Restaurant Vocabulary Practice Conversation 

Server: Would you like tap or bottled water

Customer: Tap is fine

Server: Would you like to hear our specials for today

Customer: Just your entrée specials, please

Server: For a main course, we have stuffed flounder, filet mignon and roast duck

Customer: How much is the stuffed flounder

Server: It's $17.99 and comes with two side dishes

Customer: What are the side dishes

Server: You have a choice of sautéed spinach, lemon potatoes, mixed vegetables, or broccoli

Customer: I'd like the spinach and potatoes

Server: Will you be having any wine with dinner 

Customer: Yes, I'll have a glass of pinot grigio, please

Server: How is everything 

Customer: Delicious. May I see the dessert menu 

Server: Certainly

Customer: What do you recommend

Server: The chocolate mousse. It's the best in NYC

Customer: Okay, I'll have the mousse, please. Also, may I have the check

Server: Coming right up

Starting an Conversation

• Starting an Informal Conversation

• Listen to thisListen up

• Get a load of this

• Get this

• Guess what

• Guess what I just found outHave you heard the latest 

• Did you hear the news

• Starting a More Formal Conversation

• Can I talk to you

• Do you have a minute 

• Let's sit down and talk

• May I have a word with you  

Useful Shopping Phrases

Useful Shopping Phrases

Finding a Shop	Opening Hours
Questions Can you recommend a good toy/clothes shop? Is there a chemists/supermarket in the area? Where can I get toothpaste/pet food? Where's the nearest shopping centre? Answers/Comments There's a really good bookshop just around the corner. You can buy that here in the hotel. The best toy shop is in the shopping centre. The nearest one is a few miles away.	Questions What time do you open, please? What time do you close, please? What are your opening hours? Are you open all day? Are you open on Sundays? Answers/Comments We're open 24/7. (24 hours a day / 7 days a week) We're closed at lunchtime, between 12 and 2pm. We're open from 9am till 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Shopping for Clothes	Paying
Questions Could you help me, please? Could you tell me where the ................ department is? Excuse me, I'm looking for a .......... . Is there somewhere I can try this on, please? Does it suit me? Do you have this in a (larger/smaller size) (different colour), please? Do you do alterations? Do you have a refund policy? Is this in the sale? Answers/Comments It's too long / short. It's too tight / loose. The ladies / gents changing rooms are over there. You can bring it back and exchange it or get a refund within 2 weeks if you keep the receipt.	Questions Do you take credit cards? Do you give credit? Do you have a loyalty card? Does it have a warranty? Can I pay by cheque? Do you offer a cash discount? Could I have a VAT receipt, please? Could I leave my bags here and pick them up later? Answers/Comments We take all the major credit cards. We only accept cheques with a cheque card. We are offering 6 months free credit with no deposit. Sorry, no. Yes, certainly.

 Useful Vocabulary

Shop	Customer	Cashier	Wallet (m) / Purse (f)	Scales
Till	Shelves	Shelf	Barcode	Trolley
Lift	Bag	Basket	Changing Room	Escalator
		Ways to pay
Cheque	Cash	Note	Coin

informal to formal

Open the door
Please open the door
Could you please open the door
Could you possibly open the door please
Would you mind opening the door please
Would you mind terribly opening the door please
If you wouldn’t mind, please could you open the door
If it’s not too much trouble, please could you open the door

Telephone English

Telephone English - The Phrases

There are a number of phrases and idioms that are only used when telephoning. Let's first take a look at an example dialogue: Here are the most common

• Operator: Hello, Frank and Brothers, How can I help you
• Peter: This is Peter Jackson. Can I have extension 3421
• Operator: Certainly, hold on a minute, I'll put you through...
• Frank: Bob Peterson's office, Frank speaking
• Peter: This is Peter Jackson calling, is Bob in
• Frank: I'm afraid he's out at the moment. Can I take a message
• Peter: Yes, Could you ask him to call me at . I need to talk to him about the Nuovo line, it's urgent
• Frank: Could you repeat the number please
• Peter: Yes, that's , and this is Peter Jackson
• Frank: Thank you Mr Jackson, I'll make sure Bob gets this asap
• Peter: Thanks, bye
• Frank: Bye

Where is my backpack

	Where is my backpack
		I don't know.  Where did you leave it
		I just put it on the chair a while ago, but now it's gone
		Are you sure
		Of course, I'm sure!  I bet someone stole it.
		Well, you should've kept an eye on it.

Can you do me a favor

Tom: Can you do me a favor

 Jamie: Sure. What is it

Tom: Can you keep an eye on my

bag, please? Nature's calling.

Jamie: Sure. Will you be long 

Tom: No. I just want to use the bathroom.

Jamie: Go ahead. It'll be safe with me.

Beginner Dialogues - In a Shop

Shopping for a Sweater

1. Can I help you
2. Yes, I'm looking for a sweater

1. What size are you
2. I'm an extra large

1. How about this one
2. Yes, that's nice. Can I try it on

1. Certainly, there's the changing rooms over there.
2. Thank you.

1. How does it fit
2. It's too large. Do you have a large

1. Yes, here you are.
2. Thank you. I'll have it, please.

1. OK, how would you like to pay
2. Do you take credit cards

1. Yes, we do. Visa, Master Card and American Express.
2. OK, here's my Visa.

1. Thank you. Have a nice day!
2. Thank you, goodbye.

Key Vocabulary

Can I help you
Can I try it (them) onsize - extra small, small, medium, large, extra large
How does it fitchanging rooms
How would you like to pay credit cards

Beginner Dialogues - At the Airport

Checking In

1. Good morning. Can I have your ticket, please
2. Here you are

1. Thank you. Would you like smoking or non-smoking
2. Non-smoking, please

1. Would you like a window or an aisle seat
2. An aisle seat, please.

1. Do you have any baggage
2. Yes, this suitcase and this carry-on bag

1. Here's your boarding pass. Have a nice flight.
2. Thank you.

Passport Control

1. Good morning. Can I see your passport
2. Here you are.

1. Thank you very much. Are you a tourist or on business
2. I'm a tourist.

1. That's fine. Have a pleasant stay.
2. Thank you.

Key Vocabulary

Can I have your ticketsmoking, non-smoking
window, aisle seat
baggage, suitcase, carry-on bag
boarding pass
flight
Can I see your passport tourist, business

Beginner Dialogues - At the Airport

Checking In

1. Good morning. Can I have your ticket, please
2. Here you are

1. Thank you. Would you like smoking or non-smoking
2. Non-smoking, please

1. Would you like a window or an aisle seat
2. An aisle seat, please.

1. Do you have any baggage
2. Yes, this suitcase and this carry-on bag

1. Here's your boarding pass. Have a nice flight.
2. Thank you.

Passport Control

1. Good morning. Can I see your passport
2. Here you are.

1. Thank you very much. Are you a tourist or on business
2. I'm a tourist.

1. That's fine. Have a pleasant stay.
2. Thank you.

Key Vocabulary

Can I have your ticketsmoking, non-smoking
window, aisle seat
baggage, suitcase, carry-on bag
boarding pass
flight
Can I see your passport tourist, business

Phone conversation

When you are a caller

-- Hello?
-- Is that John?
-- Can I speak to John?
-- May I speak to John?

When you are a receiver

-- This is John speaking, who's that?
-- Who's speaking please?
-- Who's calling please?

When you ask the caller to wait

-- One moment please.
-- Just a minute please.
-- Hold on please.
-- Hang on please

When you ask the caller to leave messages

-- Can you leave the message
-- Can I take your message-- Would you like to leave a message
-- Would you like him/her to call you back

When calling the wrong number

-- I'm afraid you got the wrong number
-- Sorry, I think you reach the wrong number

When asking the receiver to transfer the line

-- Can I have extension 1234 please-- Could you please transfer the line to Mr. John please

When finish talking

-- Nice talking to you
-- Talk to

Conversation Questions

Age: Youth & Old Age

Are young people generally more selfish than their parents and grandparents? Does age make you more aware of and caring for others

Should adults try to teach young people lessons, such as the dangers of drinking too much, taking drugs or catch the AIDS virus, or should they leave them alone to find out about these things themselves? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches

What do you think is the best age to be? Explain your opinion.

Most countries give young people rights as they reach a certain age. For example, British people can legally make love or fight for their country at the age of 16; they can drink, vote and drive a car when they are 18. Does China have similar laws? Do you think that any of the age limits need changing

Some people think you should give something to society before you have the right to join it. Should young people have to do some form of military or community service by law

Should people of between 50 and 55 be forced to retire from their jobs in order to make way for younger workers

If people are still able to (and want to) work, should they have to retire when the reach a certain age? Explain your opinion.

In most countries the legal retirement age for men is 5 years older than for women, even though women live longer than men on average. Why do you think this is? Is this fair, or should it be changed

Are there many things that the old can teach the young or are they hopelessly out of touch by the time they reach a certain age? What things were you taught by your older family members? How have they been useful to you in your life

In most countries, compulsory education is targeted at 5 - 16 year olds. Would it be better to offer it to pensioners who want to learn rather than young people who prefer not to be in school? Explain your opinion.

In Russia, China and many other countries, there is a tradition of choosing leaders who are quite advanced in years. Do you think that older people make better leaders? Explain your opinion.

One of Britain's best-ever leaders was William Pitt the younger, who became Prime Minister when he was 24 and remained in power for 18 years. Could this ever happen in China? Why/why not

Many elderly people have disabilities which limit their mobility. Do buses, shops and public buildings in your country provide easy access for the disabled or are your towns and cities designed mainly for the young and able-bodied? Why is this

Should the elderly be expected to pay for residential care out of their own savings or should appropriate accommodation and nursing be provided by the tax payer? Explain your opinion.

Some people say that men age better than women, and remain attractive longer – do you agree? Explain your opinion.

Some people say that men never grow up, they just get bigger – do you agree? Explain your opinion.

Some people say that young women are usually 2 to 3 years more mature than young men – do you agree? Explain your opinion.

In most countries women live an average of 5 to 6 years longer than men. Why do you think this is

In some countries having children is considered a way of "investing in the future", and young people are expected to give money to their parents when they get a job, and then to care for them when they retire. What are the good points and what are the bad points about this system

Many countries are facing the problem of an "aging population", i.e. there will soon be more old people than young people. What problems will this cause? What can be done to prepare for them

What do you think is the ideal age for each of these stages of your life: (Explain your opinion.)

• Starting School
• Starting Dating
• Leaving School/starting work
• Leaving your parents' home
• Getting Married
• Having a Child
• Retiring

Are you afraid of getting old

What is your ideal old age to live to

Do you prefer to live in the retirement home or live with young people?

Should parents continue to finance their children after the children are 18?

Conversation Questions

• What is the most dangerous thing in your home? How can it be made less dangerous  
• What is the most dangerous thing in your home for a child? How can it be made less dangerous  
• What is the most dangerous thing in your home for an elderly person? How can it be made less dangerous  
• What dangers can be found in the kitchen that can cause accidents  
• What can be done to prevent kitchen accidents  
• What can a parent do to childproof a kitchen  
• What dangers can be found in bathrooms that can cause accidents  
• What can be done to prevent bathroom accidents  
• What can a parent do to childproof a bathroom  
• What dangers can be found outside the home in the   yard that can cause accidents
• What can be done to prevent yard accidents
• What can a parent do to childproof the yard
• What other dangers can be found in a home in bedrooms, laundry rooms, garages, and living areas
• What can be done throughout the house to prevent accidents
• What can a parent do to childproof the different rooms of the home
• Where at home would you put your first aid kit? What would you have in it
• Where are these items found in a house, why could they be dangerous, to whom could they be dangerous, and what could someone do to lessen the danger they present
  • hot pan/pot
  • hot curling iron
  • knife
  • window
  • iron
  • medicines
  • gasoline
  • pool
  • insecticides
  • natural gas
  • balcony
  • toilets
  • staircase
  • stove/oven
  • stool/ladder
  • yard tools
  • fireplace
  • cellar /attic
  • bathtub
  • bad dog
  • tall pieces of furniture
  • swing set / playground
  • very clean glass sliding door
  • electronic equipment
  • cleaning supplies
  • lake/retention pond
  • loose carpet on slippery tile floor
  • glass table or sharp edged table
  • hairdryer
  • bric-a-brac
• What do you need to do if...
  • you cut your finger preparing food
  • you fall down and can not move a limb
  • your child drinks a poisonous liquid? (discuss syrup of ipecac)
  • the toilet is flooding the bathroom
  • a pan on the stove is on fire
  • a neighborneighbor's dog is growling at you
  • our child falls off a chair and is bleeding