TOURISM AND HOTEL MANAGEMENT V APPRENTICE GUIDE GUIDE 1

Basic English with emphasis in Pronunciation

STEP 1: Reading Comprehension and practice pronunciation.

English Pronunciation Rules and How to​ ​Learn​ ​Them

First, it is important to know the difference between pronouncing vowels and consonants.
When you say the name of a consonant, the flow of air is temporarily stopped (which means
that your tongue, lips, or vocal cords quickly block the sound). However, when you say the
sound of a vowel, your mouth remains open, and the flow of air does not end until you stop
speaking.

Vowels ​- a, e, i, o, u, *y, *w
Consonants ​- b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, *w, x, *y, z

*It is important to note that -w and -y can act as either vowels or consonants, depending
on the combination of letters in each word. For example, the word “day” uses the vowel
form of -y, while “yell” uses the consonant form. Similarly, “owe” uses the vowel form of -w,
while “work” uses the consonant form.

Once you learn the name and basic sounds of each letter, you can start to put them
together to form words. For example, the letters p, e, and t come together to form the word
“pet.”

Vowel Combinations
Usually, one vowel is surrounded by consonants in a word (example: pet). However, in
many words, two vowels are put together, creating an entirely new sound. When this
happens, the first letter of the combination is usually long, while the second letter is silent.
Here are a few examples: ai (daily), ea (eat), ie (pie, outside), oa (boat), ay (say), oo
(choose, book), and ee (feel).

Consonant Combinations
Just like vowel combinations, consonant combinations can create entirely new sounds.
Sometimes, these sounds are a combination of each individual letter (like -ct in the word
“act”), but sometimes they are completely unrelated to the sounds the letters would make
individually (like -gh in the word “laugh”). Here are a few more examples: ch (chess), sh
(shirt), th (this, bath), gh (ghost, cough), wh (whale, whole), fr (fresh), ck (pick), bl (blue),
and sp (spin).

Syllables
A syllable is basically just one sound in a word. Some words only have one syllable, while
others have many syllables. Knowing the number of syllables in a word helps you pronounce
it correctly. To use our previous example, the word “day” has three letters, but when you
say the word, it only has one unbroken sound.
Every syllable must have at least one vowel, and you can often figure out the number of
syllables in a word by looking at the number of vowels. Here are a few examples:

Fast - 1 syllable, 1 vowel (Fast)

Order - 2 syllables, 2 vowels (Or-der)
Tomorrow - 3 syllables, 3 vowels (To-mor-row)
Alligator - 4 syllables, 4 vowels (All-i-ga-tor)

While the majority of English words have between 1-4 syllables, some words have as many
as 19! This means that counting the number of syllables is not always easy. Additionally,
the number of syllables is not necessarily equal to the number of vowels. Some vowel
sounds are silent, while other sounds are made up of two different vowels. For example, the
word “outside” has 4 vowels, but only two syllables, because -ou only counts as one vowel
sound, while -i...e combine to form the long “i” sound (like in the word “pie”), even though
they are separated by a consonant.

Syllable Stress
When you say a word that only has one syllable, you only have one syllable to stress.
“Syllable stress” refers to the syllable in a word that gets more emphasis than the others.
This means that, in words with more than one syllable, one syllable will sound a little longer
and louder than the others. Without the right stress on certain syllables, your speech might
sound like a robot!
So, how do you determine which syllables to stress? While there are certain exceptions, you
can generally use the following English pronunciation rules for shorter words:
One syllable - Stress the first (and only) syllable.
Examples: ​dog, cat, day, rain, etc.
Two syllables - Stress the first or second syllable. Generally, two-syllable nouns, adjectives,
and adverbs stress the first syllable, while two-syllable verbs stress the second syllable.
First syllable examples: happy (HAP-py), little (LIT-tle), and running (RUN-ning).
Second syllable examples: record (re-CORD), combine (come-BINE), and insist (in-SIST).
Three syllables - Stress can be on the first, second, or third syllable, depending on how the
word ends.
Stress the first syllable on words ending with ​-er (ballplayer), -or (narrator), -ly
(frequently), or -y (library)
Stress the second syllable on words ending with ​-tion (reception) -sion (expansion) -ic
(strategic), or -al (potential)
Stress the third syllable on words ending with ​-ee (referee) -eer (pioneer) -ese
(legalese), -ette (vinaigrette)
Four syllables - Stress can be on the second or third syllable, depending on how the word
ends.
Stress the second syllable on words ending with​ -cy (transparency), -ty (fraternity),
-phy (philosophy), -gy (geology), -al (political)
Stress the third syllable on words ending with ​-tion (constitution), -sion
(apprehension), -ic (supersonic)

STEP 2: Exercises
After analyzing the previous material choose the correct option according the
pronunciation rules.
Directions: Find the word that has been divided into syllables correctly.
1. LADDER: 11. BEFORE:
A. l–adder A. b–efore
B. la–dder B. be–fore
C. lad–der C. bef–ore
D. ladd–er D. befo–re

2. FANCY: 12. EVEN:

A. f–ancy A. e–ven
B. fan–cy B. ev–en
C. fa–ncy C. eve–n
D. fanc–y D. e–v–en
3. GIANT: 13. SENTENCE:
A. gian–t A. sent–ence
B. gia–nt B. se–netence
C. gi–ant C. sen–tence
D. g–iant D. senten–ce
4. ARRIVE : 14. FOLLOW:
A. a–rrive A. follo–w
B. ar–rive B. f–ollow
C. arr–ive C. foll–ow
D. arriv–e D. fol–low
5. GRAMMAR : 15. PICTURE:
A. gram–mar A. pic–ture
B. gr–ammar B. pict–ure
C. gramm–ar C. pictu–re
D. gra–mmar D. pi–cture
6.​ ​EATEN: 16. MOTHER:
A. ea–ten A. mot–her
B. eat–en B. m–other
C. e–aten C. moth–er
D. eate–n D. mothe–r
7. DAYDREAM: 17. COUNTRY:
A. daydr–eam A. cou–ntry
B. day–dream B. countr–y
C. da–ydream C. c–ounrty
D. d–aydream D. coun–try
8. HAPPY: 18. ANSWER:
A. ha–ppy A. ans–wer
B. happ–y B. an–swer
C. hap–py C. answ–er
D. h–appy D. answe–r
9. CAPTAIN : 19. NEVER:
A. capt–ain A. nev–er
B. ca–ptain B. n–ever
C. cap–tain C. neve–r
D. captai–n D. ne–ver
10. DISEASE : 20. BETWEEN:
A. dis–ease A. betwe–en
B. disea–se B. be–tween
C. di–sease C. bet–ween
D. diseas–e D. b–etween

ENGLISH FOR DIFFERENT TOURISM CONTEXTS

STEP 3:​ ​topic:​ ​Restaurant phrases for tourists

Choose the correct words/phrases to complete the following conversation:

1. HOSTESS: Hi and welcome to 6. WAITER: Hi and welcome to

Roberto's. Do you have a reservation? Roberto's. Are you ready to order?

YOU: No, we don't. Do you have YOU: Not yet, _____________, please
_________this evening?
a.​ tables waiting a. ​give us a second
b.​ somewhere to sit down b.​ more time
c.​ any free tables c.​ more time is needed
2. HOSTESS: Yes, we do... for 2? 7. WAITER: No problem. I'll be back in
YOU: No, for 4 please. Some friends a couple of minutes.... (AFTER A
will be ____ us. COUPLE OF MINUTES) What would you
like to order?
a. ​eating YOU: How big are your ___________?
b​.​ joining a. ​foods
c​.​ sitting b.​ portions
c.​ plates
3. HOSTESS: Right this way, please. 8. WAITER: Very big, you'll definitely
(SHOWS YOU A TABLE) get full :)
YOU: Could we get a table
____________ ? YOU: Perfect. And what does each
a. ​by the window order ______ ( = include)?
b.​ window a. ​come to
c.​ with window b.​ come by
c.​ come with
4. HOSTESS: I'm sorry, but all those 9. WAITER: Each order includes fries or
tables are reserved tonight... a salad.
YOU: Could you please double
________ for us? Those tables are YOU: OK. ____________ the chicken
really nice. breast, and for my wife... the trout.
a. ​inspect a. ​Bring me
​b.​ check b.​ I'll have
​c.​ research c.​ Get
5. HOSTESS: Certainly. I'll be back in a 10. WAITER: Great. And would you like
second... You're in luck! Someone just fries or salad with that?
cancelled their reservation! YOU: Fries __________ and a salad for
YOU: That's great! Thank you very my wife.
much ______. a.​ for me
a. ​help b.​ I will have
b.​ for the research c.​ me
c.​ for your help WAITER: All right. I'll be right back
with your order.

STEP 3:​ ​topic:​ ​At the hotel - General vocabulary

Write the correct word to complete each of the following sentences.
Choose from the following options:​ ​changed, upfront, view, exchange, bring, noisy,
free, mini, locked, reception​.
1.​ Can you get someone to​____________________​our bags to our room?

2.​ Are the sheets​____________________​every day?

3.​ We didn't take anything from the​____________________​-bar.

4.​ I​____________________​my key in my room.

5.​ Do I leave the key at the​____________________​desk?

6.​ Do I have to pay​____________________​ ( = in advance) ?

7.​ Is there somewhere I can​____________________​money around here?

8.​ The fan is really​____________________.​ Can I turn it off?

9.​ Is this service​____________________​, or do I have to pay for it?

10.​ The​____________________​is fantastic. We can see the whole city!

STEP 4:​ ​topic:​ ​SIGHTSEEING VOCABULARY (Definitions)

Match the following definitions with the following words: ​guide, zoo, bridge, castle, bus,
landmark, cruise, discount, museum, amusement park.

1. ​A building that is historically important =​ ​____________________

2. ​A structure that spans a river =​ ​____________________

3. ​A place where animals are kept =​ ​____________________

4. ​A vehicle that is used for transportation (on land)​ = ​____________________

5. ​A place with rides, shows, and other entertainment​ = ​____________________

6. ​A person who tells you about the importance of historic buildings, etc.​ = ​____________

7. ​A reduction in the price of a ticket​ = ​____________________

8. ​A voyage (usually as a holiday/vacation) on a ship​ =​____________________

9. ​A place where one can see art​ = ​____________________

10. ​A solid structure that was usually fortified against an attack ​= ​__________________

Made by teacher:
ZILIA SOFIA RUBIANO MORALES
Bibliography:
http://www.vocabulary.cl/Lists/Hotel-Dialogues.htm
http://www.voanews.com/
http://www.esl-lab.com/
http://www.agendaweb.org/