I Speak Mandarin Now

How to read years in Mandarin Chinese

Cape Town is a very popular tourist destination. This article describes what you may discover there. 

English in 60 Seconds

Travelling to Cape Town

This episode gives you the words and phrases for renting a car. Listen carefully, as I deliberately speak slightly faster. 

Renting a Car 1

When on holiday, you may wish to find out how to get to a place of interest, or to a museum, and this episode goes into some of the vocab you may need to get there. 

Getting to a restaurant from the hotel - asking for recommendations and directions

This episode follows my other podcasts on the airport and what you'll need to know before you get to your hotel, and when you get there, what to do. 

After the Airport

This episode describes the journey from the airport to the hotel, and gives you the vocabulary you may need for taking the underground. 
Please also use this for pronunciation.

Now that I’ve gone through customs and found my way out, I have to find transport. I go past the welcoming committee of people thronging to greet their loved ones, and look for signs that show bus, car, or train. 

I decide to take the train or underground railway. It’s called the Metro, the Underground, or the Tube in most countries. I have to ask about the best ticket for my journeys around the city, so I go to the ticket counter to get help. Once I know what I want, I can just use my debit or credit card and go to the self-service kiosk. 

I buy my ticket, and pass through the ticket barriers to go down the escalators to the floors below. I keep reading the boards to see if I’m going in the right direction.  It’s a long walk, and I sometimes have to carry my suitcase down the stairs. I begin to wonder if I shouldn’t just have taken a taxi. 

Some people offer to help, and, because it’s so heavy and no one could just run away with my luggage, I agree gratefully. 

The Tube is crowded, but I manage to find a seat. I listen carefully for my stop, and hop onto the platform. 

Once I’m out of the Tube station, I see my hotel across the road, so I go through the entranceway into the lobby. At least this hotel doesn’t have revolving doors, because it’s really awkward to manage that when you have baggage. 

I go straight across the lobby to the clerk at the reception desk. I tell them I have booked a room and tell them my name. They ask me for my passport or other identity document. I give it to them. I go to my room and the valet brings my luggage. I give him or her a tip.

I unpack my bag into the cupboards and drawers. I take a shower with the freshly laid out towels. I am now ready for my exploration in the town.

Please feel free to book a lesson with me. #knowmyteacher #pronunciation