4. At the check-in counter

Hostess: Good morning. Your ticket and your passport, please.

Passenger: Here you are.

Hostess: Do you want a window seat or an aisle seat?

Passenger: An aisle seat, please.

Hostess: Put your luggage on the scales. Is it your only bag?

Passenger: Yes, it is.

Hostess: We have 20 kilos luggage allowance on both domestic and international flights. Your bag is 2 kilos overweight. You have to pay excess luggage charge.

Passenger: Oh, really? But it's only 2 kilos.

Hostess: I know, sir. That's the rale. $5.30, please.

Passenger: All right.

Hostess: Here's your receipt, your ticket and your boarding pass, your passport and your luggage claim check. The flight will be boarding at Gate 56 in 5 minutes.

Passenger: Where is it?

Hostess: Just round the corner to your right. Enjoy your flight.

Passenger: Thank you very much.

5. Holiday plans

Mary: Hallo, Charles, it's me, Mary.

Charles: Hi, Mary, how are you?

Mary: I'm very well, thanks. How are you?

Charles: I'm fine.

Mary: Good. I am ringing to ask if you know anything about hotels in Brighton,

Charles: No, I am afraid I can't be of much help to you there.

Mary: We are going to take the kids to the South this summer. 1 thought you've been to Brighton.

Charles: I have. Several times. But I've always taken a tent.

Mary: Oh, I see. That's not our case. We could never do it with George and Susan. They are terribly naughty, so we simply must find a nice hotel where they'll put up with noisy kids.

Charles: I think it's not a problem. Why not go to a travel agency? Or look at ads?

Mary: Well, yes. As a matter of fact, I was reading one paper this morning. And I found one. It sounded marvellous. This hotel is right on the beach, and that's essential. The kids are really only interested is scrabbling in the sand and jumping into the sea every five minutes.

Charles: I know just how it is.

Mary: And the rooms have balconies facing the sea, so it would be possible for us to keep an eye on the kids while they are playing.

Charles: Sounds good. Is it expensive?

Mary: Rather. The food is good though, according to the advertisement — but they always say that.

Charles: Of course. The only way to find out is to go and try it. Or ask somebody who's been there. Oh, look, it's just occurred to me — Mr. and Mrs. Croft, who live across the street, have been to Brighton several times and they always stayed at the hotels.

Mary: Did they?

Charles: I'll ask them to give you a call.

Mary: That's very kind of you. They won't mind, will they?

Charles: They'll be pleased to help.

Mary: Thank you ever so much, Charles.

Charles: No thanks at all. Glad to help.

Make up your own dialogues:

1. What way of travelling do you prefer? Why?

2. Travel broadens the mind. Discuss.

3. You work at a travel agency. Clients come to ask about holidays. You suggest holiday trips on board different ships which would suit their requirements.

4. You are at the information bureau of railway station and you want some information about the trains.

5. You’ve got to go on business, it’s very urgent and you’ve too little time but you’re afraid of flying. Your friend reassures you.