British English
Going on holiday: Knowing how to make holiday plans and packing your suitcases.
At the beach: Learning vocabulary related to holidays by the sea: parasol , bikini , hammock , sunburn , etc.
Sports talk: Knowing how to describe and explain why you are keen on individual sports like tennis or jogging.
Adventure sports: Talking about outdoor sports and expressing your sporting interests.
Diving: Learning vocabulary to do with deep-sea diving: snorkel , archipelago , shark , plankton , etc.
Fishing: Learning vocabulary to do with the fishing in the sea: anchor , fishing line , fishing net , etc.
In the chalet: Learning vocabulary related to winter holidays in the mountains: ski station , sledging , etc.
On the ski slopes: Learning vocabulary related to the fun of skiing: slopes , ski boots , etc.
At the harbour: Learning about navigating and specific vocabulary: sailboat , life jacket , stern , storm jib , etc.
Setting sail: Knowing the names for the different parts of a boat: hull , mast , rigging , etc.
Climbing equipment: Discovering the joys and the vocabulary of mountain climbing: pitons , karabiners , shelters , dehydrated food , etc.
Mount Kilimanjaro: Knowing how to express your fears, describing symptoms and feelings.
At reception: Knowing how to fulfil customers? expectations and to give information while being polite.
Hotel service:Knowing how to solve customers? problems while being polite.
Serving customers: Learning about serving food and working in a restaurant: how to welcome and serve customers.
Bad service: Learning to react to the desires and complaints of the customers. Learning to ring up the bill.
Sales assistant: Knowing how to describe and give directions to various aisles of a shop.
Electrical goods: Knowing how to help a customer to purchase a product by giving advice and answering questions and requests. Responding to customer complaints.
A new bank account: Knowing how to ask administrative questions on opening a new bank account.
Banking operations: Reporting the theft of a bank card and chequebook, being co-operative and making compromises.
Travel agents: Knowing how to recognise the needs of people planning holidays, in order to give them worthwhile suggestions.
Welcoming tourists: Guiding a group of tourists or businessmen around the city. Organising entertainment activities.
Airline workers: Knowing how to describe your location and to give precise information about places, times, distances, etc. Learning a variety of announcements made in an airport.
Train and ferry jobs: Giving advice and assistance to passengers in a train or a ferry.
Conference plans: Knowing how to organise a seminar and to anticipate future requirements: multitasking and organising.
At the conference: Organising a seminar and a conference: negotiating with various people.
A police inspection: Explaining your actions to a police officer and answering the officer?s questions.
A breakdown: Knowing how to get by in difficult situations: communicating with a garage mechanic and renting a lorry.
Dispatch problems: Knowing how to manage overseas shipments and anticipating possible problems with customs.
Terms of delivery: Knowing how to react quickly when faced with an urgent delivery problem.
At the cyber-cafe: Introducing new users to the Internet, helping them to do research on the Net. Making purchases and keeping in touch via the Net.
Computer problems: Analysing a problem and learning Internet vocabulary: email , downloading onto a disk , modem , etc.
Contract talks: Learning legal vocabulary needed to write an exclusive contract.
Negotiating: Learning legal and financial vocabulary. Reviewing and agreeing to an exclusive contract. Signing a contract in a lawyer?s presence.
Financial trading: Learning economic and financial vocabulary: predicting changes in the market, unemployment rate , foreign exchange market , etc.
Financial analysis: Learning vocabulary related to the stock market: speculating , making estimates , etc.
American English:
Introducing oneself: Learning how to greet people and how to introduce yourself and your family in a few words: to give your name and nationality, where you are living and what you are doing.
Descriptions: Learning how to describe your appearance using some simple adjectives, the names of parts of the body and of clothes. Finding out about a few verbs to describe actions.
Numbers & Letters: Learning how to describe where you are, to describe the positions of the body (to sit , to stand , to kneel ). Learning numbers and how to formulate a simple arithmetical problem and its solution. Learning the alphabet and how to spell words.
Date & Time: Learning the names of seasons, months, the days of the week and how to tell the time. Learning to say what time it is and giving duration (the current time and how long things take).
Objects & Animals: Finding out the names of certain objects for everyday use (e.g., office furniture) and how to describe where they are. Learning the names of pieces of furniture ( drawer , table , shelf ) and the names of a few animals.
Adjectives: Naming and describing some insects. Learning new adjectives used as attributive adjectives or epithets. Describing yourself and some objects in greater detail. Talking about the weather.
Coming to America: Learning to greet and to introduce yourself to a pen pal from abroad using some polite everyday expressions. Giving precise information about yourself, your age, your origins and your family.
The Cocktail Party: Introducing and describing yourself and asking the person to whom you are speaking to do the same. Speaking about your knowledge of the language and the length of your stay.
Vacation Plans:Learning how to make a reservation for a holiday apartment. Setting a date and a length of time. Describing a house: the rooms , the kitchen , the bathroom . Learning basic vocabulary for furniture.
The Summer Rental: Learning how to criticise and how to say that something doesn?t work. Learning some household vocabulary: household appliances, cutlery and crockery, towels and bed linen.
Grocery Shopping: Going grocery shopping and asking for advice about ingredients and cooking, learning words for food.
The Supermarket: Learning vocabulary related to products found in supermarkets.
Weather Report: Learning how to ask questions and to express your feelings concerning the weather. Naming the days of the week, the months and the seasons. Learning weather-related vocabulary.
The Canoe Trip: Learning how to make a forecast. Describing the weather in a certain place at a certain time.
Vacation Time: Learning to make plans for going on holiday and packing your suitcases.
At the Shore: Learning vocabulary related to free time and the sea ( beach , lotion , life jackets ).
Arrival in New York: Learning to answer many types of questions; saying what you?re doing, where you?re going, for how long and with whom.
The East Coast: Learning how to express your feelings and impressions; saying what you like. Learning how to order a drink and a meal.
The Housing Search: Learning the different kinds of housing ( house , apartment ) as well as the number of rooms.
Visiting a House: Learning how to name the rooms of a house ( kitchen , bathroom , bedroom ), describing which condition the housing is in.
Free Time: Learning how to express your desires and tastes, speaking about leisure activities and giving your opinion (? It?s boring ?).
At the Lake: Saying what you like and dislike ( to love , to hate ). Learning general vocabulary concerning themes such as fishing and playing cards.
The Gas Station: Learning automotive vocabulary related to the upkeep of a car ( the brakes , the oil ) as well as its physical characteristics ( the color ).
Buying a Car: Learning how to express your desires, negotiating and learning automotive vocabulary related to a car?s options.
Breakfast Menus: Learning how to order breakfast, how to ask questions. Learning basic breakfast vocabulary.
?Still Hungry??: Learning how to send back something you ordered and to order something different. Expressing your dissatisfaction.
The Menu: Learning how to order a meal, to express what you like and what you don?t like. Naming your favourite dishes and learning food vocabulary.
Desserts:Learning how to express your decision, to order dessert and to ask for the bill.
Window-shopping: Taking the bus, buying shoes and giving your opinion.
The Fitting Room: Knowing clothing names, trying on clothes, comparing outfits...
An Emergency: Seeking assistance for an injured person, learning medical vocabulary and parts of the body.
At the Doctor?s: Describing symptoms and treatments.
Correspondence: Learning vocabulary for letter writing: writing paper , ink , envelopes .
At the Post Office: Learning vocabulary to do with the postal service: sending a parcel , express delivery , registered mail , metered mail , stamp collecting .
Banks and ATMs: Knowing how to explain a problem and learning vocabulary to do with banks: credit card , expiration date , commission , etc.
Paying a Bill: Knowing different means of paying for something: by check , in cash , etc.
Flight Information: Learning vocabulary used by flight attendants in airports ( departure , gate , flight number ). Knowing how to answer travellers? questions.
Plane Reservations: Learning how to ask questions concerning a flight reservation: destination, dates, times of departure and arrival, as well as the number of passengers. Trying to solve possible problems, guiding travellers and giving advice.
Seminar Planning: Learning how to reserve a hotel room and organise a seminar. Planning the number of participants, the date, the meal, facilities and payment.
Delegates: Learning how to formulate answers: describing your location, expressing the length of time and speaking about your work.
A New Job: Learning vocabulary related to occupations (more precisely, as a product manager).
Job Promotions: Learning how to organise your work, to develop sales strategies and give recommendations.
Living in America: Learning how to reply to general questions: Where do you live? , What is your occupation? , What are your hobbies? , etc.
Seeing the USA: Learning the different means of transport, lifestyles and pastimes.
Insurance and Banking: Learning vocabulary related to the world of insurance and banking (coverage , life insurance , cash transfer , account number ).
The Post Office: Learning to ask questions, to give your address, to pick up a package and buy stamps at the post office.
Market Research: Learning to formulate specific questions for a client survey.
Helpful Contacts: Conducting a study to clarify clients? needs, learning vocabulary related to computer equipment and setting up an appointment.
An Appointment: Learning to answer the telephone and to set up an appointment.
Business Calls: Learning how to give precise information to clients for booking a booth in an exposition.
The Company Stand: Speaking with a client. Speaking about figures, percentages and so forth.
Comparing Products:Knowing how to convince someone, focusing on a product?s good points.
Making a Sale: Learning business-related vocabulary: meeting a client, agreeing on a contract, discussing prices.
Negotiating:Learning business-related vocabulary: discussing problems of stock availability ( stock , delivery time , etc.).
Trouble with Orders:Replying to customers and apologising for problems.
After-sales Service: Knowing how to identify problems and back up your reasons.
Handling an Invoice: Knowing how to demand payment: contacting a client whose invoices have not been paid.
Paying a Bill: Knowing how to be firm: finding a solution in order to get a bill paid.
Organizing a Stay:General day-to-day vocabulary used for sales and business trips: booking a hotel, organising an evening out, etc.
Welcoming Visitors: Asking practical questions: booking theatre tickets, taking down information and times for an arrival at the airport, organising an itinerary, etc.