Talking about Hotel Jobs
Lesson Plans
Activities
A large hotel can employ hundreds of staff, all with a specific responsibility, function, and
purpose. Each employee has a specific role to play in meeting the needs of the guests. The
specific functions of particular employees are usually described under job descriptions or
duties. Although the role of most hotel staff may be obvious, there may be times when a
guest may ask about an employees job or his duties. Certainly these kinds of questions
may be asked on job interviews. There are a couple of standard expressions that can be
used when asking about a person’s occupation. Look at the example below.
Expressions- Describing Jobs
What do you do?
What’s your job?
What’s your occupation?
What do you do for a living?
Once a person knows what your job title is, they may want to know a little bit about your specific
job duties. Sometimes it is hard to tell exactly what a person does just from the job title. Look at
the expressions below that can be used to inquire about job duties.
What are your job duties?
What exactly do you do?
What does your job entail?
Dialogue- Describing Jobs
Guest: What do you do?
Staff: I’m a events coordinator for a hotel?
Guest: What exactly does an events coordinator do?
Staff: Well, we arrange and set up all the things needed for a conventions and conferences
for various groups. We try to ensure that every thing runs smoothly and efficiently
during the event. For example, we schedule rooms, arrange for the set up of any
needed equipment required (such as audio-visual equipment, microphones, etc.),
and solve problems that may come up.
Guest: That’s sounds interesting.
Staff: It has its moments.
Guest: What’s your job?
Staff: I’m a chef.
Guest: Are you a head chef?
Staff: Well, I’m the head pastry chef.
Guest: Sounds sweet. Where do you work?
Staff: At the Hilton Arcadia Spa and Resort.
Guest: What do you do for a living?
Staff: I’m employed at a hotel as a bell man.
Guest: So you take people’s luggage to their rooms.
Staff: Yes that, but I also arrange things like taxis for guests. One of my most important
functions is to be a source of information. I provide a lot of information to guests,
such as the kinds of facilities and their location in the hotel, places to eat in the
area, and places to go and see on the island.
Guest: Just out of curiosity- do guests tip well?
Staff: Some do, some don’t.
Here are some of the jobs that are available at a hotel.
clerk/receptionist bell man tram driver cook
chef pastry chef
waiter/waitress hostess
wine steward bar tenders
pool attendant security staff
department managers assistant managers
general manager personnel director
staff trainer supervisors
promotion and sales events coordinators
guest relationship agent children’s program staff
spa staff masseuse
health center staff health center trainers
grounds keeper engineer
maintenance worker housekeeper
medical staff
Conversation Activity- Describing Jobs
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.
Describing Functions and Purposes of Things
Although guests may seldom ask a hotel staff to describe the function or purpose of something,
it’s nice to know how to respond just in case they do. Look at the expressions below that can be
used when asking about functions or purposes.
Expressions- Describing Functions
How does it work?
What does it do?
What is its function?
What is its purpose?
What is it used for?
Dialogue- Describing Functions
Guest: What is that thing on the wall in the bathroom next to the shower?
Staff: It’s the water heater?
Guest: How does it work?
Staff: Water passes through hot pipes heated by electricity to make the water hot.
Guest: How do I use it?
Staff: First, press the lever at the bottom of the unit to turn it on. Then, turn the temperature
setting dial to the temperature desired. After that, just turn on the water.
Guest: Does it take long to heat the water?
Staff: It takes only a couple of seconds.
Guest: What is this?
Staff: It is the remote control for the TV.
Guest: What does it do?
Staff: It can be used to control the TV, to turn it on or off, to change channels, and to adjust the
volume. With this device you don’t have to get up from your chair or bed to use the TV.
Guest: How does it work?
Staff: It operates on batteries and sends a signal from the remote to sensors in the TV that
control the different functions.
Guest: How convenient!
Guest: What is a FAX machine and how does it work?
Staff: A FAX machine is an electronic device that transmits copies of written materials over
a telephone line to distant locations. The sending machine reads the text or pictures and
converts these images into electronic impulses. The receiving machine converts the
impulses back into written form and prints the documents out.
Conversation Activities- Describing Functions
1. 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.
More Practice
2. Work with a partner and explain what the following items are and how they work.
The listening partner should ask questions to get more detail or clarification.
Obviously most (if not all) people already know what these things are and how they work,
but the purpose of the exercise is to practice using the language. So… the partner asking
about the items should pretend to be very, very stupid or from a very remote,
uncivilized location that has never been exposed to these modern conveniences.
Pencil sharpener Bicycle
Toaster Clock
Calculator Camera
Stethoscope Bow and arrow
Other Links
