Shadowing Practice: Museum English: Tickets, Discounts & Tours ๐๏ธ | Real English with Anna & David - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hey everyone, I'm David. And I'm Anna.
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Welcome back to Learning English Together.
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Today, we're talking about asking about museum tickets, and we'll show you exactly what to say at the ticket window.
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Stay until the end.
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The last section has a phrase that almost no textbook teaches.
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Anna, last month I went to a big art museum and I just froze at the ticket window.
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Oh no, what happened?
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There was a line behind me and I forgot how to ask for one ticket.
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Ha, that's so common.
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Let me make it easy for you.
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Please, I need this.
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You walk up and say, hi, one adult ticket please.
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That's it.
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Just like that.
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That's it.
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If two of you go, say two adult tickets, please.
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Oh, simple.
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What if I want to know the price first?
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Then you ask, how much is a ticket?
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How much is a ticket?
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Got it.
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And they might say, it's $15 per person.
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Per person means for each one of us, right?
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Exactly.
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Per person, per ticket.
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What if I'm not sure they take cards?
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Good thinking.
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You ask, do you take credit cards?
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Smart.
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Some small museums are cash only.
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Right.
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Always ask before you get to the front.
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One more thing.
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The line was really long that day.
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Then you can check by asking, is this the line for tickets?
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Oh, good one.
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So I don't wait in the wrong line.
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Exactly.
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Nothing worse than waiting 20 minutes for nothing.
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If you remember just those three lines, you'll get through any ticket window.
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Quick recap.
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Five phrases to take with you.
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The first one is one adult ticket, please.
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How to ask for a single ticket.
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For example, Hi, one adult ticket, please.
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Repeat after me, one adult ticket, please.
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One adult ticket, please.
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The next one is, how much is a ticket?
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Asking the price.
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For example, Excuse me, how much is a ticket?
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Repeat after me, how much is a ticket?
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How much is a ticket?
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Number three is per person, the cost for each one of you.
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For example, it's $12 per person.
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Repeat after me, per person, per person.
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Number four is, do you take credit cards?
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Asking how you can pay.
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For example, do you take credit cards, or is it cash only?
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Repeat after me.
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Do you take credit cards?
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Do you take credit cards?
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And number five is cash only.
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They accept only cash, no cards.
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For example, sorry, the gift shop is cash only.
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Repeat after me.
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Cash only.
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Cash only.
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Okay, here's a question.
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Can I ever pay less?
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Yes.
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Always ask about discounts.
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Many people forget this.
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How do I ask?
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You say, is there a discount for students?
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A discount for students.
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I like that.
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You can also ask, do you have a senior discount?
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A senior is an older person, right?
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Right.
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Usually 65 and over.
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And kids often get a discount, too.
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Funny story.
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Last year I forgot my student card and paid full price.
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Oof.
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That's the worst.
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Lesson learned.
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Now I always carry my ID.
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Smart.
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They usually ask, can I see some ID?
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So I show my card to prove I'm a student.
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Exactly.
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And here's a bonus.
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Ask, is it free on any day?
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Wait, museums can be free?
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Yes.
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Many have one free day or a free evening each month.
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That's amazing.
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I'm definitely asking that next time.
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And one more, if your whole family goes, ask about a family ticket.
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A family ticket.
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One prize for everyone?
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Right, usually two adults and a couple of kids.
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It's cheaper.
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Oh, that's a great deal for a day out.
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Try these next time.
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You might save real money.
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Let's review.
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Five more phrases.
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The first one is a discount for students, a lower price for students.
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For example, is there a discount for students?
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Repeat after me.
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A discount for students.
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A discount for students.
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The next one is senior discount, a lower price for older adults.
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For example, do you have a senior discount for my dad?
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Repeat after me, senior discount, senior discount.
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Number three is full price, the normal, non-discounted price.
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For example, I forgot my card, so I paid full price.
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Repeat after me, full price, full price.
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Number four is, can I see some ID?
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Staff asking to check your identity.
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For example, sure, can I see some ID, please?
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Repeat after me, can I see some ID?
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Can I see some ID?
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And number five is, free on any day, asking if there's a no-cost day.
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For example, is it free on any day of the week?
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Repeat after me.
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Free on any day.
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Free on any day.
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Anna, I once showed up in a museum and it was already closed.
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Oh no. What time did you get there?
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Around five.
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The doors were locked and everyone was leaving.
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That's why you always check the hours first.
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How do I ask about that?
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You say, what time do you open?
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What time do you open?
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Easy.
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And for closing, what time do you close?
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Got it.
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Open and close.
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They might say, we close at 6, but last entry is at 5.
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Wait, what's last entry?
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Last entry is the latest time they let people in.
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Oh, so I can't enter at 5.30, even though they close at 6?
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Exactly.
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Always check the last entry time.
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That explains my locked door disaster.
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Ha.
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And you can ask, are you open on Mondays?
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Right.
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Some museums close one day a week.
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Yes, often Monday.
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So always confirm the day, too.
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What about holidays?
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Are they open then?
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Good question.
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You ask, are you open on holidays?
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Because some places have special holiday hours.
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Exactly.
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Holiday hours are often shorter, so always check.
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Practice that one out loud.
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It saves you a wasted trip.
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Time to recap.
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Five key phrases.
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The first one is, what time do you open?
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Asking the opening time.
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For example, hi, what time do you open on Saturdays?
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Repeat after me.
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What time do you open?
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What time do you open?
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The next one is, what time do you close?
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Asking the closing time.
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For example, what time do you close tonight?
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Repeat after me.
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What time do you close?
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What time do you close?
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Number three is last entry.
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The latest time they let you in.
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For example, last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
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Repeat after me.
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Last entry.
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Last entry.
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Number four is, are you open on Mondays?
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Asking about a specific day.
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For example, are you open on Mondays or are you closed?
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Repeat after me.
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Are you open on Mondays?
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Are you open on Mondays?
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And number five is closed.
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Not open for business.
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For example, the museum is closed every Monday.
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Repeat after me.
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Closed.
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Closed.
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Anna, once inside, I felt totally lost.
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So many rooms. That happens to everyone.
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There's an easy fix.
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Tell me.
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At the desk, ask, do you offer guided tours?
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A guided tour is when someone walks you around and explains things?
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Exactly.
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And if you prefer to go alone, ask for an audio guide.
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An audio guide?
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Like headphones that explain each artwork?
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Right.
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You can ask, can I rent an audio guide?
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Oh, that's so useful.
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What about a map?
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Always grab one.
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Just say, can I get a map?
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And here's the phrase no textbook teaches.
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Ooh, tell them.
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When you're lost, you say, where can I find the exit?
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Why is that one special?
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Because in a huge museum, finding the way out is half the battle.
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Ha, so true.
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Where can I find the exit?
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You can swap exit for restroom or cafe too.
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Great tip.
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One phrase many uses.
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Oh, and can I take photos inside?
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Good question.
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You ask, is photography allowed?
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Because some rooms say no flash, right?
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Exactly.
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Always check before you snap a picture.
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Remember that one.
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It works in malls, airports, anywhere.
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Last recap.
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Five final phrases.
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The first one is guided tour, a walkthrough led by a guide.
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For example, do you offer guided tours in English?
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Repeat after me, guided tour, guided tour.
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The next one is audio guide, a recorded device that explains exhibits.
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For example, can I rent an audio guide here?
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Repeat after me, audio guide, audio guide.
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Number three is, can I get a map?
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Asking for a museum map.
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For example, can I get a map of the museum?
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Repeat after me.
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Can I get a map?
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Can I get a map?
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Number four is, where can I find the exit?
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Asking how to get out.
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For example, excuse me, where can I find the exit?
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Repeat after me.
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Where can I find the exit?
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Where can I find the exit?
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And number five is restroom.
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The polite word for the toilet.
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For example, where can I find the restroom?
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Repeat after me.
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Restroom.
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Restroom.
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That's all for today.
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Pick one phrase from this video and use it tomorrow.
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That's how this stuff sticks.
Context & Background
In this video titled "Museum English: Tickets, Discounts & Tours," hosts Anna and David share essential English phrases that are particularly useful for navigating ticket purchases at museums. The dialogue focuses on real-life scenarios that English learners might encounter when visiting a museum, providing practical language skills that go beyond traditional textbook learning. This interactive approach helps students to better prepare for real-world conversations, making it an excellent resource for anyone looking to enhance their IELTS speaking practice or overall communication skills in English.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- โOne adult ticket, please.โ - A direct request for a single ticket.
- โHow much is a ticket?โ - Inquiring about the ticket price.
- โDo you take credit cards?โ - Asking about payment methods.
- โIs this the line for tickets?โ - Confirming if you are in the correct queue.
- โTwo adult tickets, please.โ - Requesting multiple tickets.
These phrases are practical and easy to remember, making them perfect for shadow speech practice. By repeating them, you can boost your English pronunciation and conversational confidence.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively use the video for shadowing practice, follow this step-by-step guide. Shadowing is a technique where you mimic the speech of native speakers to improve your language skills. Hereโs how you can utilize the content from Anna and David's video:
- Watch the Video: First, watch the video in its entirety to understand the context and how each phrase is used in conversation.
- Listen Actively: Pay attention to the pronunciation and intonation of each phrase. Take note of how David and Anna emphasize certain words.
- Repeat and Imitate: Use a shadowing app or simply pause the video after each phrase. Repeat what you hear, trying to match the speakers' pace and tone. This exercise will significantly enhance your English pronunciation.
- Role-Play: Practice with a partner or by speaking out loud. Pretend you are at a museum, using the phrases you've learned. This will help solidify your confidence in speaking.
- Review and Record: After practicing, record yourself speaking the phrases and listen to your pronunciation. Compare it with the video to identify areas for improvement.
By consistently practicing these steps and engaging with the phrases, you'll not only improve your speaking skills but also gain valuable cultural insights, making your museum visits more enjoyable and less stressful.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud โ like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1โ2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency โ making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.