Hotel Reservations - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level:	Topic:	Speakers:	Length:
easy	hotel reservations	man – woman	01:14

Pre-Listening Exercise

Finding a cheap hotel is important to budget travelers, for an Hawaiian honeymoon, adventure travel in the mountains, or for business in Europe. How do you find a budget hotel: through an online hotel reservations Web site, in a guidebook, or in the phone book? What questions do you ask when you call to make a hotel reservation?

Speak Up, Take a Stand! Instructions for Getting the Conversation Started

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, moving, and talking! The goal is to explore ideas, share opinions, and get ready for the next part of the lesson.

In a face-to-face classroom: Read each statement aloud. If you agree, move to one side of the room; if you disagree, move to the other. Talk with your group—why do you feel that way? Then, pair students with members of the other group and have students explain their reasons. Rotate partners for more practice.
In an online classroom: Use polls, emojis, or the chat box in your online platform to show your opinion. Then, join the conversation as a group or in breakout rooms. What do others think? Do you agree or disagree with them?
For independent learners: Read each statement and think about your opinion. Then say your answer out loud and explain your reason, as if you’re talking to a classmate. This helps you get ready to speak and join real conversations in English. Consider recording your ideas and self-assess your progress.

1. It’s always better to make hotel reservations in advance.
2. Booking a hotel online is the easiest way to find a place to stay.
3. Hotels are better than renting an apartment when traveling.
4. You should always choose a hotel based on reviews.
5. It’s okay to show up at a hotel without a reservation if you’re traveling during off-peak seasons.
6. You should compare prices before booking a hotel.
7. Hotel staff should always provide information about local attractions.
8. Paying for a hotel in advance is safer than paying at check-in.
9. The location of a hotel is more important than the amenities it offers.
10. It’s better to stay at a smaller hotel than a big chain hotel for a more personal experience.

Idioms

“roll out the red carpet” = give very special treatment to welcome guests
“The nice thing about the hotel is that they always roll out the red carpet for their guests.”

“24-7” = twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
“The front desk is open 24-7 in case you need assistance.”

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Vocabulary Practice

Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:

Mixed-Up Sentence | Multiple-Choice Questions | Gap-fill Exercise | Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

Post-Listening Exercise

Talk about a hotel where you stayed at least one night. How much did it cost to stay? Describe the room and the hotel facilities. Would you stay there again? Why or why not?

Online Investigation

Talk about a hotel where you stayed at least one night. How much did it cost to stay? Describe the room and the hotel facilities. Would you stay there again? Why or why not?

Choose a city that you want to visit and use the Internet to find three cheap, affordable accommodations (hotels, youth hostels, etc.) that interest you in that area. Then, compare prices, location, and amenities of each. Finally, decide where to stay based on the information you collected. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

See Listening Script

Back to Easy Quizzes

Language Games

General Listening Quiz