Manuals > General English > Rosetta Stone Advantage > Elementary - Book 3 > Lesson 26
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By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to order food in a restaurant.
Communication strategies:
The student should be able to order food in a restaurant by following the 5 steps below:
1) state they are ready to order / require more time
2) ask some questions about items on the menu
3) place their order
4) modify their order
5) finish their order
e.g.
A) Are you ready to order?
B) Hmm, I don't know. I can't decide. What do you recommend?
A) Well, today's special is the Salmon steak. It's a delicious 200 gram fillet served with our special sauce, and a side of fries.
B) It sounds great. OK. I'll have the Salmon steak, but can I get that with wedges instead of French Fries?
A) Certainly. Would you like anything else?
B) Yeah, what beers do you have on tap?
A) Asahi, Kirin, and Hite.
B) A pint of Hite, please.
A) Let me just confirm your order. That was the Salmon steak with wedges and a pint of Hite, correct?
B) That's right.
Words and rules:
- The student should be able to discuss their eating habits and talk about their favorite restaurant. e.g. I usually go out for dinner. My favorite restaurant is Skylark because...
- The student should be able to name some popular dishes in different countries e.g. Indian restaurant / Vindaloo curry
- The student should be able to ask basic requests for information. e.g. How big is the steak?
- The student should be able to use "yet" to describe actions that aren't finished. e.g. I haven't decided yet.
Appropriateness:
Non-verbal behaviour: The student should know how to signal a waiter.
Register: At a fast food restaurant we usually use a more casual register, while at a formal restaurant we usually use a more formal register.
Social rules: People usually don't yell out for waiters, instead they try to make eye contact with them or raise their hand slightly to get their attention. Also, people generally tip 10-15%.
Cultural references: What can I get you? = What would you like? This is commonly pronounced "What can I gecha?"
Track #1
I’ll have the bacon burger - well done - and the fresh garden salad.
My wife will have the grilled chicken sandwich and a Caesar salad.
Both of us will have iced tea.
Track #2
We’d like an order of breadsticks, an order of toasted ravioli, 4 Cokes,
and a 16” pepperoni, sausage, and green pepper pizza.
Track #3
I’d like the boneless Buffalo wings, and some fish & chips. Also, I’ll
have the Baja fish tacos, but can I get that without cheese? Oh, and
give me a Long Island Iced Tea.
Track #4
I’ll have the strawberry & peach pancakes. My husband will have the
chocolate chip pancakes. We’ll each have a side of bacon & eggs
and coffee.
Because the lesson touches on the topic of restaurants, you are welcome to introduce some of the following vocabulary if you like.
1) a booking (n)
2) cutlery (n)
3) a starter (n)
4) a portion (n)
5) overcharge (v)
6) fine-dining (n)
7) a doggie bag (n)
8) complimentary (adj)
9) all-you-can-eat (adj)
10) à la mode (exp) [with ice cream]
Option 1:
Difficulty ★★
Type:
Let's start - Warm-up discussion
Purpose:
Steering the student into the goal of the lesson before opening the book.
Method: Before you open the book, talk to the student about what restaurants they usually go to and why. You can exchange information about restaurants you like, if you like.
Option 2:
Difficulty ★
Type:
Let's Practice - Realia
Purpose:
Practicing ordering food using a real menu.
Method:
Do a Google search for a real menu. Use it to practice ordering. Introduce new vocabulary when necessary.
Option 3:
Difficulty ★
Type:
Expansion
Purpose:
Teaching the student how to interact in some different restaurant situations.
Method:
Show the student how to:
1) Give their opinion of a meal
2) Complain about a meal (e.g. the wrong item was delivered)
3) Pay for a meal
Naruhodo point
When ordering we usually use articles in the following way:
1) We use “the” with the names of dishes
e.g. I’d like the Super Spicy Red Curry.
2)
We use “a” with nouns
e.g. I’d like a hotdog.
Note: Most of the time, when you say “a” the staff will reply with “What kind of… would you like?”
3) We use “a” for drinks (counters)
e.g. I’d like a cup of tea.
Extra questions you might like to ask in the lesson (as the waiter)
- Do you have a reservation?
- Are you ready to order?
- What can I start you off with?
- How would you like that?
- What kind of ... would you like?
- Anything else?
Let’s start
Discuss some different dishes you would expect to find at the following restaurants:
a Chinese restaurant =
fried rice / mapodofu
a Thai restaurant =
green curry / Pad Thai
a steakhouse =
a Porterhouse / spuds
a Mexican restaurant =
tacos / enchiladas
an Italian restaurant =
Carbonara / Spaghetti
a seafood restaurant =
clams / swordfish
an Indian restaurant =
Butter chicken / Nan
a pub =
burgers / French fries / buffalo wings
Discussion questions
1) How often do you eat out?
Once or twice a week
2) Do you prefer cooking or eating out? Why?
Eating out. It’s easier
3) What is your favorite restaurant? Why?
Star Kebabs in Tokyo. It’s cheap, the food is great and the staff are really friendly. It reminds me of the food I used to eat in Australia
Let’s try
Listen to the four customers ordering food in a restaurant. Write down what they order.
Track #1
- The bacon burger - well done
- The fresh garden salad
- The grilled chicken sandwich
- The Caesar salad
- Iced tea X2
Track #2
- an order of breadsticks
- an order of toasted ravioli
- 4 Cokes
- a 16” pepperoni, sausage, and green pepper pizza
Track #3
- the boneless Buffalo wings
- the fish & chips
- the Baja fish tacos - hold the cheese
- a Long Island Iced Tea.
Track #4
- the strawberry & peach pancakes
- the chocolate chip pancakes
- the bacon & eggs X2
- Coffee X2
Let’s practice
Situation 1
Order
one appetizer
one entrée
one beverage
Note:
Need more time to decide
Want recommendation
A) Hello. May I take your order?
B) I’m sorry. I’m still deciding. Can you come back in 5 minutes?
A) Sure. Are you ready to order now?
B) Yeah. Can I get the Buffalo Wings?
A) OK.
B) All the entrees look great. What do you recommend?
A) The sirloin steak is fantastic.
B) How big is it?
A) 300 grams.
B) OK. I’ll get that.
A) What would you like to drink?
B) Coffee, please.
A) Is there anything else?
B) No, that’s it.
Situation 2
Order
three appetizers
two entrées
two beverages
Note:
Can’t eat cheese
A) Hello. May I take your order?
B) Can we get the Toasted Ravioli, Fish and Chips and Chicken fingers to start?
A) OK. And for mains?
B) What is the grilled tilapia?
A) It’s a mild-flavored tender white fish.
B) That sounds great. I’ll have that. Also, I’d like the Buffalo burger, is there cheese on it?
A) Yes.
B) Can I get that without cheese?
A) Of course.
B) And can we get two glasses of red, please?
A) Sure.
B) Oh, and can you bring everything out at the same time?
Let’s speak
A) Hello. May I take your order?
B) Sorry, we are still deciding. Can you give us five more minutes?
A) Sure. Are you ready to order now?
B) Yeah, can you tell me about this salad?
A) Sure. It has three kinds of lettuce, our special sauce and pine nuts.
B) Ahh, I can’t eat nuts. Can I get it without nuts?
A) Sure.
B) And another question. Is there gluten in this pizza?
A) No, it’s gluten free.
B) Great. We’ll have one of them. And one order of the Fish and Chips.
A) What would you like to drink?
B) I’ll have a coke and my friend is fine with just water.
A) Sure.
B) Oh. Are refills free?
A) Yes. Anything else?
B) No, that’s all.