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Culture Focus: Going on Vacation

For many Americans, summertime is vacation time.  Part of the reason for this is because the traditional American school year includes a three-month break for the summer.  This makes it easier to take an extended trip of a week or two with the kids.  Additionally, the weather is warmer than other times of the year, making travel easier.

There are different ways to take a vacation:

  • Road trip.  The whole vacation is a road trip – for example, drive around Lake Michigan or Lake Superior.
  • Hotel / resort.  Travel to a destination – such as a hotel or resort – and then relax at that destination for several days.
  • Visiting family.  Take the opportunity to visit the grandparents or other relatives, especially if Grandma and Grandpa live out-of-state.
  • “RVing.”  RVing means “living on the road in an RV,” or recreational vehicle (= camping car).
  • Camping.  Spend your vacation in the great outdoors, making your vacation a camping or fishing trip.
  • Rent a vacation home.  Rent a vacation home for a week or so and unwind.
  • Educational trip.  Combine vacation with education, and take the children to visit famous historical sites, such as Civil War battlefields or the numerous historical attractions around the Washington, D.C. area.
  • Amusement park.  Take a trip to Disneyland (in California) or Disneyworld (in Florida).
  • College Visits.  If you have teenagers who are thinking about going to college, include a visit to check out several college campuses as part of your summer vacation.
  • Staycation.  If you don’t have the money to travel, or you don’t want the hassle of traveling, take a “staycation” (= stay vacation) and relax at home.

Regardless of your preference, a vacation is a great time to step aside from the daily grind of work or your normal routine, and “recharge your batteries.”  In this day and age of instant, constant communication (email, internet, cell phones, etc.), it’s perhaps more important than ever to take some sort of break – whether physical (going away somewhere) or mental (“unplugging” from electronics) – and spend some time in self-renewal.  So, let your friends and colleagues know that you’re going on vacation, and you’ll be unavailable for several days.  Hang out a virtual sign, as it’s sometimes put in the vernacular:

Gone Fishing!

Gone fishing ~

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Writing Assignment: At a Hotel (Solution)

hotel pool

Click for larger image

1.    Where was this picture taken?
This picture was taken by a swimming pool.

2.    What are the people in the picture doing?
The people in the picture are enjoying themselves at the pool, swimming.

3.    What kind of building do you see in the picture?
The building that we see in the picture is a hotel (motel).

4.    What do people usually do at that type of building?
People usually stay at a hotel while they are traveling, or on vacation.

5.    How long can you stay at a hotel?
You can stay at a hotel for a night, or for several nights.

6.    What is it called when you register at a hotel?
When you register at a hotel, that is called “checking in.”  When you are done and you are going to leave, you must “check out.”

7.    Where do you go to check in at a hotel?
To check in at a hotel, you must go to the front desk.

8.    Where is the front desk located?
The front desk is located in the lobby of the hotel.

9.    If you need help with your luggage, who can help you?
If you need help with your luggage, you can ask the bellhop to assist you.

10.    What kind of amenities does a hotel often have?
Common amenities at a hotel are a pool, exercise room, complimentary breakfast, and a microwave and mini-fridge in the room.

11.    Where can you go if you want to relax at a hotel?
If you want to relax at a hotel, you can lounge at the pool to unwind.

12.    Where can you go if you want to get some exercise at a hotel?
If you want to get some exercise at a hotel, you can go to the exercise room.

13.    Whom do you call if you want to have food delivered to your room?
If you want to have food delivered to your room, you can order room service.

14.    What can you do if you want to make sure you will not oversleep in the morning?
If you want to make sure you will not oversleep in the morning, you can contact the front desk and ask them for a wake-up call.

15.    What can you do if you want to sleep in and don’t want housekeeping to come in?
If you want to sleep in and not be disturbed by housekeeping, you can put a “do not disturb” sign on the outside of the door.

16.    What can you do if you forget shampoo, toothpaste, or other such items?
If you forget shampoo, toothpaste, or other toiletries, you can contact the front desk or concierge.

17.    What other furniture might a hotel room have, besides a bed?
Other furniture that a hotel room might have could be a sofa, a wardrobe, a dresser, and a table and chairs.

18.    What can you do if you need an extra bed, or perhaps a bed for a baby?
If you need an extra bed, you can request a rollaway bed.  If you need a bed for a baby, you can request a crib.

19.    If you have some valuables, what can you do to keep them safe?
If you have some valuables, you can ask to put them in the hotel safe.  Also, some rooms have a small room safe that you can use.

20.    Can you take your pet to a hotel?
Some hotels allow pets and others do not.  So if you want to travel with your pet, you should check in advance with the hotel regarding their pet policy.

Paragraph:  At a Hotel

When you stay at a hotel, the first thing you have to do is check in.  You go to the front desk and inquire if there are any vacancies, or available rooms.  Of course, if you made a reservation, then you know that a room is waiting for you.  The clerk at the front desk will ask you to fill out a form with your name and address, and oftentimes your license plate number, if you are driving a car.  After check-in, the clerk will give you a room key and explain where your room is, how to get there, where’s the best place to park, and so on.  The clerk will also inform you about breakfast hours, if a complimentary breakfast is included with your stay.

It is common for hotel rooms to have some extras, like a sofa, a microwave, a mini-fridge, and a coffee maker.  This is very convenient, as it makes it easier to relax and unwind at the hotel if you can kick back and eat a microwave dinner while watching TV, instead of having to go out to eat at a restaurant or something.  You can also relax by taking a dip in the hotel pool, working up a good sweat in the exercise room, or taking a hot bath.

Many hotel rooms are also equipped with an alarm clock, so you don’t have to worry if you forgot your travel alarm.  If you think you are likely to oversleep, or you are concerned about not getting up in time, you can always call the front desk and request a wake-up call.  On the other hand, if you are on vacation and have the luxury of sleeping in, you can put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door.  That way, you won’t be awakened by housecleaning the next morning, and whenever you are ready, you can put up a note letting the maid know that it’s now okay to clean the room.

When your hotel stay is over, you’ll have to check out.  Usually, check-out time is ten or eleven o’clock in the morning, so you’ll want to make sure that you are up in time for that, and that you get a chance to check your room to make sure you don’t accidentally leave anything behind.  Some people leave a tip for the housecleaning crew, but this is not necessary.  Checking out is rather easy – you just have to return the room key, and that’s it.  Then you can be on your way, wherever your next destination may happen to be.

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Writing Assignment: At a Hotel

hotel pool

Click for larger image

Vocabulary

Check-in
Check-out
Front desk
Wake-up call
Bellhop
Lobby
Room service
Do not disturb
Pool
Exercise room
Ice machine
Vending machine
Room key
Toiletries
Suite
Housekeeping
Rollaway bed
Crib
Elevator
Emergency exit
Fire exit
Breakfast hours
Room safe
Wardrobe
TV guide
Amenities
Mini-fridge
Microwave
Coffee maker
Concierge

1.    Where was this picture taken?
2.    What are the people in the picture doing?
3.    What kind of building do you see in the picture?
4.    What do people usually do at that type of building?
5.    How long can you stay at a hotel?
6.    What is it called when you register at a hotel?
7.    Where do you go to check in at a hotel?
8.    Where is the front desk located?
9.    If you need help with your luggage, who can help you?
10.    What kind of amenities does a hotel often have?
11.    Where can you go if you want to relax at a hotel?
12.    Where can you go if you want to get some exercise at a hotel?
13.    Whom do you call if you want to have food delivered to your room?
14.    What can you do if you want to make sure you will not oversleep in the morning?
15.    What can you do if you want to sleep in and don’t want housekeeping to come in?
16.    What can you do if you forget shampoo, toothpaste, or other such items?
17.    What other furniture might a hotel room have, besides a bed?
18.    What can you do if you need an extra bed, or perhaps a bed for a baby?
19.    If you have some valuables, what can you do to keep them safe?
20.    Can you take your pet to a hotel?

Paragraph:  At a Hotel

Most people have stayed at a hotel.  Some hotels are plain, and others are fancy.  What kind of hotel have you stayed in?  How was your experience?  Write a brief paragraph describing your stay at a hotel.

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Writing Assignment: On a Plane (Solution)

Inside an Airplane

1.    Where is this picture taken?
This picture is taken on a plane.

2.    What are the people doing?
The people are sitting on a plane, getting ready for takeoff.

3.    Who is the woman in the middle of the picture?
The woman in the middle of the picture is a stewardess, or flight attendant.

4.    What is her job?
Her job is to help the passengers during the flight, so they have a pleasant journey.

5.    Where do you think the people are going?
Maybe some people are going on vacation, or perhaps on a business trip.

6.    What are the storage spaces over the people’s heads?
The storage spaces over the people’s heads are called overhead compartments.

7.    What can you put in that storage space?
You can put carry on baggage in the overhead compartments.

8.    What do you need to get on a plane?
To get on a plane you need a ticket.  After you have checked in and shown your ticket to the person at the airline counter, you will get a boarding pass, which you will need to get on the plane.

9.    What do foreign travelers need to go on a plane?
Foreign travelers need a passport to go on a plane.

10.    What do you do with your baggage when you go on an airplane?
If you have baggage, you can check it at the airline counter when you go through check in.

11.    What procedure do you have to go through before you will be allowed to go on a plane?
Before you are allowed to get on a plane, you will have to go through airport security.

12.    Who controls the plane?
The pilots control the plane.  One pilot is the captain, and the other is his co-pilot.

13.    Who helps the passengers when they’re on the plane?
Once the passengers are on the plane, the stewards and stewardesses (flight attendants) help them.

14.    How can you summon a flight attendant if you need help?
You can press the call button to summon a flight attendant if you need help.

15.    Why is an airplane flight bumpy or rough sometimes?
Sometimes an airplane flight is rough because of turbulence.

16.    What might you need if you feel sick during the flight?
If you feel sick during a flight, you might need an airsickness bag.

17.    How does an airplane move between the gate and the end of the runway?
An airplane moves between the gate and the end of the runway by taxiing to where it needs to go.

18.    What do you have to do to prepare for takeoff or landing?
To prepare for takeoff or landing, you need to put your seat in an upright position, and make sure your tray is in place and locked.  You also need to turn off cell phones and mp3 players.

19.    Where do you have to go to get your baggage when you arrive at your destination?
Once you arrive at your destination, you have to go to baggage claim to pick up your baggage.

20.    If you fly on an international flight, what official lines do you have to pass through before you are allowed to enter the country?
If you go on an international flight, you will need to pass through customs and immigration before you are allowed to enter the country.

Paragraph:  On a Plane

Traveling by plane is very convenient.  You can buy a ticket online, although some people prefer to ask a travel agent to recommend a certain flight and make arrangements.  Nowadays, in most instances an e-ticket is issued, which you must print out and bring with you to check-in.  The person at the counter will also ask for some identification, like a driver’s license or passport.  A passport is needed if you are traveling to a foreign country.

If you have a lot of baggage, you can check it in.  The person at the airline counter will weigh it to make sure the baggage does not exceed the weight limit.  But if you have only a few light items, such as a small suitcase or backpack, you can take that on board with you, and store it in the overhead compartment on the plane.

The person at the airline counter will also assign you a seat on the plane.  Sometimes you can express a preference for a window seat or an aisle seat, but if the plane is crowded you might not be able to have your preference.  Once your seat is assigned, you will be given a boarding pass and instructions on which gate your flight is at, and when the boarding starts.

Before you can go to your gate, however, you have to go through airport security.  Sadly, this is a fact of modern air travel.  You will have to walk through a metal detector, and your carry on items will have to be x-rayed for suspicious materials.  Thankfully, most people comply with these security measures, and once you are through the security, you can proceed to your gate.

Once you are on the plane, the flight attendants will help you find your seat, put your carry ons in the overhead compartment, and get ready for the flight.  They will ask you to fasten your seat belt and put your seat in an upright position.  You are also asked to refrain from using certain electronic, such as cell phones and mp3 players, equipment during takeoff and landing.

After the airplane has taken off and is on its way, the seat belt sign will go off, and you can unbuckle it if you like.  If there is turbulence during the flight, though, the seat belt light will come back on, and you should buckle up again.  The flight attendants usually go up and down the aisle with a cart full of snacks and drinks, or, if you are on a long flight, they will have meals for the passengers.  If you need any assistance, you can summon the flight attendant by pressing the call button.

At the end of the flight, the plane will land at its destination.  You can get off the plane and go to the baggage claim to get your luggage.  If you have gone to a foreign country, you will have to go through customs and immigration before you are allowed to go to the general part of the airport.

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Writing Assignment: On a Plane

Inside an Airplane
Vocabulary

ticket
e-ticket
boarding pass
passport
baggage / luggage
suitcase
carry on
pilot
steward / stewardess
flight attendant
check in
security
window seat
aisle seat
turbulence
takeoff
landing
taxi
flight crew
passengers
baggage claim
customs
immigration
gate
captain
call button
air sickness bag
tray
overhead compartment

1.    Where is this picture taken?
2.    What are the people doing?
3.    Who is the woman in the middle of the picture?
4.    What is her job?
5.    Where do you think the people are going?
6.    What are the storage spaces over the people’s heads?
7.    What can you put in that storage space?
8.    What do you need to get on a plane?
9.    What do foreign travelers need to go on a plane?
10.    What do you do with your baggage when you go on an airplane?
11.    What procedure do you have to go through before you will be allowed to go on a plane?
12.    Who controls the plane?
13.    Who helps the passengers when they’re on the plane?
14.    How can you summon a flight attendant if you need help?
15.    Why is an airplane flight bumpy or rough sometimes?
16.    What might you need if you feel sick during the flight?
17.    How does an airplane move between the gate and the end of the runway?
18.    What do you have to do to prepare for takeoff or landing?
19.    Where do you have to go to get your baggage when you arrive at your destination?
20.    If you fly on an international flight, what official lines do you have to pass through before you are allowed to enter the country?

Paragraph:  On a Plane

Have you ever traveled by plane?  How was the flight?  Where did you go?  Write a brief paragraph about a time you were on an airplane flight.

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