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English for Tourist Guides 1

Unit 1A Coach Tour of Bangkok

Conversation in Context

A guide is welcoming a group of tourists before they start a coach tour of Bangkok.

Guide : Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of Sabaidee Holidays, I’d like

to welcome you on board the coach trip to the Grand Palace, the Temple of the

Emerald Buddha and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. First of all, I’d like to

introduce myself. My name is Manit and I’m your guide for today. In a few

minutes we’ll leave the hotel for the tour. Let me take this opportunity to tell you

briefly about the itinerary. It will take us about one hour to get to the Grand Palace

from the hotel. On the way you’ll see many interesting places. First we’ll pass

the king’s royal residence, Chitralada Palace and then the Marble Temple, the

Equestrian Statue of King Rama V on the Royal Plaza in front of Anantasamakom

Hall, Mahakarn Fort, Lohaprasat, the Democracy Monument, and, finally Sanam

Luang. When we arrive at the Grand Palace we’ll start with the tour of the Temple

of the Emerald Buddha, which will take about an hour. After that we’ll visit the

Grand Palace and we’ll spend about one hour there. After the Grand Place I’m

going to take you to a Thai restaurant for lunch. After lunch we’ll visit Wat Phra

Chetuphon, the temple built by king Rama I to mark his reign. After that you’ll

have the afternoon free. Do you have any questions?

Tourist 1 : Are you going to take us back to the hotel after the temple tour?

Guide : Yes, of course.

Tourist 2 : How long are we going to visit the last temple?

Guide : About an hour and a half.

2 English for Tourist Guides

Tourist 1 : What are we going to see there?

Guide : You’ll see the largest reclining Buddha in Bangkok there.

Exercise 1 Listening

Listen to the guide. Complete the notes on the itinerary.

A coach trip to the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Temple of

the Reclining Buddha.

Thursday

08.30 Your ______ will pick you up from the ______ and drive you to the ______ . On the

way, we’ll drive past places of ______, such as Chitralada ______, the ______ Temple,

the Equestrian ______ of King Rama V in front of Anantasamakom ______, Mahakarn

______, Lahaprasat, the Democracy ______, and Sanam Luang.

09.30 Tour of the ______

10.30 Tour of the ______

11.30 Leave the Grand Palace and get back to the bus.

12.00 Lunch at a ______ by the river.

13.00 Leave the restaurant for Wat ______.

13.30 Tour of ______

Here you’ll see ______.

15.00 Meet back at the bus to get back to the hotel.

Ways of Saying It

1. Greeting, welcoming and introducing yourself

Good morning

Good afternoon

Golden Orchid Holidays, I’d like to

Sabaidee Tours, it gives me great pleasure to

aboard our coach tour of Bangkok.

on board our bus tour of Ayutthaya.

ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of

welcome you


let me introduce myself.

First of all, allow me to introduce myself. My name is______,

I’d like to introduce myself.

’m going to be your guide for today.

and I ’ll be the next few days.

the whole week.

2. Talking about future plan

On the way, you will see ___

we ’ll visit ___

’re going to stop at ___

3. Talking about sequences of activities

First, ______ Then, ______ Next, ______

After that, ______ Later, ______ Finally, ______

At one o’clock, ______

Exercise 2 Speaking

You are the guide for a four-day Bangkok tour. You have to pick up a group of tourists

from the airport and transfer them to the hotel. Study the itinerary below and give the whole

welcome speech.

Day 1 Arrive Bangkok, meet/assist and transfer to hotel

Accom : At your selected hotel.

Day 2 American breakfast at the hotel.

A.M. Half day Bangkok Klong Tour

P.M. At leisure.

Evening Thai dinner and classical dances


Day 3 American breakfast at the hotel.

A.M. Half day Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple Tour

P.M. Half day Thai cultural shows at the Rose Garden



Day 4 American breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport.

Exercise 3 Speaking

You are a guide for a two-day river cruise to Ayutthaya. Follow the instructions to help

you talk through the itinerary. After that answer the tourists’ questions.

BKK 004: 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT LEGENDARY RIVER CRUISE ON THE MEKHALA

Bangkok/Ayutthaya

Day 1

Pick up from your hotel. Transfer to embarkation pier.

3:00 P.M. depart on the legendary river cruiser Mekhala.

Pass by the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo), the Temple of Dawn (Wat

Arun) and the Royal Palace.

Cruise up the river at sunset.

Dinner by candle light on board.

Leisurely evening activities (video movies, indoor games, bar, stereo).

Night docking near Pak Kret Temple.

Day 2

- At 6:00 A.M. join traditional alms giving ceremony at the temple.

- Sunrise breakfast on board.

- Arrive at Bang Pa-in and visit king Rama V’s Summer Palace.

- Tranfer to a typical long tail boat that brings you through a series of canals (Klongs) to

the ancient city of Ayutthaya where lunch will be served.

- Guided visit through the city. Return to Bangkok by air-conditioned bus. Arrive at your

hotel at 5:00 P.M.

1. Greet the tourists

2. Introduce yourself

3. Say you are going to tell everyone the itinerary for the next 2 days.

4. Talk through Day 1 and Day 2.

First______ Then______ After that______

5. Ask if there are any questions.

6. Some tourists ask questions

7. Answer their questions.

8. Tell the tourists to enjoy themselves.


Grammar Point

1. WILL vs. BE GOING TO

(a) According to the weather forecast, ‘will’ or ‘be going to’ is used to express a

it will rain tomorrow. PREDICTION.

(b) According to the weather forecast, when the speaker is making a prediction,

it is going to rain tomorrow. either will or be going to is possible

(c) Be careful, you’ll get sunburned. (a) and (b) have the same meaning.

(d) Be careful, you’re going to get (c) and (d) have the same meaning.

sunburned.

(e) A : Why did you stop? Only ‘be going to’ is used to express a

B : I’m going to show you the lake. PRIOR PLAN.

In (e): Speaker B has made a prior plan.

She planned to show ‘A’ the lake, so she

stopped in order to show her the lake.

(f) I heard that walking up Kao Wang was In (f) The speaker already knew that walking

tiring, so I’m going to take the tram. up was tiring. He made the decision in the

past and he intends to act on this decision

in the future.

(g) A : I left my passport in the hotel room. Only ‘will’ is used to express WILLINGNESS.

B : I’ll phone the hotel to keep it for In (g) Speaker B is not making a prediction.

you. Don’t worry. He has made no prior plan to phone the

(h) A : I’m thirsty. hotel. Instead, he is volunteering to phone

B : I’ll get you something to drink. the hotel and uses ùwillû to show his willing-

ness.

In (h) Speaker B is volunteering to get

Speaker A a drink.


2. FUTURE PROGRESSIVE

(a) I’ll be flying over the Atlantic at this time The future progressive expresses an activity

tomorrow. that will be in progress at a time in the

(b) Don’t call me at 7. I’ll be sleeping in future.

bed then.

(c) In the morning, we’ll be visiting the The future progressive also expresses an

Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In the action that will continue to happen at

afternoon, we’ll be visiting the Temple different times in the future, as in (c).

of Dawn.

(d) In the morning, we’ll go to the floating Sometimes there is little or no difference

market. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the between the future progressive and the

Wax Museum. simple future, especially when the future

event will occur at an indefinite time in the

future, as in (d).

3. EXPRESSING THE FUTURE IN TIME CLAUSE

(a) Mr. and Mrs. Cribb will arrive soon. In (a) ‘When Mr. and Mrs. Cribb arrive’ is a

When Mr. and Mrs. Cribb arrive, we’ll time clause.

start the tour of the temple. When + subject + verb = a time clause

(b) The bus is going to leave soon. will or be going to is not used in a time

As soon as the bus leaves, I’ll tell you clause. The meaning of the clause is

about the itinerary. future, but the simple present tense is used.

(c) You’ll soon get to the top of the hill. A time clause begins with such words as

After you get to the top of the hill, you’ll when, as soon as, before, after, until and

see the panorama of the whole town. includes a subject and a verb. The time

clause can come either at the beginning of

the sentence or in the second part of the

sentence:

When the rain stops, we’ll go out.

or

We’ll go out when the rain stops.


Exercise 4

Use be going to if you think the speaker is expressing a prior plan. Use will if you think

there is no future plan.

1. Today we (visit) ______Sukhothai Historical park, where you (see) ______ the ruins of the

old palace temple.

2. A : Tell me what you (do) ______ tonight.

B : I (write) ______ some postcards and letters.

3. A : Have you got a city map?

B : Yes, of course. I (get) ______ one for you.

4. A : Isn’t it hot and stuffy in here?

B : Yes, I think so. I (turn on) ______ the airconditioner.

5. A : Could you put your seat upright. We (land) ______ soon.

B : Oh, I’m sorry.

6. A : This ruby ring is too expensive. I think.

B : I (show) ______ you a cheaper one.

7. A : What would you like for your main course?

B : What have you got?

A : We have fish, chicken and beef.

B : I (have) ______ fish, please.

8. A : Why did you buy a phone card?

B : I (make) ______ a long distance call to London.

Exercise 5

Use the future progressive, the future simple or the simple present.

1. A : When are you leaving for Switzerland?

B : Tomorrow. Can you imagine. Two days from now I (climb up) ______ the Alps.

2. A : When you (arrive) ______ in Zurich ______ you (give) ______ me a call?

B : Yes, I (do) ______ that.

3. A : Are you going to be in town next Friday?

B : No. I (take) ______ a group to Chiang Mai and we (trek) ______ in the jungle up

there.

A : As soon as you (get) ______ back to Bangkok, (come) ______ to see me

immediately. I (wait) ______ for you in the office.

4. A : How can I get in touch with you while you are out of town?

B : I (stay) ______ with my aunt, but I haven’t got her number with me. I (give) ______

you a call when I (arrive) ______ there.


Exercise 6 Speaking

Look at this brief itinerary for a tour group. Welcome the group and tell them what they

are going to do for the day.

Friday 4 November

08.00 Leave hotel

09.00 Arrive at the Marble Temple. Tour of the temple.

10.00 Leave the temple for Vimanmek Mansion.

10.15 Start with an inside visit to Vimanmek Mansion.

11.15 Leave the Mansion for the Oriental Hotel.

12.00 A lunch cruise on the Queen of Chao Phraya to the Temple of Dawn.

13.00 A visit to the Temple of Dawn

14.00 Board the Queen of Chao Phraya and return to the Oriental Hotel.

15.00 Free afternoon

Exercise 7 Reading and Vocabulary

Read the commentaries that the guide gives at places along Si Ayutthaya Road and

Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Fill in the gaps with words or phrases from the list.

1. Chitralada Palace

benefits patronage residence

experiments plant specimens

herds pond strains

paddy projects subjects

research variety

We are now passing Chitralada Palace, the permanent ___1___ of His Majesty the

King. The palace was built in the reign of King Rama VI in an area of about 158 acres.

Instead of beautiful gardens, you’ll be amazed to find that the palace ground contains several

agricultural ___2___ under the royal ___3___of the king. Parts of the grounds are given over to

___4___ fields, where the king has been conducting ___5___ and testing newly developed

___6___ of rice. There are also ___7___ of cattle and a pilot ___8___ manufacturing powdered

milk. In a large dug out ___9___ the king has stocked with fast breeding ___10___ of fish

obtained from Japan. The results of these ___11___ projects and ___12___ will be made

available to government agencies and villagers throughout the kingdom. His tireless work

for the welfare of his ___13___ has brought immense ___14___ to the rural people.


2. The Marble Temple

architecture cloister marble

arts collection monastery

building command periods

On your left is Wat Benchamabophit or the Marble Temple. This temple is considered to

be a perfect ___1___ of Thai ___2___ although the main ___3___ was built from Carrara ___4___

imported from Italy. This ___5___ was built under the ___6___ of King Rama V in 1899 A.D. to

replace an old temple that was pulled down to build Suan Dusit Palace. In the ___7___ behind

the main building there is a ___8___ of beautiful Buddha images of various ___9___ and styles.

3. The Equestrian Statue of King Rama V

bodies modernization slavery wreaths

deed plaza statue

imperialists policy walks

insight representatives world

Before we turn left into Ratchadamnoennok Avenue, if you look to your right, you’ll see

a large ___1___ on which the equestrian ___2___ of King Rama V stands. King Rama V is one

of the best loved of all Thai kings. This statue was set up while the king himself was still

alive. Since his death, on the 23rd of October each year, ___3___ from government ___4___,

the military, the police, students and people from all ___5___ of life bring ___6___ of fresh

flowers to present to the statue of their beloved king. One may ask why he is so much

loved. The answer is he was the king who brought the country into ___7___ so as to keep up

with the western ___8___. Through his ___9___ and foreign ___10___, he saved his country

from being colonized by the western ___11___. Another good ___12___ that he has done to

his people was that he abolished the ___13___ system, which had been practised through-

out the course of our history.

4. Anantasamakom Throne Hall

architects dignitaries signature throne hall

command meetings style

constitution parliament supervision


Behind the equestrian statue is Anantasamakom Throne Hall, which was built at the

___1___ of King Rama V for visiting foreign ___2___ and for state council ___3___ . This ___4___

is also a part of the Suan Dusit Palace. When King Rama VII affixed his ___5___ to give Thai

people their ___6___ in 1932, the first meeting of the Thai ___7___ was conducted in this

hall.

The marble Throne Hall was constructed in the Italian Renaissance ___8___ under

the ___9___ of Phraya Yomaraj and Italian engineers and ___10___. The building was built

from carved Carrara marble imported from Italy.

Exercise 8 Reading and Speaking

Divide into two groups, Group A and Group B. You are going to read part of the text

again in more detail.

Group A

1. Read the sections on ‘Mahakarn Fort’, ‘The Golden Mount’, ‘Wat Ratchanadda

and the Lohaprasat’ in more detail, making notes. Be prepared to answer questions about

them.

2. Think about the topics ‘Democracy Monument’ and ‘Sanam Luang’, but do not

read these sections. Prepare some questions that you would want to ask if you were a tourist

in Bangkok.

Group B

1. Read the sections on ‘Democracy Monument’ and ‘Sanam Luang’ in more detail,

making notes. Be prepared to answer questions about them.

2. Think about the topics ‘Mahakarn Fort’, ‘The Golden Mount’, ‘Wat Ratchanadda

and the Lohaprasat’, but do not read these sections. Prepare some questions that you would

want to ask if you were a tourist in Bangkok.

Mahakarn Fort, the Golden Mount, Wat Ratchanadda and the Lohaprasat

We are turning right into Ratchadamnoennai Avenue. On your left is the remain of

Mahakarn Fort, which was a part of the city walls built in the reign of King Rama I. Behind

Mahakarn Fort is the Golden Mount, a man-made mountain topped by a golden stupa. Some

Buddha’s relics were interred in this stupa. As Bangkok lacks high mountains, King Rama III

had The Golden Mount constructed to be the highest point in Bangkok. The construction was

completed in the reign of King Rama IV, his brother. The total height is 76 meters. Visitors

Spiritual

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