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• A2 listening

Trains and travel

Listen to five different conversations at a train station and do the exercises to practise and improve your listening skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise before you listen. Then do the other exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

Do this exercise before you listen.

Passenger:  Excuse me? Which platform does the train to Cambridge leave from?

Train station attendant:  The 10:15 train or the 10:40?

Passenger:  The 10:15.

Train station attendant:  The 10:15 train leaves from platform 3.

Passenger:  Thanks.

Passenger:  Hi. Could I have a ticket for the next train to Manchester, please?

Train ticket vendor:  Single or return?

Passenger:  Errr, single please.

Train ticket vendor:  The next train is at 12:30pm, leaving from platform 2.

Passenger:  And how much is it?

Train ticket vendor:  £13:50

Ticket inspector:  Tickets, please. Can I see your ticket, please?

Passenger:  Yes, here you are.

Ticket inspector:  This ticket is for Oxford.

Passenger:  Yes, that's right.

Ticket inspector:  But this train doesn't go to Oxford, it goes to Liverpool.

Passenger:  What? Liverpool? Oh no!

Train station announcement:  The next train arriving at platform 1 is the 15:45 train to Exeter, stopping at Bristol Temple Meads and arriving at Exeter St David's at 18:30.

Harry:  What time is our train back to London? 

Angel:  It leaves at 4:30. We've only got 5 minutes.

Harry:  What platform does it leave from?

Angel:  Platform 2. Look, over there. 

Harry:  I can't see our train anywhere. Let me see the ticket. Look, it says 4:20, not 4:30!

Angel:  Oh no, we've missed it.

Harry:  No we haven't, it's late. Look, here it is now.

Angel:  Phew, that was lucky!

Check your understanding: matching

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Do you often use a train? What is your favourite type of public transport? Why?

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B2 listening.

• B2 Vocabulary

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B2 is one of the CEFR levels described by the Council of Europe.

B2 Listening: Tourism

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• General English
• Magazine zone

World Tourism Day

World Tourism Day on 27 September is about deciding the tourism we want for the future. That means thinking not just about the economy but also about the impact on people and the planet.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises.

Preparation

Magazine: World Tourism Day – preparation

Every year on 27 September the United Nations World Tourism Day is celebrated. It began in 1980, and the event is hosted by a different country or group of countries every year. On World Tourism Day, the United Nations calls for investments in people and the planet, not just economic productivity.

Why do we need World Tourism Day?

It may seem curious that tourism has its own special day, but maybe it's not so surprising when you think of the enormous number of people employed in this sector. Tourism and travel is one of the world's biggest industries. According to 2019 research, over 333 million people – that's about one in ten working people worldwide – were employed in tourism and travel. Now, this huge global industry is growing again after the pandemic, creating serious issues for people and the planet.

How does tourism affect local people?

With mass tourism, fascinating places are becoming overwhelmed by millions of tourists. Enormous tour buses block roads and make getting to school or work difficult for residents. International chains take over from local businesses, tourist apartments take over from ordinary housing, and rising prices force local people out of their homes.

Barcelona in Spain and Venice in Italy are two examples of places where the local population have demanded that tourism is controlled more tightly. In Barcelona, regulations related to short-term rental accommodation were introduced to help local people have access to flats. In Venice, the number of large cruise liners entering the port is now controlled to protect the historic city and its natural environment from further damage. Locals also complained about the huge crowds of cruise passengers, who were putting pressure on the city's resources but contributing little to the economy. Maybe tourism in the 21st century will continue to be regulated to protect people and local environments.

How does tourism affect the environment?

Mass tourism is bad news for our planet too. The industry destroys natural habitats to build tourist facilities and consumes large amounts of energy and natural resources, such as land, soil and water. Pollution is also a negative consequence of travel and tourism, including solid waste and sewage pollution, noise pollution and air pollution. Carbon emissions from tourism are more than five per cent of global emissions, and this figure is going up. The tourism and travel industry continues to contribute to the climate crisis. 

Can we be responsible tourists?

In the words of Bruce Poon Tip, producer of the documentary The Last Tourist , 'travel is a privilege, not a right'. The Last Tourist encourages us to be 'conscious consumers' when deciding where and how to travel. As tourists, we need to think more carefully about the impact of our choices. If we decide to stay at a beautiful resort, who is going to benefit from our money? Is the hotel owned by people from the local community? And how can we minimise our contribution to pollution and climate change? To protect the beautiful places we love to visit, and the people who live in them, we need to rethink tourism and act responsibly.

Magazine: World Tourism Day – 1

Magazine: World Tourism Day – 2

Have you noticed any positive or negative effects of tourism where you live?

Language level

For me the tourism is more than travel and get a good time, is about responsibility and conscience.

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In Mexico, I've seen negative effects like deforestation, air pollution, and the destruction of natural resources and ecosystems. As a matter of fact, In Mexico, there is a controversial train that is driving to the most natural resources and places in Mexico only that a part of a forest was destroyed to create that railroad. at least the train is different from the others, it cannot produce dioxide of carbon. On the other hand, there are brilliant ideas from architects, engineers, and environmentalists that are great solutions. On the whole, we must be responsible and conscious people about the environment and how we can take care of any place that we are living or visiting

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• Preparing for IELTS
• Practice tests

Free online IELTS Listening practice tests

The IELTS Listening test will take about 30 minutes, and you will have an extra 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.

The four parts of this practice Listening test are presented over four separate web pages. Make sure you move swiftly from one page to the next so that your practice is as realistic as possible.

Download the question paper and blank answer sheet before you start, and write your answers on the question paper while you are listening. Use a pencil.

Listen to the instructions for each section of the test carefully. Answer all of the questions.There are 40 questions altogether. Each question carries one mark.

For each part of the test, there will be time for you to look through the questions and time for you to check your answers.When you have completed all four parts of the Listening test you will have ten minutes to copy your answers on to a separate answer sheet.

We can make special arrangements for test takers with disabilities. If you require a modified version of the test, for example, in Braille, contact your test centre three months in advance to discuss your requirements.

Instructions to test takers

In the actual test you will be given the following instructions:

• do not open this question paper until you are told to do so
• write your name and candidate number in the spaces at the top of this page
• listen to the instructions for each part of the paper carefully
• answer all the questions
• while you are listening, write your answers on the question paper
• you will have 10 minutes at the end of the test to copy your answers onto the separate answer sheet; use a pencil

At the end of the test you will be asked to hand in the question paper.

Once you have completed the practice test, download the answers and see how well you have done.

Club Profiles

• Bahasa Indonesia

Choose language

English & tourism: making a complaint.

In this week's Premier Skills English Podcast , Jack and Rich have the second in a mini-series of podcasts called ' English & Tourism '. They introduce lots of words and phrases (functional language) you need when you go on holiday and need to speak English. The topic in this episode is complaining at a hotel and the language you need to make a complaint about something. Your task is to complain about a problem at a hotel. Don't forget to listen to the end of the podcast because we have a new football phrase for you to guess, too. Enjoy 

Welcome - English & Tourism - Complaining 

Jack : Hello my name’s Jack

Rich : and I’m Rich and welcome to this week’s Premier Skills English podcast

Jack : Where we talk about football and help you with your English.

Rich : We recommend that you listen to this podcast on the Premier Skills English website because that is where we have the transcript, language examples, activities, quizzes and a discussion page to help you understand everything we talk about.

Jack : However, if you’re listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, you can leave answers to our questions in the review section. We do read all the reviews and would love to hear from you. 

Rich : In this week’s podcast, we’re continuing with our new mini-series of podcasts that focus on English and tourism. In these podcasts, you will learn lots of English connected to the things you need to do when you go on holiday.

Jack : These podcasts are also really useful for those of you who work with tourists in places like hotels and restaurants and need to speak English.

Rich : In our last podcast, we spoke about the language you need or hear when checking in at a hotel.  We introduced phrases such as ‘I have a reservation under the name of Jones’, ‘Breakfast is served between seven and ten’ and ‘sorry for any inconvenience caused’. 

Jack : We also looked at lots of vocabulary connected to checking in at a hotel such as, ‘double booked and fully booked’ ‘a double room’, ‘an upgrade’ and ‘free of charge’.

Rich : If you want to go back and do this lesson you can find it on the Premier Skills English website by clicking skills > listen > podcasts. If you are on Spotify or Apple Podcasts you’ll find it in the playlist, it’s called ‘English & Tourism: Checking In’.

Jack : We always have a football connection in our podcasts. Rich was checking in to Hotel Football which is a hotel near Old Trafford, Manchester United’s stadium.

Rich : In this podcast, we are going to talk about the language you need when you need to complain or respond to a complaint.

Jack : More specifically, we’re going to look at the phrases you need to make a complaint at a hotel reception.

Rich : You will hear a roleplay at a hotel reception. The roleplay will be in three sections and after each section, we will ask you to stop and think about the situation and the language that is being used.

Jack : After the roleplay, we will have a task for you to do, which is when we ask you to use your English. We will have more about your task later but we want you to complain about something in a polite way and respond to other listeners complaints. 

Rich : And, don’t forget to listen to the end of the podcast because we have another football phrase for you to guess.

Football Phrase 1 

Jack : But, before we look at all that, let’s look at last week’s football phrase. If you didn’t hear it last week we’ll give you one more chance to guess and give you the correct answer at the end of the show when we give you a new football phrase.

Rich : The phrase was _________. The phrase means to keep playing and never stop until the referee stops the game. This phrase is also good advice because if you stop, the game might continue and the other team could score. 

Jack : Well done if you got the right answer last week. A special well done to Liubomyr from Ukraine, Elghoul from Algeria and Coreuser from Saudi Arabia who got the phrase exactly right and wrote the answer on the Premier Skills English website.

Rich : We’ll tell you the answer to this football phrase and we’ll have a new one at the end of the show. Remember, if you get the right answer and write it in the comments section on the Premier Skills English website, we will announce your name in next week’s show. 

Introduction to Roleplay

Jack : You are now going to listen to a roleplay. 

Rich : You are going to hear a hotel guest - that’s me - and a hotel receptionist - that’s Jack. It’s the morning after my first night’s stay at Hotel Football and I’m not happy.

Jack : You will hear the roleplay in three sections. After each section, we will ask you to think about the conversation and we’ll talk about the language we use.

Rich : While you listen, we want you to answer a question. The question for section one is: 

Jack : Why didn’t Rich sleep well?

Roleplay: Section 1

Jack : Good morning Mr Jones. I hope you had a good night’s sleep. Breakfast is served on the first floor.

Rich : Yes, thank you but I’m not looking for breakfast just yet. I’m really sorry but I’m afraid I didn’t get a good night’s sleep at all last night. 

Jack : Oh? I’m so sorry about that. Was there a problem with the room?

Rich : The room was fine and the bed was very comfortable but there was quite a bit of noise coming from the room next door. 

Jack : Oh, I’m really sorry to hear that. I’ll speak to the guests in that room.

Rich : Well, actually, they weren’t too bad but the main problem was the air conditioning. I think it may be broken. It was ever so noisy.

Jack : Oh dear, I’m terribly sorry about that. I’ll send someone up to your room to take a look at it right away.

Rich : That would be great. You said breakfast was on the first floor?

Jack : That’s right, sir. The stairs are right there.  

Language Focus 1

Rich : Did you get the answer to the question? Why didn’t I sleep well?

Jack : Well, it was because the air conditioning was making a lot of noise in your room. It’s broken.

Rich : That’s right. A little bit annoying. Now, let’s take a look at some of the language in that conversation.

Jack : Rich made a complaint about the noise from the air conditioning at the hotel. To complain means to tell someone you are not happy about something. You can complain about something or make a complaint about something.

Rich : When we complain about something in a place like a hotel we usually try to be polite unless we are very angry.

Jack : In the conversation, Rich wasn’t super angry, just a little bit annoyed, so he was polite.

Rich : And the hotel receptionist always has to be polite so you heard lots of polite phrases.

Jack : When you make a complaint about something in a polite way in English it is common to apologise or say sorry for making the complaint.

Rich : This is a bit strange because you have done nothing wrong.

Jack : Yes, it is, but it’s just a way of being indirect and less confrontational or argumentative.

Rich : So, I used the phrases ‘I’m really sorry but …’ and ‘I’m afraid …’ to be indirect. Actually, I put both of these phrases together when I said, ‘I’m really sorry but I’m afraid I didn’t get a good night’s sleep.’

Jack : So, when we complain about something in a polite way we can be apologetic and indirect. I  replied to the complaint in a similar way - I was very sorry - and I also wanted to take action immediately.

Rich : Jack said things like ‘I’m so sorry to hear that’, I’m really sorry to hear that’  and ‘I’m terribly sorry to hear that’.

Jack : These words ‘so’, ‘really’ and ‘ terribly’ are used to add extra emphasis and sincerity to your apology. They are all similar in meaning to ‘very’.

Rich : Terribly is a tricky word to understand sometimes. The adjective ‘terrible’ is usually used to describe something bad or serious in a negative way. It was a terrible meal or a terrible accident. 

Jack : But the adverb ‘terribly’, especially in British English, is often used much more to mean ‘very’. ‘I’m terribly sorry’ and ‘I’m terribly pleased for you’ are a couple of examples.

Rich : But it can still mean bad or badly, too. We can say ‘the player suffered a terrible injury or the player was terribly injured’.

Jack : OK, let’s listen to the next part of the conversation. Rich, our hotel guest, is going to breakfast. He’s speaking to the waiter.

Rich : While you listen, we want you to answer a question. The question for section two is: 

Jack : What does Rich have for breakfast?

Roleplay: Section 2

Rich : Good morning. 

Jack : Good morning, sir. Can I take your room number, please?

Rich : Yes, it’s room 246.

Jack : Sorry, sir but it doesn’t appear that breakfast is included in your room rate. The buffet breakfast is £14.95 would you like us to charge it to your room?

Rich : I’m sure breakfast was included. Maybe I was mistaken. Would you mind checking?

Jack : Hold on one second and I’ll check with reception.

Jack : I’m terribly sorry about all that, but there was a little bit of a mix-up. Breakfast is included in your room rate. 

Rich : Oh, good.

Jack : Please take a seat anywhere in the restaurant. You can help yourself to a full English breakfast or a continental breakfast. Would you like coffee or tea?

Rich : Coffee, please.

Jack : I’ll be right back.

Rich : I’m ever so sorry to bother you again but the sausages are rather cold and there are no fried eggs left. I was looking forward to a full English breakfast.

Jack : I’m afraid it’s just after ten and the kitchen is now closed. You still have the continental available.

Rich : Well, there’s not much of that left either. It looks like I’ll have to make do with this bowl of cornflakes and is this instant coffee … oh dear.

Language Focus 2

Rich : Did you get the answer to the question? What did I have for breakfast?

Jack : You had a bowl of cornflakes and a cup of coffee. You wanted some hot food but some of it was cold and there wasn’t much left. Now, let’s take a look at some of the language in that conversation.

Rich : Again, I was complaining about things and you might have heard some other phrases that can be used to make a complaint.

Jack : When Rich said ‘I’m sure breakfast was included’ he stressed the word sure which shows he is complaining to the waiter. He then added ‘Maybe I was mistaken’ when he was sure that the hotel had made a mistake and finally asked the hotel to check in a polite way by asking, ‘Would you mind checking?’.

Rich : All of this is complaining politely in a very indirect way. I also complained later in the conversation and used the phrase, ‘Sorry to bother you again but …’.

Jack : The word ‘bother’ here means to annoy or cause problems for someone so is another way of saying sorry about making a complaint.

Rich : The two types of breakfast offered in the hotel were a ‘Full English breakfast’ and a ‘continental breakfast’. I think these are important to know.

Jack : Yes, I suppose a big difference is that a continental breakfast is usually cold and an English breakfast is hot.

Rich : A continental breakfast usually includes pastries like croissants, cold meats and cheeses, yoghurt and fruit.

Jack : A full English breakfast usually includes a combination of sausages, bacon, eggs, beans, fried tomatoes, mushrooms and toast.

Rich : An English breakfast is very filling and a continental breakfast is usually a bit lighter. English people only usually eat this type of breakfast on special occasions or when on holiday.

Jack : OK, let’s listen to the final part of the conversation. Rich, our hotel guest, is back at reception. He’s checking out.

Rich : While you listen, we want you to answer a question. The question for section three is: 

Jack : Why does Rich want to speak to the manager?

Roleplay: Section 3

Rich : Hello there. I’d like to check out, please.

Jack : I hope you have had a pleasant stay at Hotel Football.

Rich : Actually, I’m afraid to say that my stay hasn’t been very pleasant at all.

Jack : I’m sorry to hear that. Is there anything that you would like us to look into?

Rich : Well, the main issue was breakfast. I wanted some hot food but there was nothing left or what was left was cold.

Jack : Yes, I am sorry about that but breakfast is only served until ten and I’m afraid you arrived a little late. We did still offer you our continental service.

Rich : Actually, I’m quite cross about that too. The reason I was late was because I was complaining about the noise in my room. I had hardly slept.

Jack : Yes, I do understand sir and we’re sorry about the inconvenience the air conditioning unit caused you. We sent up maintenance right away and it is working now.

Rich : Well, that is too late for me, isn’t it?

Jack : All I can do is apologise for the inconvenience. Would you like an invoice?

Rich : Yes, please. Hold on a second. I have been charged for breakfast. This is absolutely ridiculous. Could I speak to the manager, please?

Language Focus 3

Rich : Did you get the answer to the question? Why did I want to speak to the manager?

Jack : You wanted to speak to the manager because you were charged for breakfast when it was supposed to be included in the room rate. You wanted to complain, again.

Rich : And the hot food was cold so I wanted to complain even more.

Jack : Yes, you were a little angrier in this part of the roleplay although you were still using polite phrases such as ‘I’m afraid to say’ and using ‘please’.

Rich : You could mainly hear the change in my tone of voice but also in the way I used the word ‘actually’. Listen to how I say ‘actually’ in these two sentences.

Rich : Actually, I’m quite cross about that too.

Jack : ‘Actually’ is being used to emphasise what he says afterwards: that his stay wasn’t pleasant and that he is cross.

Rich : Yes, I was cross. I got crosser or angrier as the roleplay progressed. At the beginning, I was a little annoyed but by the end of the roleplay, I said that something was ‘absolutely ridiculous’ because I was furious.

Jack : OK, we’ve looked at lots of words and phrases connected to complaining at a hotel. On the podcast page, on the Premier Skills English website, we will look at these phrases in a little bit more detail. 

Rich : There are more explanations and activities for you to do connected to this lesson that you will find on the homepage or under skills > listen > podcasts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcliR8kAbzc

Rich : This week we’d like you to take the roles of hotel guest and hotel receptionist.

Jack : First you have to think of a problem and then you have to complain about it.

Rich : The problem might be with your room, with the food, noise in the hotel, or with the facilities in the hotel.

Jack : Write your complaint in a polite way using some of the phrases that we have used in the roleplay.

Rich : Then we want you to be the hotel receptionist or manager. Reply to one of the complaints that you see in the comments section on the Premier Skills English website.

This week’s football phrase:

Jack : The final section this week is our football phrase. 

Rich : The football phrase this week is ****** *****. The Europa League Final between Arsenal and Chelsea is an example of a ****** ***** because both teams are from the capital of the UK. Last season there were six teams from the capital in the Premier League so there were lots of ****** *******.

Jack : Quite an easy one this week. Let’s see who can get it right! If you know the answer, write it in the comments section at the bottom of the page. We will announce your name in next week’s podcast if you get it right.

Rich : We also need to give you the answer to the football phrase we set at the beginning of the show. The answer as you may already know was to play to the whistle.

Jack : Right, that’s all we have time for this week. Bye for now and enjoy your football!

How much did you understand?

In the podcast, Rich and Jack used some words and phrases that might be new for you. Do you know the words  in bold ?

I hope you had a good night’s sleep. Breakfast is served on the first floor . The main problem was the air conditioning . It was ever so noisy. I’m terribly sorry about all that, but there was a little bit of a mix-up . You can help yourself to a full English breakfast or a continental breakfast.  I hope you have had a pleasant stay at Hotel Football.

There were a few more tricky words and phrases in the podcast. Try the activity below, then, listen to the podcast again to hear how we used the words. This can really help your understanding.

Complaining

In the podcast, you heard three roleplays at a hotel. Two between a hotel guest and the receptionist and a third between a hotel guest and a waiter. In all of the roleplays, the hotel guest was complaining . To complain  means to tell someone you are not happy about something. You can complain about something (verb phrase) or make a complaint about something (noun phrase).    Let's take a look at the language that was used in each roleplay.

A noisy night

In the first roleplay, Rich made a complaint about the noise in the hotel from other guests and in his room from the air conditioning unit. at the hotel. When we complain about something in a place like a hotel we usually try to be polite. In the UK, we often apologise before we complain about something. This is to be more indirect and less confrontational. We often use phrases such as, ‘ I’m really sorry but … ’ and ‘ I’m afraid … ’ to do this.

In the roleplay, you may have heard Rich put both of these phrases together:

  I’m really sorry but I’m afraid I didn’t get a good night’s sleep.

The hotel receptionist will usually respond in a very polite way and also be very apologetic. In the roleplay, Jack was very sorry and used phrases to show this such as:

I’m so sorry to hear that. Was there a problem with the room? I’m really sorry to hear that. I’ll speak to the guests in that room. Oh dear! I’m terribly sorry about that. I’ll send someone up to your room to take a look at it right away.

These words ‘ so ’, ‘ really ’ and ‘ terribly ’ are used to add extra emphasis and sincerity to your apology. They are all similar in meaning to ‘ very ’.

A bad breakfast

In the second roleplay, Rich was complaining about his breakfast. He wanted a full English breakfast but it was cold and there wasn't much left so he had to have a continental breakfast . These are usually the two main options in a hotel in the UK. Have a look at the description of each breakfast. Which would you prefer?

Full English Breakfast : Sausages, bacon, eggs, baked beans, fried tomatoes, mushrooms and toast. Continental Breakfast : Pastries such as croissants, cold meats and cheeses, yoghurt and fruit.

To complain about his breakfast, Rich said:

I’m ever so sorry to bother you again but the sausages are rather cold and there are no fried eggs left. 

The word ‘ bother ’ means to annoy or interrupt someone and the phrase ' sorry to bother you again ' is used to interrupt and apologise before making a complaint in a similar way to the phrases we introduced in the first roleplay.

Try the activity below, and complete the gaps with words and phrases you heard in this podcast.

Checking out

In the third roleplay, Rich is checking out (leaving the hotel) and is complaining about the hotel. He then gets angry and asks to speak to the manager because he is charged too much money. 

I have been charged for breakfast. This is absolutely ridiculous. Could I speak to the manager, please?

In the first roleplay, Rich was annoyed (a little angry) but by the third roleplay, he was furious (very angry). Using the phrase ' absolutely ridiculous ' showed how angry he was.

Annoyed is an example of an adjective which is gradable which means that you can change how strong it is by using 'very' or 'a bit'.

Rich was a bit irritated by the noise the other guests made in the hotel. Rich got very annoyed when there were no eggs left for his breakfast.

Ridiculous is an example of an extreme adjective. Extreme adjectives are not gradable. The only adverbs you can use are ones like: 'really', 'completely' and 'absolutely'.

Rich was absolutely furious when he was charged for breakfast. I have been charged for breakfast. This is absolutely ridiculous . Could I speak to the manager, please?

Try the activity below, take a look at the sentences and decide if you should use a gradable adjective or an extreme adjective.

Please login to take this quiz.

Making a Complaint

In this week’s task, we’d like you to take the roles of hotel guest and hotel receptionist.

• You are a hotel guest. Think of a possible problem at a hotel and then complain about it. The problem could be with your room, with the food, noise in the hotel, or with the facilities in the hotel.
• Write your complaint in a polite way using some of the phrases that we have used in the roleplay.
• You are the hotel receptionist or manager. Reply to one of the complaints that you see in the comments section below.

Write your answers in the comments section below and don't forget to  make a guess at our football phrase.

Leave a comment

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Good Morning sir, I am really sorry but I afraid I have a complain about my room. Las nigth when I went to shower the hot watter was not working. Please sort it out the problem as soon as possible or I need to change our room.

Additionally, I must to say that the coffemaker have no coffee , could you please replace the coffee.

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Task These sort of tasks have been done at the earlier lessons-:) Phrase • This is absolutely a mix-up. I've paid this year’s car tax. I'm not cross about this now but I'm ever so careful about it and can't be mistaken. Note • Starting to complain by apologizing isn't common in my society. I'm not sure this style is logical.

I think this week's football phrase is ( Domestic Rivals Final )

I’m really sorry but I’m afraid I didn’t sleep properly last night. I was really hot and when I went to get the remote of the air conditioner it couldn't find it. I rang the bell for some help and I even called the front office but I am afraid they were busy. I think it was lost or the former guest has taken it with him by mistake. Could you send me someone who can sort this out as soon as possible ? Thank you

Morning, I’m really sorry but I’m afraid i didn’t get call. My room’s phone doesn’t work. I couldn’t get a call. Also the bed was terribly uncomfortable.

Good morning, i am really sorry but i am afraid i had some maintaince's problem with my room last night. My kettle was not working, i could not make a cup of tea, when i had a shower last night the bulb went out in the bathroom and the heating was completely switched off. I would like a room upgrate if it is possible.

Hello Wonderful English

Your writing is very good and there are only a few errors which I will highlight and give you some clues so you can correct them yourself.

Good morning, i am really sorry but i am afraid i had some maintaince's problem with my room last night. My kettle was not working, i could not make a cup of tea, when i had a shower last night the bulb went out in the bathroom and the heating was completely switched off. I would like a room upgrate if it is possible.

1. In general, we capitalise "I".

2. The spelling of maintenance is not quite right. Also, the noun is problem so that should be plural and there's no need for the apostrophe.

3. spelling

Jack - The Premier Skills English Team

Receptionist: Good morning Mr Ali. I hope you had felt good during your stay here with us.

Me: Well, I had a good experience here but I'm afraid last night there was a problem with my room's internet connection. I had some important emails to check which I did late at night.

Receptionist: I'm really sorry about that, we had a problem with the entire building's internet connection which was resolved in about an hour. All I can do is to apologize for the inconvenience.

the football phrase I guess is "****** *****".

I'm really sorry for what I'm about to inform you but last night was terrible, heating didn't work properly. I was really cold and when I called the reception no one answered. I'd like to change room tonight if it is possible

1. Hello! I am afraid that I had a problem last night. It was very cold in my room. I think that the reason was the air conditioner. It is broken. Could I have another room, please. Oh, and the noise. There was a noice from the bathroom. It was so strange. I couldn't sleep all night and today I have an important meeting...

2. Oh, I am so sorry to hear that. I will chek the problem. Ok, we have available the best appartament. I will upgrade you. The appartament has an amazing view and it's really the best in our hotel. I really sorry for disturb.

1. I can't say that it was a good night at this hotel. In the adds they have announced a wifi service all the night. In fact I had to cancel my expected work on Facebook because the wifi was awful. No performing connection. I was angry and so sorry with the TV not fit for my usual channels.

3. I am terribly sorry but you would be pleased to know that the WIFI will be at the top the next night. Would you mind if I ask you about your favorite channel? The groom will research for them at your convenience. 

I think the football phrase is: ****** *****

Hi Jack and Rich, Thank you so much for this episode. I think the phrase is ****** ***** or could be ****** rivals.

"I'm really sorry but I'm afraid there's something wrong with the hot water. I'd appreciated if you could send someone up to my room to take a look at it."

The football phrase is "****** *****"

Here is my complaint: "I'm really sorry but I'm afraid that the room service is not working properly because the bathroom is still dirty and not smelling well. Could you send your staff to clean it again?"

I think the football phrase is ****** *****.

I think that the phrase is ****** *****

Football phrase, ****** *****.

Leaderboard

Skills : Listening

Language : Complaining in a polite way

Language:  Responding to complaints

Task : Make a complaint at a hotel

English & Tourism: Checking In

In this week's podcast, we look at the language you need when checking in to a hotel.

Checking in

Meet the players as they arrive in the UK and check into the hotel.

Season Finale: A Historic Treble!

City win the treble and we want you to choose the best player, team and goal of the season!

Champions League Final: All eyes on Madrid!

We look ahead to the Champions League Final and have some more football English for you to learn.

English & Tourism: Eating out

In this week's podcast, we talk about eating out and fish and chip shops.

Travel & Tourism: Transport

Rowan, Rich and Jack talk about memorable trips by road, rail and air.

Travel & Tourism: Hotels

Rowan, Rich and Jack are at a hotel and Rich is complaining.

British Council

British council unveils listening all night to the rain by sir john akomfrah ra at the 60th international art exhibition - la biennale di venezia.

Sir John Akomfrah explores post-colonialism, environmental devastation and the politics of aesthetics for the British Pavilion’s contribution to the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

I’m like a little boat,

Sensing an expanse,

Of endless water

Here under groves of trees,

Face to face in the bedroom,

Listening all night to the rain. 

Poem 83, Su Dongpo (1037-1101) 

John Akomfrah said:

“The exhibition is about trying to create a space where people can experience, understand and engage with questions of acoustemology: a sonic way of knowing and being in the world. This is at the core of the Pavilion – be it the ethics, the aesthetics, the problematics, the memories or the histories of listening. When you're listening, you're tuned into your own dreams and ambitions, and to the stories that people tell, unearthing narratives. The key visual motif of the Pavilion – flooding – revisits concerns about climate change but uses the occasion of the approaching crises to encourage a re-thinking of our past. It's a moment to take a detour through avenues of memory, suggesting paths perhaps not taken because we weren’t listening.”  

Tarini Malik, Shane Akeroyd Associate Curator of the British Pavilion, said:

“Bringing together vast and intertwined geopolitical and historical narratives, Listening All Night To The Rain is a boldly imaginative testament to the role of art in charting new ways of confronting legacies of racism and celebrating cultures of resistance and affirmation. True to Akomfrah’s legacy as a trailblazing British artist and filmmaker, this commission pushes the boundaries of his chosen medium, alluding to the power of memory in determining our future and preservation of the natural world.”  

Skinder Hundal, Global Director of Arts at the British Council and Commissioner of the British Pavilion, said:

“This year’s exhibition at the British Pavilion pushes the boundaries of anything artist John Akomfrah has ever presented before. Everyone involved in bringing Listening All Night To The Rain to life should feel extremely proud today of what they have achieved. I am convinced that this work will inspire a new generation of creative talent to collaborate with a deeper consciousness of our planet and the lives that inhabit it. On a personal note, I am overjoyed that three people of colour born from immigrant communities, John Akomfrah, Tarini Malik and myself, have broken through into one of the most important global art events on the calendar.”

The exhibition is also made possible through the support of Lisson Gallery, the Ford Foundation, Luma Foundation, Henry Moore Foundation, Rothschild Foundation and Aarti Lohia, Chairperson of the SP Lohia Foundation: the British Council's Ambassador for the International Exhibitions of La Biennale di Venezia.

Art Fund is generously supporting a tour to bring Listening All Night To The Rain to venues and audiences across the UK. Amgueddfa Cymru's National Museum Cardiff (Cardiff) and Dundee Contemporary Arts (Dundee) are among the UK museums and galleries to host the exhibition in 2025 and 2026 with support from Art Fund. Further tour locations and dates are to be announced in the coming weeks.

Bloomberg are digital partners for the British Pavilion in 2024.

The British Council Patrons Board, chaired by Ebele Okobi, has seen a record number of individual patrons supporting this year’s commission.

The British Council has been responsible for the British Pavilion at the International Exhibitions of La Biennale di Venezia since 1937, showcasing the best of the UK’s artists, architects, designers and curators.These International Exhibitions, and the British Council’s Venice Fellowships initiative introduced in 2016, help make the British Pavilion a major platform for discussion about contemporary art and architecture.

The British Council’s Fellowship Scheme hosts 66 emerging arts professionals and students in Venice for a month throughout the run of the International Exhibitions of La Biennale di Venezia. During their time in Venice they invigilate the Pavilion alongside conducting independent research and fostering new international connections. For 2024, the British Council has partnered with 42 UK Higher Education Institutions and arts organisations with whom they are committed to creating inclusive and representative pathways for all into the Visual Arts Sector.

Notes to Editor

Exhibition details:

For further information, interview requests and images please contact: Sam Talbot [email protected] +447725 184630

Mary Doherty [email protected] +447716 701499

John Akomfrah’s British Council Commission for the British Pavilion at the 60th International Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia will run from 20 April – 24 November 2024.

For more information visit https://venicebiennale.britishcouncil.org/listening-all-night

Preview: Wednesday 17 April to Friday 19 April, 10am-6pm

The British Pavilion is commissioned by the British Council; please ensure you credit the British Council in all editorial features.

For news on the British Council commission: https://venicebiennale.britishcouncil.org/

For British Council Venice press office updates: https://venicebiennale.britishcouncil.org/press

Follow updates on the #BritishPavilion via: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

UK in Venice

Visit venicebiennale.britishcouncil.org for further information about other UK events and UK- based artists exhibiting in Venice during the Biennale Arte 2024.

About John Akomfrah

John Akomfrah is a hugely respected artist and filmmaker, whose works are characterised by their investigations into memory, post-colonialism, temporality and aesthetics and often explore the experiences of migrant diasporas globally. Akomfrah was a founding member of the influential Black Audio Film Collective, which started in London in 1982 alongside artists David Lawson and Lina Gopaul, who he still collaborates with today alongside Ashitey Akomfrah as Smoking Dogs Films. Their first film, Handsworth Songs (1986) explored events surrounding the 1985 riots in Birmingham and London through a charged combination of archive footage, still photos, newly shot material and newsreel. The film won several international prizes and established a multi-layered visual style that has become a recognisable motif of Akomfrah’s practice. Other works include the three-screen installation The Unfinished Conversation (2012), a moving portrait of the cultural theorist Stuart Hall’s life and work; Peripeteia (2012), an imagined drama visualising the lives of individuals included in two 16th century portraits by Albrecht Dürer and Mnemosyne (2010) which exposes experiences of migrants in the UK, questioning the notion of Britain as a promised land by revealing the realities of economic hardship and casual racism.

In 2015, Akomfrah premiered his three-screen film installation Vertigo Sea (2015), which explores what Ralph Waldo Emerson calls ‘the sublime seas’. Fusing archival material, readings from classical sources and newly shot footage, Akomfrah’s piece focuses on the disorder and cruelty of the whaling industry and juxtaposes it with scenes of many generations of migrants making epic crossings of the ocean for a better life. In 2017, Akomfrah presented his largest film installation to date, Purple (2017), at the Barbican in London, which addresses climate change, human communities and wilderness. More recently, Akomfrah debuted Precarity (2017) at Prospect 4 New Orleans, following the life of forgotten New Orleans jazz trumpeter Charles 'Buddy' Bolden. In 2018, Akomfrah participated in the UK wide World War One arts programme 14-18 Now, with his multiscreen installation Mimesis: African Soldier (2018), which commemorated African and colonial participants who fought, served and perished during The Great War. In 2019 Akomfrah presented Four Nocturnes (2019) in the Ghana Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale, a three-channel piece reflecting on the intertwined relationship between humanity’s destruction of the natural world and our of ourselves. In 2023, he premiered two major five-channel pieces at the 15th Sharjah Biennial: ‘Thinking Historically in the Present’: Arcadia (2023), reflecting on ‘The Columbian Exchange’ between the Americas, Afro-Eurasia and Europe from the 1400s onwards; and Becoming Wind (2023), an allegorical representation of the Garden of Eden and its disappearance.

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Amsterdam’s Latest Effort to Fight Excessive Tourism: No New Hotels

The city wants no more than 20 million hotel stays annually. The measure is one of multiple efforts to control the flow of visitors.

By Claire Moses

Amsterdam has been searching for any way to rein in the number of tourists that visit the city every year.

In March of last year, the city launched an ad campaign specifically targeted at British men between 18 and 35, urging them to “stay away.”

In July, the Dutch capital announced it would bar cruise ships from docking in the city center .

The city has also long tried to control the crowds in its red-light district, where rowdy groups of tourists often cause disruptions to local residents. It has added stricter rules about smoking marijuana . It has banned new tourist shops. And still, the people keep coming.

Now, the city — which is as well known for its canals and 17th century art as for its legal sex industry and easy access to marijuana — has taken one more step to further restrict the explosive growth of tourists: It is banning hotels from being built.

“Amsterdam is saying ‘no’ to new hotels,” the City Council said in a statement. “We want to make and keep the city livable for residents and visitors,” it added.

Amsterdam, which added that it was seeking to keep hotel stays by tourists to under 20 million per year, saw its highest number of visitors before the pandemic in 2019, when there were 25.2 million hotel stays, according to the city’s data.

Last year, that number was exceeded by tourists staying over in Amsterdam, not including stays in short-term rentals like Airbnbs and cruise ships. And the measure also does not take into account daily visitors who do not stay the night.

The ban on new hotels, while sending a clear message about the city’s aim to reduce the number of visitors, is also largely symbolic. The city’s policy on hotel construction was already strict, and there had been only three proposals since 2017 that met Amsterdam’s requirements, according to the city. New hotels that had been approved or were in development — 26 in total — would be allowed to proceed for now.

Under the new rules, a new hotel can only open if another one closes. It also isn’t allowed to add more rooms than were available, according to the city.

“The effect won’t be very big,” said Ko Koens, a professor of new urban tourism at Inholland University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He also said that in the long run, the capping of hotels could make them more expensive to stay at.

While this ban alone would not make a huge dent in the number of visitors to the city, Mr. Koens said, taken together with other initiatives it could make Amsterdam a less appealing place to visit. But, he said, “For now, visitors don’t seem to mind.”

In total, Amsterdam has nearly 42,000 hotel rooms that can accommodate more than 92,000 people, according to Statistics Netherlands, a governmental institution that compiles data about the country. (In total, the Netherlands has more than 150,000 hotel rooms.)

Amsterdam’s initiatives to rein in tourism have been largely focused on its crowded city center. But as long as Amsterdam’s airport, Schiphol, continues to be a major European hub, it won’t be easy to keep visitors away from the city.

“There are no simple solutions,” Mr. Koens said. “It’s super complex.”

Amsterdam also announced this week it would start cutting the number of river cruises allowed to dock in its waters. In 2023, that number was 2,125. In 2028, the city wants it to be halved, with no more than 1,150. The city predicts that effort could reduce the number of visitors that come into town by 271,000. This proposal, the city said, is to improve the quality of life for residents and to reduce emissions and crowds.

“The balance in the city needs to improve,” Hester van Buren, a deputy mayor who focuses on the city’s port, said in a statement.

Amsterdam isn’t the only major European destination that has been struggling to get a grip on the growing number of tourists. Venice announced it would charge day-tripping visitors 5 euros ($5.33) to enter the iconic streets of its city center on weekends and some holidays from April 25 through mid-July, its busiest season.

Amsterdam, currently in a busy touristic time because of its famous blooming tulips, has not announced a similar measure, but it is likely there will be more efforts and experiments designed to limit visitors — like the hotel ban.

“Without such a stop, Amsterdam’s center would become one big hotel,” Mr. Koens said. “You don’t want that either.”

Claire Moses is a Times reporter in London, focused on coverage of breaking and trending news. More about Claire Moses

Amsterdam blocks construction of new hotels to fight overtourism

Dutch officials are trying to limit the number of tourists flooding amsterdam.

In another attempt to crack down on overtourism, officials in Amsterdam are banning the construction of new hotels in the Dutch capital.

The policy, announced Wednesday, only permits new hotels in a one-in, one-out system; a new hotel can be built only if another closes. New hotels may not exceed the bed count of the previous hotels and must be “better,” per the city’s release, with more modern and sustainable features.

“Amsterdam says ‘no’ to new hotels,” reads a translated statement from city officials. “We want to make and keep the city livable for residents and visitors.”

The effort follows initiatives in Amsterdam to limit the influx of tourists into the city, a destination known for its tolerant drug policies, sex industry and liberated party scene.

In Amsterdam, people are not prosecuted for buying up to 5 grams of cannabis, which can be purchased in coffee shops. For years, city officials have been trying to rein in hordes of “nuisance” tourists, or those who are attracted to the city by the promise of a night of debauchery.

In June 2023, the city council passed the “ tourism balance in Amsterdam ” policy, which set a maximum number of overnight stays and day visits in the city, capping the annual visitor count at 20 million people per year. Wednesday’s guidance re-ups that regulation; the number of hotel nights in 2023 was 20,665,000, according to the city.

“We are now taking more measures to ensure that the number of hotel nights does not increase even further,” the city’s statement read.

That same year, seeking to curb the rowdy crowds of the Red Light District and offer residents a better night’s sleep, the city cracked down on public pot smoking in the streets and limited the hours of operation for certain restaurants and sex establishments.

Amsterdam also launched a “ Stay Away ” campaign, directly targeting British men between the ages of 18 to 35. The demographic group frequents the city for “stag” or bachelor parties, which residents say are disruptive .

Also in 2023, city officials adopted a proposal to relocate a cruise ship terminal . In addition to addressing pollution concerns, the move sought to prevent crowds of tourists from flooding the city’s center upon docking.

It’s unclear how the city plans to enforce the new hotel construction policy; according to the release, new hotels already under construction may continue. That includes 26 hotels with existing permits.

More travel news

How we travel now: More people are taking booze-free trips — and airlines and hotels are taking note. Some couples are ditching the traditional honeymoon for a “buddymoon” with their pals. Interested? Here are the best tools for making a group trip work.

Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum , getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. Some destinations are fighting back with public awareness campaigns — or just by telling out-of-control visitors to stay away .

Safety concerns: A door blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet, leaving passengers traumatized — but without serious injuries. The ordeal led to widespread flight cancellations after the jet was grounded, and some travelers have taken steps to avoid the plane in the future. The incident has also sparked a fresh discussion about whether it’s safe to fly with a baby on your lap .

Noosa Shire Council considering a 'congestion tax' to solve traffic gridlock during holidays, weekends

If you have been to Noosa, you have probably raged at the traffic woes that plague the south-east Queensland holiday hotspot during busy periods. 

Noosa's population swells on weekends and peak times as daytrippers and holiday-makers descend upon the beachside town. 

The local council is considering a controversial solution to beat the traffic gridlock — a congestion tax for tourists. 

Noose Shire Council Deputy Mayor Brian Stockwell believes a congestion charge using vehicle recognition technology will be more successful than introducing paid parking. 

"We've got a real problem with congestion. It's not just something that's inconvenient," he said. 

"What used to be just in peak season now is most weekends.

"People are saying that it's really affecting their livability. It's negatively impacting their lifestyle and it's having mental health impacts.

"It is a very serious issue here at Noosa." 

How bad is the problem? 

Noosa's idyllic beaches and natural beauty attracts tourists from around Australia and overseas — not to mention Sunshine Coast locals who sometimes visit for the day. 

There is a severe shortage of carparks to meet the demand, particularly on weekends. 

The road into Hastings Street, the area's main shopping strip, becomes clogged with vehicles and can cause queues several kilometres long.

Noosa council runs free shuttle buses during peak times, which allows people to park in larger carparks nearby and catch a lift into the beach. 

But those buses get stuck in the same traffic congestion. 

Offering a carrot and stick

Cr Stockwell says the council has provided "carrots" with free buses, but now it is time for the "stick" to funnel more people onto those buses and clear up the roads. 

"We have traffic that's backing back over the Noosa hill. It's causing people great difficulties," he said.  

"The congestion charge is … not about being anti-tourist. It's about saying in certain times of the year, certain days of the year, the best way to get to the beach is by public transport or active transport."

The free buses are funded by residents paying a $30 annual levy through their council rates. 

Cr Stockwell said a congestion tax, which would not apply to local residents, was considered in 2017 but "was quite unpopular then". 

"We probably now have a majority of people who would support this sort of change," he said. 

He denied the tax was a "revenue-raising exercise". 

"If we do this, it can probably actually pay for the sustainable transport options like the free bus, and we could take that $30 transport levy off the rate bill," Cr Stockwell said. 

Beaching parking 'scarce'

Griffith University transport expert Matthew Burke said beach parking was a "scarce resource". 

"City after city has brought in timed and then paid parking," he said. 

"God isn't creating any more land in Noosa and certainly we're not able to create more road space.

"We end up having to ration that pretty severely and paid parking will inevitably come at some point." 

Professor Burke said a congestion charge could be a very effective incentive for visiting beachgoers to change their behaviour. 

"It's not fun. People don't like to pay," he said. 

"People need to just judge whether the nuisance of bringing in a congestion charge would outweigh the benefits that would come in freeing up that strip." 

How would it work? 

Professor Burke said there were different ways a congestion tax could be charged. 

"The lowest tech is a boom gate and then a literal toll booth where people pay via a credit card or cash," he said. 

"The more advanced system is like the Transurban toll roads people would be familiar with in Brisbane, where you pay via a transponder that's attached to the vehicle and allows you to just drive through at pace."

Professor Burke said a critical factor in selling the decision to ratepayers was ensuring the council spent the revenue transparently. 

"If ever this was done at Noosa, what I think the community would want to see is … that money spent back in that location.

"There's easy ways to do this, [maybe] a big sign that says, 'This huge street improvement … has been paid for by those motorists from that congestion charge'. 

"We'd all love free parking but someone has to pay for that parking.

"It's provided by our local governments and others through rates, and we all pay rates, except for us daytrippers from down south."

Cr Stockwell said Noosa residents wanted "profound change". 

"They want noticeable and positive alteration to the way that the community is being impacted currently by the level of tourism," he said. 

"The Noosa community is now calling for something that's transformational in the way we treat traffic in our tourist precincts.

"We want to get Noosa back to be a place where people come but they leave the car behind." 

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