AEA3 DINING MANAGEMENT

TASK 1 - Answering the phone 

 

1. How do you answer the phone in a restaurant? What do you say?

 

2. Answering the phone is usually the first contact we have with our customers, so it’s vital to answer the phone properly, politely. The customer wants to feel that you’re really interested in talking to them and that they get all your attention. This is an example of good practice.

TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE (with a smile on your face, even though they can’t see you)

Waiter: (1)Good afternoon (morning/evening), (2)La Sitja Restaurant. (3)Laia speaking. (4)How can I help you? Customer: Good afternoon, I’d like to make a reservation. Waiter: (5)Certainly, sir/madam. ... Waiter: (6)Thank you for your reservation and see you on …(next Tuesday/tomorrow evening, etc). (7)Have a nice day/evening/etc.

 

Let’s analyze the elements in a proper phone call:

 

1. ____ greeting _______

2. ____________________

3. ____________________

4. ____________________ 

5. ____________________

6. ____________________
7. ____________________       

and a _______________ during all the call, from beginning to end.

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TASK 2 - Listening 

1.  Listen to this audio file and tick what elements from the previous exercise you hear.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/beginner-a1/booking-a-table

 

2. Listen again and do the tasks.

3. This is another reservation by phone. Are the statements true or false? 

 

    a. The restaurant closes on Sundays.                               true/false

    b. The restaurant opens for lunch and dinner.                  true/false

    c. The restaurant serves lunch from twelve o’clock to two o’clock.             true/false

    d. Mrs Kruger wants to book a table for six people.           true/false

    e. The manager has a table for six at 8.00 on Saturday 24th September.             true/false

 

4. Listen again and complete the answers. Then match them to the questions.

1. We open _________ _________ to _________

2. We close _________ _________.

3. We serve dinner _________ _________ o’clock to _________ p.m.

4. We serve lunch _________ _________  o’clock to  _________ o’clock.

5. I’m afraid _________ _________ _________ on Saturday 24th.             

a. When do you close?

b. I’d like to book a table for six on Saturday evening, 24th September, please

c. What time do you serve dinner?

d. What days do you open?

e. What time do you serve lunch?

5. Practice the questions and answers with a partner. Take turns to be the customer and the restaurant manager.

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TASK 3 - Speaking  

Practice making table reservations.  Work in pairs, one of you looks at Student A's directions and the other at Student B's.

STUDENT A                                                                                                       STUDENT B

                                                                                                                                                                 

TASK 4 - Grammar  

1. DATES

 A. With the date 23/05/2020:

 

B. Can you write these dates?

1. (7/11) The new bar opens on __________________________ .

2. (24/12) Does the restaurant open on __________________________?

3. (15/2/2015) On __________________________ is the 10th anniversary of this bar.

4. (30/08) Could I reserve a double room on __________________________?

C. Important festivities around the world. Can you think of or find at least 7 dates for important events or festivities in your country or around the world?

For example: 25/12 → 25th December is Christmas Day everywhere.

a. _____________________________________________________________________

b. _____________________________________________________________________

c. _____________________________________________________________________

d. _____________________________________________________________________

e. _____________________________________________________________________ 

D. Different numbers in English.

a. Listen to this clip to say other types of numbers in English. Click here.

b. Now do this exercise.

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2. TELLING THE TIME - REVIEW

A. Watch this

to refresh how we tell the time in English and write the times you see at the end of the clip.

 

B. Now do this exercise and write the times.

3. PREPOSITIONS OF TIME: IN, ON, AT

A. Check this website to refresh the use of the prepositions of time and do the exercise too.

B. A little bit of practice with this exercise.

C. And now it's time for a Kahoot!

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 TASK 5 Vocabulary  

Phone English

 A. Match the phrases with their meaning and then translate them.

B. Use the phone English to fill the gaps in the dialogue.

 

WAITRESS Good afternoon. La Sitja Restaurant. Marina speaking. How can I help you?

MS SMITH Hello. Could you _______________________ the chef, please?

WAITRESS Yes. Could you tell me who’s calling, please?

MS SMITH Yes, my name is Elisabeth Smith. __________________________ the 

vegetable supplies meant for tomorrow.

WAITRESS Could you __________________________, Ms Smith?

                          <irritating music>

WAITRESS Hello. I’m afraid the chef is in a meeting right now. Would you like to __________________________?

MS SMITH No, it’s ok. Can you tell me the best time to __________________________?

WAITRESS After the service, at 5.00, say.

MS SMITH Thank you and goodbye.

                          <At 5.00>

MS SMITH Hell, this is Elizabeth Smith again. Is the chef      __________________________ now?

WAITRESS Yes, he is. Just a moment. __________________________.

CHEF Ah, Ms Smith. How can I help you?

MS SMITH Hello, sorry but we’ve got a problem with the vegetables delivery for tomorrow at 9.00. Would it __________________________ you at 11.00h?

CHEF Yes, 11 would be convenient for me. 

MS SMITH Perfect then. Thank you and goodbye.

CHEF Goodbye.

 

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TASK 6 - LISTENING 

Giving directions indoors

Do the following exercises to learn to help your customers find their places.

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LISTENING EXERCISE Nº 2. Excuse me, where's the bar? Click here.

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TASK 7 - LISTENING 

Giving directions outside

a. Listen to the directions from the Hotel International and follow them on the map.

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b. Listening. Can you direct me to the theatre?

Listen to the directions from the Hotel International and follow them on the map.

c. Listen again and complete the directions. Click here.

d. Work with a partner. Practise asking for and giving directions. Use the map of Lisbon or your own map.

e. Language study

Expressions to learn. Write in the box the useful expressions to give directions from the previous conversations.

- ... - ... - - - -

f. Prepositions of location and direction. Look at the illustrations.

g. Complete these sentences with the correct preposition. Click here.

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TASK 8 - Reading   

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TASK 9 -  

9. a. Read the following descriptions of rather unusual restaurants around the world and do the following matching activity.

The most unique concept restaurants around the globe  1. Parallax Restaurant  Mammoth Lakes, California  Your luxury snowcat chariot awaits! This high-altitude dining experience takes place slopeside at Mammoth Mountain Inn – 9,600 feet up – overlooking   the snowcapped peaks of the Eastern Sierra landscape. 2. Aurum Clarke Quay, Singapore Dining at this medical-themed restaurant involves entering through a “morgue”, being seated in a wheelchair at an operating table, and sifting through a surgical instrument drawer to get your hands on some cutlery.  3. Ithaa Rangali Island, Maldives The world’s first – and only – under the sea restaurant offers its guests a 270-degree panoramic view of the Maldives’ sea creatures, with a 14 seat capacity. 4. El Diablo “The Devil” Las Palmas, Spain El Diablo’s cook top is nothing short of extraordinary. Located on a Spanish Island, this restaurant cooks its meals over an active volcanic hole in the ground.    5. Signs Toronto, Canada A restaurant supporting the deaf community, Signs gives diners the unique opportunity to use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with their staff. 6. Dinner in the Sky Over 45 countries worldwide Bring your dining experience to new heights at Dinner in the Sky. This one-of-a-kind restaurant, suspended 160+ feet in the air, can accommodate 22 brave diners and three staffers. 7. O.NOIR Toronto and Montreal, Canada Experience food, drinks, and conversation like never before, by leaving your use of sight at the door. While dining in complete darkness, you’ll be served by visually-impaired waiters.    8. Devil Island Prison Restaurant  Devil Island, China Ever dined in jail? You can at Devil Island Prison! Upon entering, patrons are assigned numbers, photographed, and fingerprinted. The restaurant itself resembles a prison, with sliding jail doors, metal floors, and iron bars. Guests dine in prison cells, served by waiters in black-and-white striped inmate uniforms.  9. Chill Out Dubai, United Arab Emirates This refrigerator lounge requires patrons to suit up in thermal clothing – parkas, shoes, and gloves – in order to enter the Inuit-inspired oasis. Inside, a complimentary drink awaits to help them defrost.    10. Villa Escudero San Pablo, Philippines Dining at Villa Escudero means enjoying a meal while seated at the foot of a waterfall, feet submerged in calf-deep water.  11. Conflict Kitchen Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania This restaurant serves only dishes inspired by countries that the U.S. is in conflict with. Based on headlines of the day, recently the kitchen was dishing out North Korean food, in the spirit of Kim Jong Un. 12. Ninja Dining New York City, New York If you’re looking for a unique restaurant in NYC, this warrior-themed restaurant’s waiters are dressed like ninjas that deliver your order with a side of nunchuck tricks. That’s definitely something we haven’t seen before!

9. b. In pairs, you're going to think about an original concept for a restaurant anywhere in the world (it can also be situated in your neighbourhood, of course). We'll see later if you can convince some investors with your great idea, who knows? Present your original project to the class with the aid of either

Be inspired by the websites of the restaurants of the previous exercise. You should deal with the following aspects: 

a. Idea? Theme?

b. Name and location

c. Appealing brief presentation of the restaurant

d. Decoration, service, size, target customer

e. Menu

Don't forget to use pictures to illustrate your presentation

Once finished, google any of these restaurants to see how they present their product and get inspired.