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Classroom slides
Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.
Everyday English · Lesson 35 · Out and about · A1–A2
A problem in your hotel room
Call reception, explain a problem in your room clearly and ask them to fix it.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
When do you need English for a problem in your hotel room? What words do you already know?
Key phrase 1 of 8
Hi, this is room 307.
Start the call by saying your room number.
Key phrase 2 of 8
The air conditioning isn't working.
Say what's wrong: The … isn't working.
Key phrase 3 of 8
There aren't any towels in the bathroom.
Say that something is missing.
Key phrase 4 of 8
There's no hot water in the shower.
Describe the problem simply.
Key phrase 5 of 8
Could you send someone up to have a look?
Ask them to send a staff member to your room.
Key phrase 6 of 8
The room next door is really noisy.
Explain a noise problem.
Key phrase 7 of 8
Would it be possible to change rooms?
A polite way to ask for a different room.
Key phrase 8 of 8
How long will it be?
Ask when someone will come.
Conversation
Reception and Luis
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 10
Reception
Good evening, reception. How can I help?
Conversation · line 2 of 10
Reception: Good evening, reception. How can I help?
Luis
Hi, this is room 307. The air conditioning isn't working.
Conversation · line 3 of 10
Luis: Hi, this is room 307. The air conditioning isn't working.
Reception
I'm sorry about that. Have you tried the control panel next to the door?
Conversation · line 4 of 10
Reception: I'm sorry about that. Have you tried the control panel next to the door?
Luis
Yes, I've tried it. It turns on, but the air isn't cold.
Conversation · line 5 of 10
Luis: Yes, I've tried it. It turns on, but the air isn't cold.
Reception
OK. I'll send someone up to have a look.
Conversation · line 6 of 10
Reception: OK. I'll send someone up to have a look.
Luis
Thanks. How long will it be?
Conversation · line 7 of 10
Luis: Thanks. How long will it be?
Reception
Our maintenance person will be there in about fifteen minutes.
Conversation · line 8 of 10
Reception: Our maintenance person will be there in about fifteen minutes.
Luis
Great. Also, there aren't any towels in the bathroom.
Conversation · line 9 of 10
Luis: Great. Also, there aren't any towels in the bathroom.
Reception
Oh, I'm sorry. I'll ask housekeeping to bring some up straight away.
Conversation · line 10 of 10
Reception: Oh, I'm sorry. I'll ask housekeeping to bring some up straight away.
Luis
Thank you. If the air conditioning can't be fixed tonight, would it be possible to change rooms?
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Reception. Student B is Luis. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
Hi, this is room … The … isn't working.
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
Could you send someone up to have a look?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
Would it be possible to change rooms?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
What should you say first when you call reception?
- A Your room number
- B Your date of birth
- C Your job
✓ A: Your room number helps them find your booking quickly.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
Complete: 'The TV ___ working.'
- A not
- B isn't
- C don't
✓ B: Use 'isn't working' for something that is broken right now.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
Which is the most polite way to ask for a new room?
- A Change my room now.
- B I want other room.
- C Would it be possible to change rooms?
✓ C: 'Would it be possible to…?' is very polite.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
Who usually brings towels and cleans the rooms in a hotel?
- A Maintenance
- B Housekeeping
- C Room service
✓ B: Housekeeping cleans rooms. Maintenance fixes things. Room service brings food.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
What does 'send someone up' mean?
- A Send a staff member to your room
- B Send you to another floor
- C Send you a text message
✓ A: 'Up' is used because the rooms are usually above reception.
Culture talk
How does this work in your country? Tell your partner.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.co/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.co
· englishcoaching.co
Teacher notes
Level: Out and about · A1–A2 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.
Warm-up (5 minutes)
Show the warm-up slide and ask: "When do you need English for a problem in your hotel room? What words do you already know?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.
Three steps
- Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
- The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
- Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).
Pair work
Student A is Reception and student B is Luis. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.
Using the audio
- Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Reception is read by Mel and Luis by Josh. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
- Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
- Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.
Culture talk
End by asking learners how this works in their country. It's a natural way to practise the new phrases and to learn from each other.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: A problem in your hotel room. The last slide has a QR code to it.
- Running a course? Print certificates of participation when your group finishes a level.
Printable worksheet
One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.
Name: Date:
Everyday English · Lesson 35: A problem in your hotel room
Call reception, explain a problem in your room clearly and ask them to fix it.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: bathroom · conditioning · long · possible · really · room · shower · someone
- Hi, this is 307. (Start the call by saying your room number)
- The air isn't working. (Say what's wrong: The … isn't working)
- There aren't any towels in the . (Say that something is missing)
- There's no hot water in the . (Describe the problem simply)
- Could you send up to have a look? (Ask them to send a staff member to your room)
- The room next door is noisy. (Explain a noise problem)
- Would it be to change rooms? (A polite way to ask for a different room)
- How will it be? (Ask when someone will come)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Reception: Good , reception. How can I help?
- Luis: Hi, this is room 307. The air conditioning isn't .
- Reception: I'm sorry about that. Have you tried the panel next to the door?
- Luis: Yes, I've it. It turns on, but the air isn't cold.
- Reception: OK. I'll someone up to have a look.
- Luis: Thanks. How long it be?
- Reception: Our person will be there in about fifteen minutes.
- Luis: Great. Also, there aren't any in the bathroom.
- Reception: Oh, I'm sorry. I'll ask to bring some up straight away.
- Luis: Thank you. If the air conditioning can't be fixed , would it be possible to change rooms?
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
What should you say first when you call reception?
a) Your room numberb) Your date of birthc) Your job
Complete: 'The TV ___ working.'
a) notb) isn'tc) don't
Which is the most polite way to ask for a new room?
a) Change my room now.b) I want other room.c) Would it be possible to change rooms?
Who usually brings towels and cleans the rooms in a hotel?
a) Maintenanceb) Housekeepingc) Room service
What does 'send someone up' mean?
a) Send a staff member to your roomb) Send you to another floorc) Send you a text message
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- Hi, this is room The isn't working.
- Could you send someone up to have a look?
- Would it be possible to change rooms?
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/calling-reception-about-a-problem/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 35: A problem in your hotel room
A. Key phrases
- Hi, this is room 307.
- The air conditioning isn't working.
- There aren't any towels in the bathroom.
- There's no hot water in the shower.
- Could you send someone up to have a look?
- The room next door is really noisy.
- Would it be possible to change rooms?
- How long will it be?
B. Conversation gaps
- evening
- working
- control
- tried
- send
- will
- maintenance
- towels
- housekeeping
- tonight
C. Quiz
- a) Your room number
- b) isn't
- c) Would it be possible to change rooms?
- b) Housekeeping
- a) Send a staff member to your room
englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/calling-reception-about-a-problem/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach a problem in your hotel room to adult English learners?
Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.
What level is this lesson?
Out and about level, about CEFR A1–A2. It is lesson 35 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.
Do learners need an account?
No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/calling-reception-about-a-problem/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.
Can I print the worksheet?
Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.
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