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	Listen to this conversation. Mrs. Black is organising a small conference. She phones the receptionist of a local hotel.
Receptionist:	Hello, Swan Lodge - how can I help you?
Mrs. Black:	Good morning, I'd like to make some enquiries about a reservation please.
Receptionist:	Certainly, is it for yourself?
Mrs. Black:	Well, actually, I'm trying to organise a small business conference at the end of next month and I was told that you had conference facilities.
Receptionist:	Yes, we do. We've got two conference rooms, one with a maximum capacity of twenty and one of forty. What dates did you have in mind?
Mrs. Black:	It would need to be the weekend of the 30th November, from 9.00am to 6.00pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Receptionist:	Let me see. Well, the large room is available then, but the small room is already booked for the Saturday.
Mrs. Black:	That's okay, I only need one room. Could you send me details of costs and deposit details - and what about catering?
Receptionist:	We do the full range of conference catering - tea and coffee breaks, lunches etc. - I can send you the list of menus and prices.
Mrs. Black:	Yes, please. I'd also like a conference dinner on the Sunday evening - I'm expecting about thirty people - is that possible?
Receptionist:	Well, it's a bit short notice, but I should think we can manage - the booking we already have doesn't want any dinners.
Mrs. Black:	Oh, that's good. I'd also like to reserve five en suite rooms for the conference organisers.
Receptionist:	I'll have to check on that and contact you later today, - we're waiting for someone else to confirm a booking. I could definitely reserve three rooms and let you know about the other two later. There are quite a few small hotels nearby which should have space if we don't.
Mrs. Black:	Okay. Could you also tell me what other amenities there are near you?
Receptionist:	Well, when I send you our Conference Information pack, it will list all the local amenities, with maps. There are pubs, clubs, restaurants, a health club, swimming pool and historic walks around the town and you know that we're right by the river don't you?
Mrs. Black:	No, I didn't know that. Okay, if I make a provisional booking for the one conference suite and the three rooms, and then I can complete the booking when I've received your pack.
Receptionist:	Yes, that's fine. Could I take down a few details . . .

	Pronunciation Practice: syllables
	Listen to these words from the conversation and repeat them until they sound right. The part of the word which is stressed is in bold.
	For example: Reservation.
	Which words have 2 syllables, which have 3 syllables, which have 4 syllables and which has 5?
	Click the number which you think is correct.
		Word	Number of syllables
		Reservation	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
		Conference	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
		Facilities	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
		Maximum	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
		Capacity	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
		Catering	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
		Booking	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
		En suite	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
		Amenities	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
		Provisional	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
		Accommodation	1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

	Listen to this conversation between 2 friends, who are discussing the types of holiday they like. The words in bold are useful for speaking or writing about holidays. After you have listened, practise saying these words.
Salma:	Let's see your Australia photos then!
Kurt:	Oh no, I forgot to bring them - next time.
Salma:	Well, you look pretty brown - must have been a good holiday.
Kurt:	Yes it was - great weather, fantastic scenery, relaxed atmosphere and lots of outdoor stuff, which you know I love!
Salma:	What about the nightlife?
Kurt:	Well, I didn't have much money, but beer is a lot cheaper over there, so I spent quite a few evenings in pubs - some of them are a bit like being in a Western!
Salma:	Sounds great. I'd love to get away from the noise and pollution here. What was the accommodation like?
Kurt:	Oh it was fine - hostels mainly. Everything's very organised there and tourism is big business, so there are lots of places to choose from - they even arrange your tours for you! But what about your holiday - you went to Greece didn't you?
Salma:	Yes, I went island hopping. It was lovely. The pace of life there is so relaxing and all the ancient Greek sites are amazing - they're everywhere!
Kurt:	I'm glad you enjoyed it. You know, even though I had a great time in Oz, my favourite holiday destination still has to be Scotland.
Salma:	Scotland, why? It's not exactly famous for its beaches and sunshine is it?
Kurt:	I know, but that's exactly what I love - the wildness, isolation, dramatic coastlines and highlands - and in fact, it does have lots of beautiful beaches. The walking and hiking there is fantastic and that's mainly why I go.
Salma:	Well, my favourite holiday destination is the one I haven't been to yet - discovery, excitement, adventure - that's me.
Kurt:	Well, wait 'till you see my photos - I packed in all the adventure I could.
Salma:	I bet you did. So, who's round is it? *
	(* whose turn is it to buy everyone in the group a drink?)

	Look at these informal phrases from the conversation - they all indicate the strong feeling or enthusiasm of the speaker. Listen to them and then practise yourself, paying careful attention to which parts of the phrase to stress.
	Let's see your photos then!
	Sounds great!
	It was lovely!
	I'm glad you enjoyed it!
	That's exactly what I love!
	I packed in all the adventure I could!
	I bet you did!

	Listen to the radio programme 'Our Kitchens' which reviews local restaurants.
Tony:	Good evening, I'm Tony Purr. Tonight we review three new restaurants, and talk to the new UK Chef of the Year, Robert Hamilton. Our first review tonight is of the South London restaurant, 'Chez Flup'. Our London reviewer Sam Lucas went there last week. Sam, tell us what you thought.
Sam:	Well Tony, I'm afraid that 'Chef Flup' definitely didn't live up to the media hype that it's been given in the London press recently - at least not the evening I was there. The service was slow, the drinks were overpriced and 3 out of the 10 main dishes were off the menu.
Tony:	Oh dear! Well, what was the food like?
Sam:	The appetisers were good, so were the desserts, but some of the main courses that I saw, as well as my own, were not very well prepared and several dishes were overcooked - the menu descriptions were a lot better than the real thing!
Tony:	What about this idea that the customers decide on exactly how much they should pay for the meal?
Sam:	Yes, well it seems like a good idea and is the main reason why this restaurant has had so much attention, but in fact it is a pretty awkward thing to do. I would much rather have a set price.
Tony:	So much for 'Chez Flup'. Let's move on to our second review tonight, 'Groovy Grapes' . . .

sites / already / desserts

Words in group A have the same pronunciation, but different spellings and meanings.

For example:

   Group A

Site	=	a place where something of interest happened in the past, such as a battle, or a place where something is happening now, such as a place where an archeological dig is in progress or a place where a building is under construction (a 'building site').
Sight	=	vision or something of interest to look at.
Cite	=	to mention the name of the author of a book/speech/idea.
All ready	=	everyone is prepared.
Already	=	used when talking about something that is finished.
Complement	=	something added to something else.
Compliment	=	to praise someone.
All together	=	everyone is in one group.
Altogether	=	very.
Buy	=	to purchase.
By	=	next to.
Bye	=	goodbye.
Cereal	=	any kind of grain used for food but usually meaning a breakfast product eaten with milk.
Serial	=	something that happens more than once.
Currant	=	a dried grape.
Current	=	an electrical charge.

Words in group B have small but important differences in pronunciation and have different spellings and meanings.

For example:

   Group B

Dessert	=	the sweet food at the end of a meal.
Desert	=	an area of dry, sandy land.
Accept	=	to take something that is offered to you
Except	=	not including something
Lose	=	to misplace something
Loose	=	opposite of 'tight'.

   Choose words from the above examples to complete the short conversation below.

Ian:	This cake you made for ____(1)____ is great!
Paul:	Thanks for the _____(2)_____. It's got _____(3)_____ in it to add sweetness.
Ian:	Anyway, are we ____(4)____ to go and see the ____(5)_____ of the city?
Paul:	Yes, we're all here ____(6)____Michiko - I think she's going to meet us later.
Ian:	Okay, and we need to do some shopping on the way back. Remind me to ____(7)____ some ___(8)____for breakfast tomorrow.

Click 'Answers' to see if you were right!

Listen to this short talk given at a business conference on the tourist industry.

Tourism is big business, in fact, some economies rely on it as a major industry. Potential holidaymakers can now get information on tourist destinations instantly, and the range of types of holiday is enormous. One increasingly important trend is eco-tourism. Many people want to visit 'unspoilt' natural locations, but this is only possible if tourism is carefully monitored and controlled in areas of natural beauty. Limits on numbers, accommodation that does not pollute or damage, and education of visitors so that they modify their behaviour to take account of their impact on wildlife, are all important. Even in places where tourism is well established, the sustainability of the environment is clearly desirable. Other growing trends in holidays are adventure tours, short breaks (often with very cheap air fares) new and exotic locations and holidays that include activities. What does the future hold for tourism? People have already signed up for the first tourist trips to the moon, so practically anything is possible!

	Listen again to these useful words from the talk. This time, you decide where the main stress is placed.
		Industry
		Destination
		Tourism
		Eco-tourism
		Unspoilt
		Monitored
		Damage
		Sustainability
		Activities
		Exotic Location
	Click 'Answers' to see if you were right!

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Answers to questions in the lesson

   Answers to 'complete the short conversation'.

(1) dessert	This cake you made for dessert is great!
(2) compliment	Thanks for the compliment.
(3) currants	It's got currants in it to add sweetness.
(4) all ready (5) sights	Anyway, are we all ready to go and see the sights of the city?
(6) except	Yes, we're all here except Michiko - I think she's going to meet us later.
(7) buy (8)cereal	Remind me to buy some cereal for breakfast tomorrow.

Click BACK to get back to where you were in the lesson.

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   Answers to 'where the stress is'.

Industry
Destination
Tourism
Eco-tourism
Unspoilt
Monitored
Damage
Sustainability
Activities
Exotic Location   

Click BACK to get back to where you were in the lesson.

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Tailpiece

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

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Course  B   End of Free Lesson B

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