SPEAK FIRST · A1 · 50 min

A Problem, and the Way

No hot water, no towels, and then: how do I get to King Street? Say the problem, and find the way.

Speak First · Lesson 9 of 15. ← Lesson 8: The Hotel · Lesson 10: Dinner with the Customer →

Today: say when something is wrong in a hotel room, and ask for and understand directions in the street. Grammar: There's a problem with… / It doesn't work, and Go straight on, turn left, take the second right.

Warm up — five words to remember. They come from Lessons 7 and 8. Do you know it? Say what it means and use it in a sentence. Is it new? Good — learn it now. Click Reveal to check, and follow the link to read the lesson.

reception — from The Hotel

What does it mean? What do you say at reception?

reception — the desk in a hotel where you check in.

the lift — from The Hotel

What does it mean? Lift or stairs — which do you take?

the lift — a small room that goes up and down in a building.

to spell — from The Hotel

What does it mean? Spell your name.

to spell — to say the letters of a word.

an address — from Welcome to London

What does it mean? Say your work address.

an address — the street and the number of a place.

business — from Welcome to London

What does it mean? Say: I'm here for…

business — work; not a holiday.

Now — the words for today's conversation

These are the new words for A Problem, and the Way. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.

Words

a shower
a towel
hot water
to work (a machine)
straight on
to turn
opposite
the corner

Meanings

A. to go left or right
B. not left, not right: in front of you
C. on the other side of the street
D. the place where two streets meet
E. water that is not cold, for a shower
F. where you wash your body, standing, in the bathroom
G. a machine works = it is OK; it doesn't work = it is broken
H. a cloth to dry your body

1 = F (a shower) · 2 = H (a towel) · 3 = E (hot water) · 4 = G (to work (a machine))

5 = B (straight on) · 6 = A (to turn) · 7 = C (opposite) · 8 = D (the corner)

Now talk — out loud

Before we read:

Which words are in the bathroom? Which words are in the street?
A hotel room. What can go wrong? Guess three problems.

The conversation, in three parts

Leo on a London street corner with his phone, a bank on the corner, a sign reading KING STREET, a station opposite.

Look at the picture. Say:

Where is Leo?
What can you see on the street?
Is he lost? Guess.

Wednesday: the day of the meeting. Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and answer the last one about you.

Part 1 — No hot water

Wednesday morning. Leo wants a shower before the big day. Cold. Cold! Only cold water. And there are no towels.

Leo: Hello, reception? This is room 512. There's a problem with the shower. There's no hot water.

Receptionist: I'm sorry, sir. I'll send someone now.

Leo: And there are no towels in the room.

Receptionist: No towels? I'm very sorry. Two minutes.

Leo: Thank you.

Five minutes later: hot water, four towels, and a small box of chocolates. "Sorry," says the card.

Quick check — answer from memory, then reveal:

1. What are the two problems?

2. What does the hotel send?

1. No hot water in the shower, and no towels.

2. Someone to fix it, four towels, and a box of chocolates.

Talk about it:

And you? Do you have problems in hotels? What do you say?

Part 2 — How do I get to King Street?

Three o'clock. The customer's office is at 40 King Street. Leo asks at reception.

Leo: Excuse me. How do I get to King Street?

Receptionist: It's very near. Go straight on, then turn left at the bank.

Leo: Left at the bank.

Receptionist: Then take the second right. That's King Street. The office is opposite the station.

Leo: Second right, opposite the station. How long is it?

Receptionist: Five minutes on foot.

Leo: Perfect. Thank you.

Quick check — answer from memory, then reveal:

1. Where is the office?

2. How long does it take?

1. On King Street, opposite the station.

2. Five minutes on foot.

Talk about it:

And you? Do you ask people for directions, or do you use your phone?

Part 3 — Number 40

Leo walks. Straight on. The bank — turn left. First right? No — second right. King Street. And there, opposite the station: a glass door, number 40. He is early. He is nervous. He remembers Carla: say hello, smile, ask questions.

Leo: Good afternoon. I'm Leo Navarro. I have a meeting with Mr Hill at four.

Assistant: Mr Navarro. Welcome. Please, sit down. Would you like a coffee?

Leo: Yes, please. Black, no sugar.

Quick check — answer from memory, then reveal:

1. Is Leo late or early?

2. What does he remember?

1. Early.

2. Carla's advice: say hello, smile, ask questions.

Talk about it:

And you? Are you usually early or late? Do you drink coffee before a meeting?

Grammar: There's a problem with… / Go straight on

Two small toolkits today: one for when something is wrong, one for finding the way.

Problems: "There's a problem with the shower." "There's no hot water." "There are no towels." "The TV doesn't work." Answer you hear: "I'm sorry. I'll send someone."

Ask the way: "How do I get to King Street?" "Where is the station?" "Is it far?" — "No, five minutes on foot."

Directions use the verb with no you: "Go straight on." "Turn left at the bank." "Take the second right." "It's on the left."

Where things are: opposite the station · next to the bank · on the corner · at the end of the street · on the left / on the right

1. Which word?

Complete each direction with Go, Turn, Take or opposite.

1. straight on.

2. left at the bank.

3. the second right.

4. The office is the station.

1. Go

2. Turn

3. Take

4. opposite

2. Make the sentence

Put the words in order. Then say the sentence out loud.

1. hot water / There's / no

2. doesn't / The shower / work

3. get / How / I / do / to the station?

4. the / Take / right / first

1. There's no hot water.

2. The shower doesn't work.

3. How do I get to the station?

4. Take the first right.

3. Complete the conversation

Fill each gap with one word. Read the conversation out loud when you finish.

"Hello, reception? There's a with the TV. It doesn't ." — "I'm , sir. I'll send someone." — "Thank you. And how do I to the bank?" — "Go on, and it's on the left, the café."

problem · work · sorry · get · straight · opposite

doesn't work = broken. opposite = on the other side.

Role Play

Morning in your hotel room. Two problems. Then you need the station.

Round 1 — you are the guest. Read your partner's line, then say your own line from the cue in italics. Use your real answers. Then click to compare with a model.

Receptionist: Reception, good morning.
You: your room number · problem 1

Receptionist: I'm sorry. I'll send someone now. Anything else?
You: problem 2

Receptionist: I'm very sorry. Five minutes.
You: thank · ask the way to the station

Receptionist: Go straight on, turn right at the church, and it's opposite the park.
You: say it back

Receptionist: That's right. It's ten minutes on foot.
You: ask: is it far? / thank

Receptionist: Reception, good morning.
You: Good morning. This is room 210. There's a problem with the shower. There's no hot water.

Receptionist: I'm sorry. I'll send someone now. Anything else?
You: Yes. There are no towels in the room.

Receptionist: I'm very sorry. Five minutes.
You: Thank you. And how do I get to the station?

Receptionist: Go straight on, turn right at the church, and it's opposite the park.
You: Straight on, right at the church, opposite the park.

Receptionist: That's right. It's ten minutes on foot.
You: Ten minutes. Thank you very much.

Round 2 — change roles. Now you are Receptionist. Ask the questions, and listen to the answers. Then say one thing you remember.

Quick-fire questions

Answer fast, in full sentences. No time to think. Then check a model answer for the ones that were hard.

1. How do I get to the station?

2. Is it far?

3. Where is the bank?

4. What's the problem?

5. Does the TV work?

6. Where is the office?

7. Which right — the first or the second?

8. Where is the café?

9. Are you early or late?

10. Would you like a coffee?

1. Go straight on and turn left.

2. No, five minutes on foot.

3. It's opposite the hotel.

4. There's no hot water.

5. No, it doesn't work.

6. On King Street, opposite the station.

7. The second right.

8. On the corner, next to the bank.

9. I'm early.

10. Yes, please. Black, no sugar.

Speak

Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.

Useful language: "There's a problem with…" · "There's no… / There are no…" · "It doesn't work." · "How do I get to…?" · "Go straight on. Turn left. Take the second right." · "It's opposite / next to…" · "Is it far?"

Time remaining: 1:00

Task A · Tell the story

Tell Leo's Wednesday in your own words. Steps: cold shower, no towels → the call to reception → chocolates → three o'clock, King Street → straight on, left at the bank, second right → opposite the station → number 40, early, nervous → hello, smile, coffee.

Task B · Your street (2 minutes)

Give me directions from your home to a shop, a café or the station. Use go straight on, turn, take the first / second, opposite, next to. Start the timer and keep talking.

Task C · Ask me the way

I am at your hotel reception. Ask me the way to three places: the station, a bank, a good restaurant. Say my directions back to me each time.

To finish

In a hotel, do you say when something is wrong, or do you say nothing? Why?
Phone map or asking a person — which is better in a new city?
From memory: give three directions with go, turn and take.