Topic Travelling and transport Unit Planning a visit to the USA 5 0 5 20 25 Do you ever dream about a long holiday in a faraway place? At the moment Mike Clark, a 25-year-old car mechanic from London, is planning such a journey, because he has got some savings and four weeks holiday. No time like the present is his motto. Unfortunately his girlfriend Sarah, a web designer, is not going with him, because she is too busy just now. For this reason Mike decides to spend the time in an English-speaking country, as he doesn t speak any foreign languages. His personal preferences are firstly Australia, secondly India and thirdly the Caribbean; however at the last minute he decides to combine his holiday with a visit to his old friend Dave, a Londoner now living near New York. It s practical to have such friends, isn t it? At the same time New York is a good starting point for trips to other parts of the US. The only problem is: is Dave willing and/or able to accommodate Mike and show him around? After some e-mails and text messages Mike finds out that his friend is delighted at the news and that he even has some days off! Mike books his flight. He does this after surfing in internet travel sites and comparing their prices with special offers at the travel agent s. Because he is no mouse potato he then books his flight, and he also arranges medical insurance cover at the agency. For the return flight (direct) from London Heathrow (LHR) to New York (JFK) on May 3rd (midweek) he pays 294.90. This price includes in-flight movies and music, a choice of two main courses and complimentary soft drinks. The plane takes off from Heathrow at 8.55 and arrives at JFK at.20. 7
Comprehension Why is Mike not totally happy about going on holiday? 2 What makes him choose America? 3 How does Mike find out about his accommodation? 4 Where does he buy his tickets etc.? 5 Describe the details of the flight. Structures Tenses Zeiten PRESENT SIMPLE Every morning the plane takes off at 8.30. subject predicate Something happens again and again, never, often. immer wieder Signals: every morning, usually, always, often, normally, never, seldom st form of the verb I take you take he, she it takes we take you take they take Does the plane take off at 9 o clock? P S P 2 Do you take the plane at 9.30? No, it doesn t (take off at 9 o clock). No, I don t (take the plane at 9.30). PRESENT continuous He is planning a journey at the moment. S P P2 Something is happening now. jetzt gerade Signals: at the moment, just now to be + ing-form of the verb I am planning you are planning he, she, it is planning we are planning you are planning they are planning Is he planning a project at the moment? P S P 2 Are you planning a project? No, he isn t (planning a project). No, I m not (planning a project). Note Some verbs are usually used in the simple form verbs of perception: e.g. to notice, to see, to hear, to feel verbs which express knowledge, opinions, feelings: e. g. to think, to know, to believe, to like, to love, to want, to wish verbs which express a condition or a possession: e. g. to be, to possess, to belong, to have 8
Beachte Einige Verben werden normalerweise in der einfachen Gegenwart gebraucht. Verben der Sinneswahrnehmung, z. B. bemerken, sehen, hören, fühlen Verben, die Wissen, Meinungen und Gefühle ausdrücken z. B. denken, wissen, glauben, mögen, lieben, wollen, wünschen Verben, die einen Zustand oder ein Besitzverhältnis ausdrücken, z. B. sein, besitzen, gehören, haben 2 Question tags Frageanhängsel You are planning a journey, aren t you? There is an airport in London, isn t there? He isn t travelling by train, is he? He travels by plane, doesn t he? You don t take the car to the airport, do you? Let s go to Canada next summer, shall we? Sollen wir? Flights to New York from 275 Take the suitcase, will you? Machst du s? à la carte multicentres flight prices tailor-made holidays rental free car 3 Question words Fragewörter Who is a car mechanic? Mike is a car mechanic. Wer? Whose boyfriend is Mike? He is Sarah s boyfriend. Wessen? Who does he visit? He visits Dave. Wen? Who does he give it to? He gives it to Dave. Wem? What do you see? I see Mike s ticket. Was? Where does Dave live? He lives in New York. Wo? How does Mike get there? He gets there by plane. Wie? Why does he go by plane? He goes by plane because it is fast. Warum? When does the plane take off? It takes off at 8.30. Wann? How often does he have holidays? He has holidays once a year. Wie oft? How many languages does he speak? He speaks one language. Wie viele? What kind of flight does he book? He books a return flight. Was für ein? How much does the ticket cost? It costs 249.90. Wie viel? 9
Practice Mike phones Dave. Put the phone call into the correct order. Mike Dave Super! I m planning to arrive on May 3 rd and stay up to May 3 st. Oh, sorry, I forgot we re five hours ahead of you. I ll phone you later. Fine, thanks. I m planning my holidays and would really like to spend them in the USA this year. This is Mike from London. Hello, Dave. That would be fun. I ll phone you again when I know the exact time of my arrival in New York. See you, and try to get some sleep now. What s wrong with you, mate? It s nearly half past eight. Right. See you. It s 3.30 in the morning! Marvellous. That s just when I have a week off. I can show you around, if you like. It s OK. Now I m awake anyway. How are you? Great idea, you can stay with me. I can easily make room for you. When are you coming? Hi, Mike. Are you crazy? It s the middle of the night! 0
2 At the travel agent s. Form a dialogue. Work in pairs. The travel agent wants to know Mike tells him where he is planning to go New York when he wants to fly on May 3 rd if he wants to book a return flight yes when he is planning to return on May 3 st If he needs accommodation as well no, staying with a friend If he should arrange medical cover yes Planning a visit to the USA Topic Mike wants to know The travel agent tells him when the plane takes off at 8.55 how long the journey lasts about 7 / 2 hours when the plane arrives in New York at.20 how much the ticket costs 249.90 3 On the plane. Fill in the verbs in present simple or present continuous. Flight number 78 to New York (to leave) Heathrow airport at.20 every day. 2 Now it s 0.45. The passengers (to board) flight number 78. 3 The American pilot (to welcome) the passengers on board as usual. 4 People normally (not to smoke) during the flight. 5 Everybody (to fasten) his seat-belt at the moment. 6 They usually (to show) movies on long-distance flights. Today s 58 million international fliers are greeted by automatic weapons, police dogs and body searches at the airport, and few frills in flight.
7 Stewardesses regularly (to serve) meals and complimentary soft drinks. 8 Just now they (to offer) sandwiches to the passengers. 9 Airport police often (to check) hand luggage for weapons. 4 Form questions so that the underlined words are the answers. Mike is planning a journey to New York. 2 His girlfriend Sarah is not going with him because she is too busy just now. 3 Mike decides to spend the time in an English-speaking country. 4 Mike wants to stay with his friend Dave. 5 Mike books his flight. 6 Mike pays 249.90 for a return ticket. 7 The price includes two main meals. 8 The plane arrives in New York at.20. 5 Add question tags. Mike is planning a journey,? 2 Sarah doesn t go with him,? 3 Mike decides to go to the USA,? 4 His friend Dave is a Londoner,? 5 Mike books his flight at the travel agent s,? 6 Think of your medical insurance,? 7 Let s hire a mobile home,? 8 Planes to New York take off every day,? 2
6 James Miller, customs officer. Fill in either present simple or continuous and replace the dots with question tags. James Miller (to be) a customs officer. 2 Every morning he (to get up) at six o clock. 3 At the moment he (to sit) at the breakfast table. 4 Usually he (to leave) home at 7 o clock. 5 Normally he (not to go) to the airport by car because it (to be) difficult to find a parking space there. 6 He (to take) the bus, instead. 7 But today it (to rain) cats and dogs. 8 He (not to like) the idea of becoming wet and (to think) about going by car. 9 Just now his son (to enter) the kitchen. 0 You (not to take) the car,? I (to want) to go to Susan s, he (to say). So James (to walk) to the bus stop as usual. 2 At the bus stop he (to meet) his colleague Colin Webber. 3 Nice weather,? Colin (to remark). You usually (to start) work at half past seven,? 4 Yes, I do, James (to answer). When you (to begin) your work? 5 At 8 o clock, Colin (to reply). But with this bad weather I d better take an early bus. 6 At half past seven they (to arrive) at the airport. 7 You (to be) a bit late,? Colin (to say). 8 Yes, I (to be), James (to answer) and (to start) running. 3
Language focus An e-mail Stellen Sie sich vor, Sie sind Mike. Schreiben Sie Dave eine E-Mail, in der Sie ihm Ihre genaue Ankunftszeit mitteilen, ihn fragen, ob Sie ihm etwas Besonderes aus England mitbringen sollen, ihn fragen, ob er Sie vom Flughafen abholen kann, ihn bitten, Ihnen andernfalls mitzuteilen, wie Sie vom Flughafen zu seiner Wohnung kommen, ihn fragen, ob er Zeit hat, etwas mit Ihnen zu unternehmen, ihm sagen, wie sehr Sie sich auf die gemeinsame Zeit freuen. 2 Dave s answer Put the text message into correct English. Hi u. Thanx 4 ur mssge + info. Come 2 JFK 4 u. cud u brng me scarf fr fav foot team +t? Ave 0 2 do when ur ere so can trvl wth u. Lkin 4ward 2 cing u. C u l8er! 3 Holiday preparations From the following make a realistic to-do list for Mike s holidays in the USA change money check/renew passport buy maps/scarf/gloves/warm pullovers/dictionary arrange accommodation/medical insurance/malaria injection wash and iron clothes pack toiletries (toothbrush razor hairdryer soap deodorant body lotion nail lacquer lipstick comb brush nail scissors nail file aftershave perfume shampoo hair gel) towels face cloths thermal underwear socks t-shirts skirt dinner jacket suits ties swimming trunks shoes trainers CD-player CDs MP3-player DVD-player adapter coffee-maker season ticket barbecue set laptop Can you think of anything else? 4 Booking a flight online Put the following steps into the correct order: confirm the information put in the departure airport or press return and the destination choose form of payment click on the internet icon accept the conditions choose the dates put in the web site address wait for confirmation of flight details of the airline press the key to continue press the return key give personal data switch on your computer 4
5 How do they make it pay? Describe in your own words how the no-frills airlines can keep their costs to a minimum. Vocabulary Planning a visit to the USA savings Ersparnisse unfortunately leider foreign ausländisch to accommodate unterbringen delighted hocherfreut day off freier Tag medical insurance Krankencover versicherung choice Auswahl course Gang complimentary kostenlos, frei, gratis to describe beschreiben Practice ahead of you vor dir/euch marvellous wunderbar accommodation Unterkunft insurance Versicherung customs officer Zollbeamter Language focus colleague to choose to make something pay no-frills application form citizen below widowed divorced separated occupation employer purpose to intend relationship Kollege, Kollegin wählen sich bezahlt machen schlicht Antrag Bürger(in) unterhalb verwitwet geschieden getrennt Beruf Arbeitgeber Zweck, Funktion beabsichtigen Beziehung 5