Booking a table

Listen to someone booking a table in a restaurant to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Transcript

Staff: Hello, Gino's.

Jamie: Hi. Can I book a table for tomorrow night, please?

Staff: How many people is it for?

Jamie: Four.

Staff: And what time would you like?

Jamie: About eight, eight thirty maybe?

Staff: Let's see ... We're pretty busy tomorrow, so I can do half past seven or nine.

Jamie: Oh. OK, then. Half seven, please.

Staff: What name is it?

Jamie: Jamie.

Staff: J-A- ...?

Jamie: M-I-E

Staff: OK, so that's a table for four at half past seven tomorrow evening.

Jamie: Great. Thanks! Bye.

Staff: Bye.

Staff: Hello, Gino's.

Jamie: Hi, I called earlier to book a table for four and I was wondering if I can make it for six instead?

Staff: Ah, what name was it?

Jamie: It's Jamie.

Staff: Table for four at half past seven. So you want to change it to 6 o'clock?

Jamie: No, sorry. Can I make it for six people?

Staff: Oh, I see. Sorry! That shouldn't be a problem. I can move you to a bigger table but it will be nearer the kitchen. Is that OK?

Jamie: No problem. Is it possible to change the time as well? Make it a little bit later?

Staff: Ah ... yeah, we can. Is eight OK for you?

Jamie: Perfect, thanks!

Staff: Lovely. See you tomorrow, then.

Jamie: Thanks! Bye!

Staff: Thanks. Ciao!

Task 2

Exercise

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Discussion

What's your favourite kind of restaurant?

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Beginner: A1

Actually I prefer to sit in restaurants with good view in open areas

I like Thai food.

I like korean restaurant and kimchi-chige!

I like indian restaurant

Hi everyone, i have a doubt about the audio so i hope that someone can help me. When the staff says 'I can do half past seven or nine', instead of it, could i say 'i can do at half past seven or at nine'? or with 'at' the sentence sounds forced?

Hi belen2020,

In informal language, 'I can do' followed by a time is quite common:

I can do Tuesday morning.

I can do 7.30 tomorrow.

The meaning is similar to 'I can manage...' or 'I can accept...'

If you use a preposition then you should use a different verb:

I can finish it by Tuesday morning.

I can meet at 7.30 tomorrow.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Thanks Peter for the clear answer.

My favourite kind of restaurant is of Russian food.

I like to go to some old restaurants for delicious food ，

actually i prefer morrocan restaurant , 'cause they have a delicious and healthy foods .

I do not like restaurant food. I have to eat only home made food.

I a eat at home. I am don't go to the restaurant/

I don't like restaurant, I eat in home

I dislike eating at the restaurant, have a meal at home is perfect.

I don't regularly eat out because I prefer to eat at home than at restaurant. Having many the reasons make me want to eat at home. First, my mother cooks very good and always make the foods which I like. Second,the members of family can eat, talk, share together about the problems of each one. For me, the dinner is the best time in day because It has enough everyone in my family. In addition, sometimes the foods at out don't ensure clean and safe for health while eating at home can save money and make the foods we like with fresh products.

I really like Chinese food, but I live in countryside so I don't usually go to restaurant. Beside I have a room mate who loves cooking. there is always warm and delicious food in our house.

I don't have favourite restaurant. I like nice place with good and cheap food. I prefer places where is serving pizza and beer.

To be honest, my favorite restaurant is a kind of clean, with good customer service and reasonable price.

Oh, to be honest, I am not regularly going to the restaurant. So, I don't know much about the restaurant. I often go to the restaurant to celebrate an important holiday such as a birthday party, Women's Day, Valentine's Day, etc, ... And sometimes, I go to the restaurant because I want it. I think I like the restaurant with a nice view, clean, good food and especially excellent service attitude. Because I have to pay more money for the food in the restaurant instead of street food, I deserve it. I like the restaurant with the traditional Vietnam style, the quiet space, the window see outside. Maybe the restaurant is the best place to enjoy delicious food.

I love a restaurant with good food, good ventilation and good clean

Hi Kirk, Could you please advise me on how can I improve my skills in business English espically formal writing skills? , do you recommend a book I wasted around three years studying general English courses without any progress in my writing in my formal mail. on a daily basis, I have to send 10 emails .so, I spend a long time searching for similar mail to copy. Note: the British council in Egypt does not offer a business English course for individuals anymore.

Hello sea2007

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with any such book -- though I'm sure there are some good ones out there -- but I'd be happy to make some recommendations.

First of all, on our site you can find a section called English for emails, though I expect you may know most of what it covers already. There are also several business emails in our Reading and Writing skills sections; I would recommend you check out the B2 and C1 level sections of both -- there should be at least four business-related emails in B2 Reading, C1 Reading, B2 Writing and C1 Writing. We are also working on some new articles for our Business Magazine. I'm not sure how useful they might be for you, and it will be a few months before they are ready, but it might be a good place to look in the future. Finally, there is our LearnEnglish Select course, which you can join if you subscribe to LearnEnglish (though please know that this costs money).

Beyond this, I expect you could find example emails to use as models if you did an internet search for "example business emails" or something similar, though it sounds as if you already do this. If you were able to work with a business English teacher specifically on writing, I'm sure that would also be really useful.

I hope this helps you.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Fdaili Agadr I have completed the lesson for "booking A Table". The level I chose is Beginner A1.

Hello Fdaili Agadr

Thanks for your comment.

I just wanted to explain why we have not published your other comments. Our comments section is for asking questions about or commenting on the content of the page. Sometimes we allow other comments, but if there are too many, this makes it more difficult for other users to use our site.

Thanks in advance for your understanding.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

I have completed the lesson for "booking A Table". The level I chose is Beginner A1.

Hello ayeennn

I just wanted to explain that we have not published your other comments. Our comments section is for asking questions about or commenting on the content of the page. Sometimes we allow other comments, but if there are too many, this makes it more difficult for other users to use our site.

Thanks in advance for your understanding.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

I have completed the lesson for "booking A Table". The level I chose is Beginner A1.

I have completed the lesson for "Booking a Table". The level I chose is Beginner A1

I have finished it

I have completed the following lesson Booking a table. The level that I choose is beginner

I have completed the task beginner A1 booking a table.

I have completed the following lessons of A Booking a table. The level that I chose was Beginner A1 Listening.

My favourite kind of restaurant is Chinese Cuisine restaurant. I have completed the following lessons of Shopping for Clothes, Finding Library and Booking a Table. The level that I chose was Beginner A1 Listening.

I have completed the lesson of booking a table.

i have completed the following lessons of A request for your boss. The level that I choose was beginer

i'm done !

I have completed the following lessons of A student Discussion, A weather Forecast, and Making a Decision. The level that I chose was Beginner A1 Listening.

I have completed the following lessons of A Booking a table. The level that I chose was Beginner A1 Listening.

Hello everyone, Im come from VietNam, nice to meet you All I want to write my answer for Discussion of this lesson: Sure, I often support my colleague works when they take their day offs. Cause I work for a French Food company in Viet Nam, so when the summer comes, my French colleagues return to France in 15 - 20 days

Usually, I'm quiet fond of Indian restaurants, because they have a wide range of spicy foods.

Though I don't know much about restaurant,the chinese restaurant is the most i like.As i am being from Asian country, the influence from china is as big as it's country. We can see the chinese food not only many restaurant but also every party in my country. And also the side view is as important as the taste in one restaurant. However, sitting the restaurant with the river view and feeling the taste from chinese restaurant is the best moment for me.

Thanks

i like the fish restaurant because i like fish . i can eat as many as like without getting fat.

My family often go to the restaurant to eat buffet. We book a table at a Japanese restaurant in a shopping centre. It is quite large and good atmosphere. We pick anything we like . the staffs there are friendly and considerate. That restaurant not only cheap but also fresh. I feel content and comfortable

I like BBQ. It's so great if has some bottle of fresh bear, ;)

It was amazing ! thanks

My favourite kind of restaurant is the pizzeria. I like eating pizza a! lot! And you? Do you like eating pizza?

i like restaurants with sea view and a good natural view

What's your favourite kind of restaurant? I lived half of my life most near the seashore and my typical type of restaurant is like a very traditional old stylish venue, that cook's authentic unique local kinds of seafood dishes that will bring back my childhood favorite menus.

Booking a table

Preparation

Transcript

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

Language level