Giving Instructions in English
Lesson Plans
Activities Work Sheets
There may be rare occasions when a hotel employee has the opportunity to give instructions
to a guest on how to do something or explain a situation or process. For example, a health
center staff may have to provide instruction on how to operate a piece of equipment, or a
business center staff may have to explain to a guest how to operate a copier or FAX machine,
or a front desk staff may explain to a guest the process needed to extend a visa. When asking
for instructions or giving explanations there are several standard expressions that can be used.
Look at these examples.
How do you operate ( … this tread mill)?
Can you show me how to ( …operate this FAX machine)?
What’s the best way to (…hold a putter)?
Do you know how to (… get a visa extended)?
How do I go about (… changing my departure flight)?
When giving instructions or explaining things it is useful to use sequence markers, words which
guide the listener or reader through the instructions. It is also important to keep the instructions
or explanations short and simple. Some of the more common sequence markers are listed below.
first second third forth
after that next before that then
you begin by the last step is now finally
Dialogues- Giving Instructions
Guest: How do you operate this tread mill?
Staff: First, turn it on then set the controls for speed, distance, or time. Last, press the start
button.
Guest: Can you show me how to hold the putter?
Staff: First, grasp the club with your left hand. Your thumb should be pointing down and
parallel to the shaft. Next, put your right hand below your left hand, with your right
pinkie finger touching your left index finger. Grip the shaft by placing the palm of
your right hand over your left thumb. Your right thumb should also be pointing
down and parallel to the shaft.
Guest: Do you know how to make a paper kite?
Staff: Sure, first, get two thin strips of light weight balsa wood, one three feet long and one
two feet long. Next, join the strips together forming a T-shape. After that, run twine from
each end of the wooden strips, forming a diamond shape. Then, glue large sheets of
paper onto the twine and wooden strips, so the diamond shape is covered with paper.
Last, attach a long piece of string to the kite, where the two strips of wood cross to
form the T.
Guest: How do I send a FAX?
Staff: First, put the paper into the feeder. Then, enter the phone number it is being sent to.
Finally, hit send.
Conversation Activities- Giving Instructions
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.
2. Role play the following situations with a partner, one person taking the role of the guest and
the other person taking the role of a hotel staff.
The guest asks how to change a flight to the following day
The guest asks how to extend his visa
The guest asks how to play a Thai game
The guest asks how to send a FAX
The guest asks how to open a bank account
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