Finding a youth hostel

Jake’s Freshman Class – Travel Unit

Email Today we will look at how to send an email of enquiry to a place of accommodation such as

a hotel or youth hostel. You will learn about the structure of an email, and how to choose the appropriate register (the right language and level of formality). Go to the website below and work with a partner to answer the following questions. www.centralhostel.com/en/hotelinfo.html

This website is a great example of how English is being used as an international language today. As you read, you should be aware that there are some minor mistakes in the text but

the website is still very understandable. You may need to use a website like this in the future if you are travelling.

1. What is a youth hostel? The website doesn’t tell you the answer, but you should be able to answer it anyway by browsing around.

2. Where is it located? Be specific! Look at the facilities on the ‘Brief Introduction’ page. Decide whether the following

statements are true or false. 3. All rooms have air conditioning. TRUE / FALSE

4. All double rooms have Internet access. TRUE / FALSE 5. Bed sheets are provided. TRUE / FALSE 6. Hot water is only available between 2:00 and 4:00. TRUE / FALSE

7. Car parking is free for everyone. TRUE / FALSE 8. The bathroom facilities are unisex. TRUE / FALSE

9. At the bottom of the ‘Brief Introduction’ page you can find descriptions of some of the tours that can be organized. What tourist sites do they go to?

10. What is the ‘Backpacker Club’?

Writing an email of enquiry

You are going to write an email to the Beijing City Central Youth Hostel to make some enquiries about a group trip that you are planning with some of your friends during the

summer vacation. Your group is quite large (14 people, 8 females, 6 males), and two of the group members use wheelchairs. First, decide what register is appropriate for your email:

Informal Neutral/Standard Formal

In your email, you want to enquire about the following things:

• availability for 5 days (Thu to Mon), mid-August (check the dates in your calendar!), • availability and price of double rooms for the whole group on the same floor,

• disabled access, • trip to Great Wall OK for wheelchair users? Possible on a Sunday? Price? • possible to book the ‘Backpacker Club’ on Fri for private party?

When you have checked your email to make sure that you have used the right register, asked the right questions, and fixed any grammar or spelling mistakes, send it to Jake!