prepared to present your findings to the class. 

U1 TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION

Vocabulary & Reading


 1. Look at the following web sites. 



Prince George Hotel


http://www.princegeorgehotel.com/ 


Hotel Santa Fe 


http://www.hotelsantafe.com/



What do you think about these two hotels? Write your comments in the box below. You can comment about the following: 


a. Size and location
b. Comfort and atmosphere
c. Entertainment for family and children
d. Which hotel includes information about the people and town where it´s located?




Vocabulary & Writing


a. Describe a traditional room at Hotel Santa Fe


b. Enlist 4 room features and amenities at the Prince George Hotel 


c. Find the Concierge responsibilities at these hotels. Which one do you consider more difficult? 


d. What is your favorite meal at these places? 


Speaking


Which type of accommodation do you prefer? 
Bring to class a hard copy of a brochure for a hotel in San Miguel.

G Quote of the month

Here you have several interesting quotes. Read them, vote for your favorite, and post it on the box. The quote with the highest score will be posted on the school board by the end of the month. 

"To preside over a political chamber or to hold a post in an embassy, is to take a course in gastronomy." Antonin Carême (Marie-Antoine Carême) (1783-1833)

"Gastronomy, has been the joy of all peoples through the ages. It produces beauty and wit and goes hand in hand with goodness of heart and a consideration of others." Charles Pierre Monselet (1825-88) French author.

"All passions, rationalized and controlled, become an art: gastronomy, more than any other passion, is sensitive to rationalism and direction." Charles Pierre Monselet

“Thus it is Gastronomy, to tell the truth, which motivates the farmers, fineyardists, fishermen, hunters, and the great family of cooks, no matter under what names or qualifications they may disguise their part in the preparation of foods.”Jean-Antheleme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826)The Physiology of Taste (1825)

"Gastronomy is the joy of all conditions and all ages. It adds wit to beauty." Charles Pierre Monselet

"The gentle art of gastronomy is a friendly one. It hurdles the language barrier, makes friends among civilized people, and warms the heart."Samuel Chamberlain

G Podcast Recipe

INSTRUCTIONS

http://audioboo.fm/boos/677277-zuchinni-soup#t=0m45s 

A) Click on the link above, and listen carefully paying attention and trying to understand what it is about. 

B) Listen again, and now try to answer the following questions.  Write down your answers on the comment box below. Just type the number of the question, and continue with your answer. 

1. What is the dish?

2. What are three main ingredients for this recipe?

3. What is the most important part of the preparation? 

4. Have you prepared this recipe before? 

5. Do you have any suggestions to improve this recipe? 

C)  Reflect on your experience doing this activity, and comment on your experience. Do you use any strategy that helps you improve your listening skills? Write your comment in the box below. 

Thank you!!

RB

G A Table Setting

Hi everyone!


Review your vocabulary of a Table Setting with the images A and B below. 


Image A)

Image B) 

Now click on the links below. You will find two images of Table Settings where the items don´t have the correct name. Which are those items? 


https://www.thinglink.com/scene/231611848862990336


https://www.thinglink.com/scene/231612157941252096


Write the incorrect names and the image letter (A or B) on the comments box below. 


If you have any questions or doubts, you can talk to me personally at the school.


Have a great day!
rb

G Pozole Soup

Hey cooks!

It is always useful to know how to describe a dish or a meal. You will practice here a few words to describe food. 

I challenge you to complete the following paragraph correctly by adding the missing words. Select the words from the list below. Then, post your answers in the comments box, just by writing the number and the letter. Example: 1c, 2d, etc. 

Correct answers will be posted after most of you have done the exercise. 

1. served 

2. main 

3. substituted 

4. needed

5. hotter

6. found

7. authentic

8. spicier 

9. available 

"This Mexican pork  stew can be served without the pork rinds and pigs' feet, if desired, but it will not be a) ________ . Pozole may be b)_________ as a c)_______ dish with tortillas or crackers. Pozole can be d)_________ in the meat section if it is e)___________in your area. If not available, hominy can be f)__________ in the same quantities but no rinsing or pre-cooking is g) _________. Add red chili sauce and leave the seeds in the peppers for a h)__________/i)__________taste. You can also add one can of tomatoes to enhance the flavor of the stew."

Yummi!  Where are the tostadas?!!  :D!

Enjoy!

rb

G Video Brownies

Hello there!


Videos are an excellent tool to practice the language. 

Click on the link below, you will find a video that explains how to make Delicious Brownies! Listen carefully, and pay attention to the preparation process. Then, try doing the exercise that appears on the right, next to the video. 

http://www.eslvideo.com/esl_video_quiz.php?id=10437

When you have finished, check out your score. Share it with the blog members by posting it in the box. Let´s see who gets the highest!


Good Luck!
rb

T Quote of the Month

Here you have some quotes related to Tourism. Read them and select your favorite. The quote with the highest score will be posted on the school board by the end of the month. 

Traveling makes a man wiser, but less happy.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) Third president of the United States.

The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist see what he has come to see.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) British journalist, novelist and poet

The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) British journalist, novelist and poet

The fool wanders, a wise man travels.

Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) British clergyman and author.

Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.

Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) Irish writer, poet, and physician.

A man who leaves home to mend himself and others is a philosopher; but he who goes from country to country, guided by the blind impulse of curiosity, is a vagabond.

Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) Irish writer, poet, and physician.

T Vocabulary for a Hotel Room

Hi!


Click on the link below. You will find a picture of a bedroom in a hotel. Click on the black circles, and you will see the English word for the items. Use the word to write a sentence using prepositions of place (in, on, at, next to, beside, under, on top of, on the right, on the left, in front of, in the back of).


http://www.thinglink.com/scene/229742730941562882


Send your sentences on the comments box below.


Have a good time!
rb

T Classic Room

Hello Everybody!


INSTRUCTIONS: 


1. Read the description of a Classic Room at the Bugambilias Hotel in San Miguel de Allende, and make a list of all facilities and furniture in the room. 


Far from being places used for sleeping - and yes, the beds are exceptionally comfortable - our classic Rooms make waking hours fly. With their subtle colors and lime-oak furnishings, they´re light, spacious, and charming; ideal for working  (there´s a large, business-like desk) or relaxing (there´s satellite TV with three international channels; a radio, a computarized mini-bar; facilities for making your own tea and coffee; two extremely restful armchairs...).


A bed side panel gives remote control of lighting, TV, radio, and signs for "Make Up Room" and "Do Not Disturb".


A trouser-press, iron and board keep creases razor sharp or invisible as required. An air-and-temperature control system ensures an atmosphere perfect for individual requirements. 


This level of thoughtful comfort extends into beautifully designed bathrooms with basins, showers, and baths. 


And if visitors want anything else, they can always dial room service 24 hours a day. 

2. What adjectives are used to describe: 
a. the room as a whole?
b. the bed?
c. the desk?
d. the armchairs?
e. the bathroom?


3. Make a list of alternative adjectives that could be used to describe each of these.


Post your answers on the Comments Box. Make sure you write the number of the exercise (1, 2, 3).


Correct answers will be posted on Friday. 


Regards!
rb

T Vocabulary at a Hotel

Hello!


Practice some English vocabulary for a Hotel. Click on the link below, match the words with the numbers next to the pictures, and then post your answers on the comments box below. 


http://www.eslflow.com/Hotel__vocabulary_and_speaking_exercise.pdf


Do you know any other words related to a Reception at a Hotel? Share them!


RB

T Hotel Vocabulary

Hello!


Practice some English vocabulary for a Hotel. Click on the link below, match the words with the numbers next to the pictures, and then post your answers on the comments box below. 


http://www.eslflow.com/Hotel__vocabulary_and_speaking_exercise.pdf


Do you know any other words, expressions or phrases related to a Reception at a Hotel? Share them!


RB