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English for Tour Guides
I. INTRODUCTION
1. Answer the questions: What does a tour guide have to do? What does this job involve?
2. Pair work: (handout 1) Complete the lists and compare them with another pair. 1.the personal and professional qualities needed:
2.the things a guide must do/is responsible for:
guides tourists within a specific country, region, city or site
provides special information on history, archeology, monuments and works of art, the environment, culture, natural and built attractions, places of interest
know much about the history, scenery, and culture (in English) for the places where you are giving tours to keep the tourists interested
teaches tourists about safety
excellent communication and negotiation skills
patience and tact
accompanies visitors on tours
problem solving skills and ability to think logically
II.TECHNIQUES
1. How to welcome tourists
Here you find some examples of welcoming. Practice yourself and present in front of the class.(handout 2)
1. Welcome.
I'm Helina, your guide for this tour. I'll tell you all about the things you will see. If you have any questions, please ask. It's my job to answer them. All my time is free to talk to you, sightseers.
2. Hello everyone.
My name is Tiiu. On behalf of Ida-Viru Tour Agency I'd like to welcome you all to Narva. The bus ride to your hotel Vanalinn takes you about fifteen minutes. Right now I'd like to take a minute to familiarize you with the area and tell a brief safety precaution. You have to fasten safety belts and remain seated until we reach our destination.
3. Dear guests,
Let me introduce myself. My name is Liis. I am your guide and will support you during the tour. I promise you are going to enjoy your stay here in Narva. This is a beautiful, quiet city where you can relax, sit by the beach, enjoy great meals and feel very safe. You can walk into town and enjoy the fountains or take a moonlit walk along the water.
4. Hi, everybody.
I’m your tour guide Natalja. It’s great to meet you in Estonia. Discover Estonia and you will see it is phenomenal. Like Alice in her Wonderland, you will find there is even more to see in Estonia than you have dreamed about.
5. Hi, everybody.
I am Steve, your tour guide for today. We're going to be pulling up to the hotel in just a few minutes. Please sit back and enjoy the view of the ocean on the left hand side of the bus as we enter the city. I ask that you remain in your seats until we have come to a complete stop. Our agent Nick will be meeting us at the bus to help you with your bags. Please double check to make sure your bag has been taken off the bus. On behalf of Narva Travel Tours, have a wonderful vacation in Narga and I hope to see you tomorrow at the information session.
2. How to perform information about places of interest
2.1.VocabularyThe following charts will help you learn some important vocabulary and phrases that you can use with your English-speaking tourists.(handout 3)
Vocabulary (nouns)
Word Meaning Example sentence
activities things to do There are lots of activities that the whole family will
enjoy.
architecture design of a building The architecture of this building is typical of the
Renaissance age.
art gallery place to look at professional paintings and drawings
We are going to visit the art gallery where local painters exhibit their art.
attractions places for tourists to see The water park is our most recent attraction .
bearings feeling for understanding one's location/surroundings in an
unknown area
If you're having trouble getting your bearings just
remember that the mountains are west.
business district area in a city that has many offices
Keep in mind that this is the business district so
that grocery store may be expensive.
castle a building for royalty No one has lived in this castle since the last king died twenty years ago.
church a place to worship God The church is the central meeting place in this
town.
conveniences things that make life easier There you will find all of
your conveniences, from suntan lotion to shampoo.
custom something people of a region do often
It's a custom to hang beads in the windows at
this time of year.
en route on the way While we are en route to the hotel I will point out the beach and the golf
course.
entertainment district
a place where there are theatres and concert halls
If you want to catch a movie while you're here,
the entertainment district is off to your left.
exception something/someone that does not follow the usual rules or
expectations
With the exception of Johnson Street, it is safe
to walk around here at night.
exhibition objects (i.e. art) displayed for a short time for the public to view
It may be tough to find parking with the car
exhibition on this week.
grocery store/supermarket
place to buy food to take home Since you have a kitchenette at your hotel you will need to know
where the grocery store is.
highlight the best part People often say that the highlight of their trip is the botanical gardens.
legend a person or story known for a long time
According to an old legend, a sea monster
lives in this lake.
lobby front entrance We will meet in the lobby at 8 am sharp.
locals people who live in an area The locals are usually happy to show tourists
around.
location place where something can be found
This location is the best because you don't need to
bother renting a car.
map shows roads and directions to places
I'll give you each a map so you can follow along as
we walk.
market place to buy fresh food and homemade items
Every Sunday there is a farmer's market on Wade
Street.
monument a statue/structure that honours an event or person
This monument honours the men and women who
died during the war.
museum a place where historical items are displayed
The museum charges a small fee for adults, but
children are free.
necessities things that people need for every day living
We recommend that you only carry necessities in
your purse and leave everything else at the
hotel.
original state the way something appeared from the beginning
Except for the roof, this home has been left in its
original state.
photograph picture taken with a camera You may not take photographs here, but
you can purchase a postcard.
postcard a card with a picture on one side(usually an object or place
that tourists see) that can be mailed without an envelope
The gift shop has many great souvenirs, such as
postcards of the beautiful waterfalls.
questions or concerns
things that tourists may want to say or ask
The plane almost missed the runway because it was such a bad storm.
request something that has been asked for politely
The driver has made a request that you throw all of your garbage in the bin at the front on your way
out.
restaurant district part of a town/city with many places to eat
You will see there are many more eateries to choose from when we head to the restaurant
district.
ritual tradition, custom, action (religious or cultural) that people
do often
It is an old native ritual to dance during the sunrise.
scenery natural beauty to look at It is impossible to capture the beauty of this scenery
in pictures.
settlers people who first made a home in an area
The original settlers relied on oxen to carry their
wares.
shopping district area of town where there are many stores
You may want to save some spending money
because we'll be visiting the shopping district this
afternoon.
site place,location This is the site of a very famous battle.
stairway/stairwell steps going up or down The stairwell is very steep, so please watch
your step.
street people people who live on the street, often begging for money
You may be surprised how many street people
ask you for money.
surroundings things that you see around you I hope you enjoy the castle and its surroundings,
including the secret garden.
voice the sound you make when speaking
I apologize for my voice today as I have a bit of a
cold.
voucher a piece of paper that shows you have paid
Don't forget to bring your voucher for a free coffee
in the hotel lobby.
waterfront piece of land next to an ocean, lake, or river
There will be plenty of live entertainment down at
the waterfront.
window glass that you look out We can peer in the window but I think they
are probably closed for the day.
Vocabulary (verbs)
Word Meaning Example sentence
arrive reach a destination I am glad to see you all arrived safely.
close to finish We will close the tour with a view of the city at sunset.
continue on keep going If you're all finished looking here, we will continue on with the tour.
depart leave The last ferry departs at 4pm, so make sure you don't miss it.
enjoy have a good experience I have enjoyed meeting all of you today.
expect think that something will be/happen a certain way
You probably weren't expecting to see snow.
permit allow You are permitted to have a beverage on the bus, but please do not eat any
food.
proceed go forward Please proceed all the way to the back of the bus.
raise (a hand) lift If you have any questions during the
tour, please raise your hand.
recommend suggest We recommend that you only keep a small amount of cash in your wallet.
refer suggest I will gladly refer you to my favourite restaurants, if you are interested.
relax sit back and enjoy time in peace
Tomorrow you will have a day to just relax on the beach.
show someone around
take people to see an area When we get to the museum someone else will show us around.
sit back relax in a seated position Please sit back and enjoy the bus tour.
speak up talk louder If you need me to speak up or slow down, please let me know.
Vocabulary (adjectives)
Word Meaning Example sentence
ancient very old The ancient village has been left untouched.
beautiful/gorgeous very nice looking You will find beautiful homemade jewellery in that shop.
breathtaking when a view is very impressive
Under the starlight the waterfall is simply breathtaking.
customary traditional It is customary to shake hands and bow as you enter.
dangerous not safe It is dangerous to accept a ride from a local.
devastating very sad, unfortunate The tsunami was devastating for local hotels.
elegant attractive, yet simple There is an elegant dining room for guests to eat in.
enormous very large This enormous sculpture stands one-hundred feet high.
exciting makes one feel very It's so exciting to see new places,
happy/energetic isn't it?
extensive covers a lot This house has an extensive history, and you can read more in the
brochures.
fascinating very interesting to learn about/see
It is fascinating to know how people lived back then.
haunted believed to have ghosts living there
The house is said to be haunted and no one has lived in it for fifty years
or more.
heritage of historical importance The government named this school as a heritage site last year.
international around the world Every year it is an international celebration, with people coming
from as far away as Africa.
lovely very nice (appearance or personality)
This is a lovely place to sit and watch the local birds.
magnificent amazing This part of town is known for its magnificent wall murals.
popular liked by many June is the most popular time for tourists to come here.
prevalent very noticeable Crime is prevalent in the old parts of town.
reconstructed built again The village was reconstructed after the major fire in 1910.
restored returned to its original state
All of the antique furniture has been professionally restored.
safe not dangerous The water is safe to drink here.
scenic nice to look at (nature) We will go up to the balcony for a scenic view of the grounds.
superb very good (i.e. service, food, entertainment)
The children put on a superb concert at Christmas time.
thrilling exciting Cliff jumping is a thrilling experience for those of you who
aren't afraid of heights.
unbelievable too amazing/strange to seem true
It is unbelievable what some of these street entertainers can do.
visible able to be seen The top of the tower may not be visible because of the fog.
2.2. Language focus
Superlatives:
… is one of the finest castles in Estoniamore beautiful sights in the worldmost famous towns in Europe
Passive:
… was founded by (person)… was painted in (date)… were restored
2.3. Here are some different ways you can point out interest points during the tour. (handout 4)
Tour Guide In front of you is... On your right/left you will see... Up ahead... On your left you will see... As we turn the corner here, you will see... In the distance... If you look up you will notice... Off to the north... Look to the east... To your west... In a few minutes we'll be passing... We are now coming up to... As you will see... You may have noticed... Take a good look at...
I'd like to point out... Keep your eyes open for...
Tourist Questions Is that the...you were talking about? Are we going to pass the...? Are we going to see any...? Is it on the right or the left? I don't see it. Can you point it out again? Did I miss it? Will we see it on the way back?
2.4. Sample Conversation (handout 5)
Guide: It's about a three minute ride up to the top of the mountain. As we pass the two towers the gondola may sway a little.
Man: This thing is safe, right?
Guide: Yes, you don't have anything to worry about. We do about 100 trips a day up the mountain, and these tours have been going on for over ten years without any accidents. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as we ascend. It isn't uncommon to see deer and even bears.
Woman:
What's that mountain to the left called?
Guide: That's Mount Karen. And to the right of that with the three small points is Mount Brown. Now, if you look up straight ahead, you should be able to see a large eagle's nest. Does everyone see it there?
Man: Are there any baby birds?
Guide: That's a good question. I haven't seen any yet, but we usually see them around this time of year.
Woman:
What's that lake down there, to the right of the green meadow ?
Guide: I'm glad you asked. That's John Lake. It's actually a man made pond that was built as part of a conservation effort over twenty years ago. During the 70's there was a lot of clearcutting of forests in the area, and much of the wildlife was lost. Since John Lake was built, ducks, swans, and geese have returned to the area.
Man: Is this the highest mountain in this region?
Guide: No, actually, Mount Heather, which you we will be able to see in just
a minute or so has the highest peak. But, this is the highest mountain for recreational purposes like skiing and guided tours.
Woman:
Can you ski throughout the year?
Guide: No, it warms up enough to actually suntan up there in the summer. Oh, look everyone. There are two deer feeding in the clearing right below us.
Man: Thanks, that should be a great photo. So... what is there to do besides ski at the top of the hill at this time of year?
Guide: Oh, there's plenty to do. We have horseback riding, snowmobile tours, and a petting zoo for children. If you look to your left you'll see the snowmobile trail going through the mountain.
Check your understanding
1 Where is this tour taking place?A. on the top of the mountainB. on the way up a mountainC. at the bottom of the mountainD. inside a mountain
2 Which of the following does the tour guide NOT point out during the tour?A. sceneryB. wildlifeC. a restaurantD. a trail
3 What does the tour guide do after he points out John Lake?A. He suggests they all go swimming.B. He provides a brief history of it.C. He quickly takes another questions.D. He talks about the water temperature.
2.5. Sample Tour Guide Speech 2.5.1. Read this text ''INTRODUCTION A TOUR AROUND NARVA -
JÕESUU''. (handout 6)
I promise you are going to enjoy your stay here in Narva-Jõesuu. It was called as a Pearl by the Gulf of Finland. This is a beautiful, quiet city where you can relax, sit
by the sandy beach, enjoy great meals and feel very safe. You can walk into town and enjoy the fountains or take a moonlit walk along the water. Please do not swim here. This is not a safe place to swim because there is a strong undertow(sóng dội từ bờ). You can take a short bus ride from your hotel. There you will also enjoy entertainment and dancing.
2.5.2. Read a tour guide’s speech on a shuttle bus from the airport to the resort.(handout 7)
Welcoming tourists:
Hello everyone. My name is Luca. On behalf of Suntan Tours I'd like to welcome you all to Los Cabos. The bus ride to your hotel will take about fifteen minutes. Right now I'd like to take a minute to familiarize you with the area and discuss some brief safety precautions. Firstly, I ask that you remain seated until we reach our destination and that you not eat or drink while on the bus. Secondly, please realize that it is against the law to get drunk in public. Enjoy your vacation, but do drink responsibly and do not drink and drive.
Describing the location:
I promise you are going to enjoy your stay here in San Jose, Los Cabos. This is a beautiful, quiet city where you can relax, sit by the beach, enjoy great meals and feel very safe. You can walk into town and enjoy the fountains or take a moonlit walk along the water. Please do not swim here. This is not a safe place to swim because there is a strong undertow. Cabos San Lucas is the place to go if you want to enjoy swimming in the ocean. You can take a short bus ride from your hotel. There you will also enjoy entertainment and dancing.
Introducing special events and offers:
Suntan tours offers a variety of special discounts depending on your travel plans. We have golf packages, as well as guided whale boat tours, and fishing charters. There will be a short information session at 1pm in the lobby of the hotel tomorrow where you can learn all about these offers. We recommend that you do not purchase packages from street vendors as they are not always 100 percent reliable. They also may charge you more than what they say. Please take my advice and allow Suntan tours to book all of your day trips and activities while you are here.
Offering If you need to exchange your dollars into pesos, please use a
advice: bank or money exchange. We don't recommend exchanging your money at the hotel because you won't get a fair rate. Some restaurants will accept American or Canadian money, but you are better off to exchange your money and pay with pesos. Or, if you prefer, you can always use your credit cards. Also, if you want to get around the city, or travel to Cabos San Lucas, we recommend that you take the local bus rather than a taxi. The bus costs about one American dollar, and the driver can give you change if you don't have the exact amount. If you do decide to take a taxi make sure that you negotiate a price before you go.
Closing remarks:
We're going to be pulling up to the hotel in just a few minutes. Please sit back and enjoy the view of the ocean on the left hand side of the bus as we enter the city. I ask that you remain in your seats until we have come to a complete stop. Javier will be meeting us at the bus to help you with your bags. Please double check to make sure your bag has been taken off the bus. On behalf of Suntan Tours, have a wonderful vacation in San Jose and I hope to see you tomorrow at the information session.
Check your understanding
1 What does the tour guide say is illegal in Los Cabos?A. drinking alcoholB. renting carsC. being drunk in publicD. standing on buses
2 What advice does the tour guide give about transportation?A. have the correct changeB. don’t travel at nightC. tip the taxi driverD. use public transit
3 Where are tourists recommended to exchange their money?A. at the hotelB. on the busC. at a bankD. at the tour agency
3. How to ask and answer tour required questions
Tour Guide (handout 8) Do you have a question, Sir? Yes? (if you see a hand raised) Is there something I can help you with? I'll try my best to answer your questions. I'm afraid I don't have the answer to that. (Sorry I don't know.) That's an interesting question. I wish I knew the answer. (Sorry, I don't know.) Hmm.That's a tough (difficult) question. I'll have to look into that further. I'll have to ask someone about that. Hmm. I've never been asked that before. Pardon my English; I don't quite understand your question. I'm not sure, but I can find out for you.
Tourist Where is the ______ from here? How long has _______ been here? Where are we headed (going)now? What time does _______ stay open until? What else is there to do here? Which _________ do you recommend? Are we allowed to take pictures? What's that over there? (tourist points) Where's the best place to buy _______? My son wants to know if _________? (parent asking a question for shy
child) Do you know where the nearest washroom is? Could you tell us where the nearest bank is? You don't happen to have a first-aid kit, do you? Is that the __________you were talking about? Are we going to pass the ________________? Are we going to see any ________________? Is it on the right or the left? I don't see it. Can you point it out again? Did I miss it? Will we see it on the way back?
3.1. Sample Conversation (handout 9)
Guide: If you have any ………….. while we're going along, please don't …………. to ask.
Man: I have a question …………….
Guide: ………….., what's ………….?
Man: ………… the best place to have dinner…………… here?
Guide: Well, that's a………… question. There are so many good restaurants. My personal…………… is Black Beauty.
Man: ………. do we……….. there?
Guide: I'll……….. it ………..when we pass it. It's going to come up on your …………in a……….. minutes.
Woman:
My daughter wants to know ………..we're going to be…………. any castles today?
Guide: Castles. No I'm…………. all of the castles are further into the city. We're going to be staying near the…………. today. I can give you a map of the city, though. It………… where all of the castles are.
Man: Sorry, I have another question.
Guide: No problem. ………..what I'm here for.
Man: Are we…………to take pictures…………. we get inside the museum?
Guide: Oh, I'm glad you asked that. I forgot to mention that taking photographs inside the art gallery and the museum is…………. ……………., you can take pictures of the ………… and the outside of the buildings. The ……………. is beautiful.
Woman:
Oh, and what……….. will we be………….. for lunch?
Guide: We'll……….. around……….. and……….. back at the bus at 12:45………..
1. What does the tour guide recommend?A. His favourite artist B. His favourite thing to doC. His favourite restaurantD. His favourite view
2. What will this tour not be doing?A. going to a castleB. stopping for lunchC. seeing an art galleryD. visiting a museum
3. What does the tour guide say tourists are prohibited from?
A. asking questions B. eating on the busC. taking pictures of the artD.using a map
3.2. LISTENING: WALK TOUR IN KURESSAARE (handout 10)
1. Pre-Listening exercise: When you travel to a new place, what things would you like to see?
2. Listen to the story and choose the suitable pictures about the sights you hear.
1. Episkopal Castle 2. Resort Club 3. Weighing house
4. Lossi street 5. Kuressaare mill 6. Lasteaja street
3. Post-Listening exercise: Imagine you are guiding a walk tour for tourists in Hanoi. Prepare the monologue - excursion about it.
3.3. SPEAKING: ROLE PLAY
3.4. Final test prepare a power point presentation about one famous Vietnam
sightseeing focus on what to do in that city/town, tourist attractions, traditions,
curiosities etc. use pictures, music, video,...
