Click on the Module Activities button for student activities.

Every one like to hear compliments. Compliments make people feel good about themselves, and we all need that at times. Hotel guest and staff are no exceptions.

Guests may give hotel staff compliments for the quality of their service, for their English ability, for their appearance in an unique uniform, or for doing something a little extra for the guest.

A hotel staff may give a guest a compliment about how they look in a newly purchased outfit, or for their patience when a problem arises, or for a beautiful new hair style after visiting a beauty parlor. Look at the expressions below that can be used when giving and responding to compliments.

Giving complements

That’s a very nice ...(dress).

Great job on the …(presentation).

You look very good in … (that new hair-do).

This dish is delicious, my compliments to the chef.

That … (tie) looks great on you.

Responses to compliments

How kind of you to say so.

Thank you.

I’m glad you like it.

It was nothing really. (an expression of modesty and humility)

Dialogues

Staff: What a beautiful dress, Ms. Elliot.

Guest: Thanks, I'm glad you like it.

Staff: Your new hair-do looks absolutely gorgeous, Mrs. Simpson.

Guest: How kind of you to say so.

Guest: My compliments to the chef. This linguine is superb.

Staff: Thank you ma’am. I’ll be sure to let the chef know. 

Guest: Your English is very good.

Staff: Thank you very much.

Staff: Excellent game Mr. Johnson. You really gave me a workout.

Guest: Thanks, I guess all those private lessons are finally paying off.

Guest: I really appreciate all the extra work you did on helping us solve that

              problem. It truly went above and beyond. My compliments to your

              work ethic.

Staff: Thank you sir, how kind of you to say so.

Practice

Practice using the above expressions by having a dialogue similar to the ones above with a partner, one partner taking the role of the guest and the other the role of the staff. For additional practice, switch roles. Practice the dialogue several times, trying to use all of the expressions noted above.

           Remember that one the of best was to improve your English

           skills is to use the language over and over again. It may be

           boring and tedious but it works to make the language readily

           accessible for use when needed.

More Practice

Compliment your partner about the following items. Your partner should respond appropriately, but with humility.

• A new dress or shirt       

• A new hair cut                        

• A nose job

• A meal they just cook

• Their handling of a rude guest

Other Useful TEFL Links

Yada-Yada English

 An English conversation language site for students and teachers

focusing on English expressions used for various functions

and situations.

TEFL Daddy 

Frank and friendly advice written by an experienced
EFL teacher & former Peace Corps Volunteer:
working overseas since 1989

TEFL Boot Camp

Free Online TEFL Training

What you need to know to start

Teaching English Overseas

TEFl Temp

TEFL Temp is your short-term EFL jobs directory:

Short-term English Teaching Jobs around the World

TEFL-ebooks

 TEFL eBooks featuring Country Guides, ESP Manuals

                   and other publications written by experienced teachers

who have spent significant time overseas.

The Ultimate Peru List

A guide for people living or planning to move to Peru

The Latin American Job List

Find work as an English teacher in the Caribbean,

Central America and South America. With The

LA Job List you’re given access to hundreds of

Latin American schools, institutes and universities

that need English teachers like you.

Check out TEFL

related websites