• why making mistakes on day one made me more determined to succeed tomorrow.

My name is Kounthea. Yesterday was my first day at work as a hotel receptionist. I felt very happy, but I was also a little bit nervous.

The morning started well. My manager, Mr. Sopheap, gave me a clean uniform. He was very kind and helped me a lot. I learned many basic jobs. I learned how to use the computer, answer the phone, and give key cards to guests. I also wrote down guest requests for extra towels, clean pillows, and water.

At 9:00 AM, the first guests arrived. They were a nice family from France. I smiled, said hello, and checked them into room 402. After that, I answered the phone and booked a dinner table for another guest. The lobby smelled like fresh flowers. I felt very good about my new job.

However, the afternoon was difficult. At 2:00 PM, ten people came to the hotel together. The line at the front desk was very long. I tried to move fast, but my computer stopped working. Then, I made a mistake with a room key card. One guest was angry because he waited for twenty minutes, and his room was not ready. I said sorry many times. My face was red. Luckily, my friend Dara helped me right away. He gave the guest a cold drink and fixed the room key.

My work finished at 5:00 PM. I was very tired, but I learned many new things today. Tomorrow, I want to do a better job. I need to practice using the computer so guests do not wait in line. I also want to speak better English and stay calm when guests are sad or angry. I hope tomorrow will be a great day!

________________________________

Vocabulary:

Word / Phrase	Definition
to be determined	ready to do something and not give up, even if it is hard.
to succeed	to get a good result or do well at something you tried to do.
a request	asking for something politely (e.g., asking for extra towels).
however	a word used to show a contrast or change (similar to „but“).
to be tired	feeling like you have no energy and need rest or sleep.
to practise	to do an activity again and again so you can get better at it.
to wait in line	to stand in a row of people waiting for your turn.

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Match each word with its correct definition:

Words

1. to be determined
2. to succeed
3. a request
4. however
5. to be tired
6. to practise
7. to wait in line

Definitions

• A. asking for something politely (e.g., asking for extra towels).
• B. feeling like you have no energy and need rest or sleep.
• C. to stand in a row of people waiting for your turn.
• D. ready to do something and not give up, even if it is hard.
• E. a word used to show a contrast or change (similar to „but“).
• F. to do an activity again and again so you can get better at it.
• G. to get a good result or do well at something you tried to do.

_____________________________

Answer key:
1-D, 2-G, 3-A, 4-E, 5-B, 6-F, 7-C

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Match each definition with its correct word:

Definitions

1. ready to do something and not give up, even if it is hard.
2. to get a good result or do well at something you tried to do.
3. asking for something politely (e.g., asking for extra towels).
4. a word used to show a contrast or change (similar to „but“).
5. feeling like you have no energy and need rest or sleep.
6. to do an activity again and again so you can get better at it.
7. to stand in a row of people waiting for your turn.

Words

• A. a request
• B. to be determined
• C. to wait in line
• D. however
• E. to succeed
• F. to be tired
• G. to practise

____________________________

Answer key:
1-B, 2-E, 3-A, 4-D, 5-F, 6-G, 7-C

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Multiple-choice:

1. What is Kounthea’s job?
   • A. Hotel receptionist
   • B. Front desk customer service agent
   • C. Hotel general manager
2. Who is Mr. Sopheap?
   • A. A guest visiting from France
   • B. Kounthea’s receptionist friend
   • C. Kounthea’s manager
3. What did Mr. Sopheap give Kounthea in the morning?
   • A. A set of extra towels for the hotel room
   • B. A clean uniform
   • C. A cold welcome drink for the guest
4. Which of these did Kounthea NOT write down for guests?
   • A. Key cards
   • B. Clean pillows for the bed
   • C. Extra bottled water requests
5. Where did the first family of guests come from?
   • A. Cambodia
   • B. France
   • C. Germany and Austria
6. What room did the first guests check into?
   • A. Room 200
   • B. Room 502
   • C. Room 402
7. What did the hotel lobby smell like?
   • A. Fresh flowers
   • B. Freshly baked morning pastries
   • C. Strong black coffee
8. What time did ten people arrive at the hotel together?
   • A. At 5:00 in the late afternoon
   • B. At 2:00 PM
   • C. At 9:00 AM sharp
9. What happened to Kounthea’s computer in the afternoon?
   • A. It lost connection to the hotel network
   • B. It stopped working
   • C. It printed incorrect check-in information
10. Why was one guest angry?
    • A. He lost his room key card in the lobby
    • B. He waited twenty minutes for his room
    • C. He did not receive extra towels and water
11. How did Kounthea react when the guest was angry?
    • A. She argued back with the guest
    • B. She walked away to find the manager
    • C. She apologized repeatedly
12. Who helped Kounthea during the difficult situation?
    • A. Dara
    • B. Mr. Sopheap the hotel manager
    • C. The guests from France
13. What did Kounthea’s friend give to the angry guest?
    • A. A full refund for the room
    • B. A cold drink
    • C. A key to a bigger luxury room
14. What time did Kounthea finish work?
    • A. At 5:00 PM
    • B. At 4:00 PM in the afternoon
    • C. At 6:00 PM sharp
15. How did Kounthea feel physically at the end of the day?
    • A. Very happy and energetic
    • B. Relaxed and comfortable
    • C. Very tired
16. What does Kounthea want to practice for tomorrow?
    • A. Using the computer
    • B. Cleaning the guest rooms faster
    • C. Making fresh drinks for waiting guests
17. What language does Kounthea want to speak better?
    • A. French language
    • B. English
    • C. Cambodian language
18. What state of mind does Kounthea want to maintain when guests are upset?
    • A. Stay calm
    • B. Move faster around the desk
    • C. Call the manager immediately
19. How does Kounthea feel overall about tomorrow?
    • A. Hopeful it will be a great day
    • B. Concerned about making more mistakes
    • C. Ready to quit the job
20. What did Kounthea do right after checking in the first family?
    • A. She took a short tea break
    • B. She booked a dinner table
    • C. She cleaned the lobby desk area

______________________________

Answer key:
1-A, 2-C, 3-B, 4-A, 5-B, 6-C, 7-A, 8-B,
9-B, 10-B, 11-C, 12-A, 13-B, 14-A, 15-C,
16-A, 17-B, 18-A, 19-A, 20-B

#####################

True or false:

1. Mr. Sopheap gave Kounthea a clean uniform on her first day.
2. The lobby of the hotel smelled like fresh coffee and pastries.
3. Kounthea checked the first guests into room 402.
4. The first guests to arrive were a nice family from Germany.
5. Ten people arrived at the hotel together at 12:00 PM in the afternoon.
6. One guest was angry because he waited twenty minutes for his room.
7. Kounthea’s computer stopped working during the afternoon rush.
8. Mr. Sopheap helped Kounthea by giving the angry guest a cold drink.
9. Kounthea said sorry many times and her face turned red.
10. Kounthea felt energetic and wide awake at the end of the day.
11. Kounthea finished her work shift at 5:00 PM.
12. Kounthea wants to speak better French and stay calm when guests are angry.
13. Kounthea wants to practice using the computer so guests do not wait in line.
14. Kounthea wrote down guest requests for extra towels, clean pillows, and water.
15. Kounthea hopes to find a new job tomorrow.
16. Kounthea decided to quit her job at the end of the day.

___________________________

Answer Key:
1-True, 2-False, 3-True, 4-False, 5-False, 6-True, 7-True,
8-False, 9-True, 10-False, 11-True, 12-False,
13-True, 14-True, 15-False, 16-False
___________________________

Full version:

Mr. Sopheap gave Kounthea a clean uniform on her first day.

The lobby of the hotel smelled like fresh coffee and pastries.True is: The lobby of the hotel smelled like fresh flowers.

Kounthea checked the first guests into room 402.

The first guests to arrive were a nice family from Germany.True is: The first guests to arrive were a nice family from France.

Ten people arrived at the hotel together at 12:00 PM in the afternoon.True is: Ten people arrived at the hotel together at 2:00 PM in the afternoon.

One guest was angry because he waited twenty minutes for his room.

Kounthea’s computer stopped working during the afternoon rush.

Mr. Sopheap helped Kounthea by giving the angry guest a cold drink.True is: Dara helped Kounthea by giving the angry guest a cold drink.

Kounthea said sorry many times and her face turned red.

Kounthea felt energetic and wide awake at the end of the day.True is: Kounthea felt very tired at the end of the day.

Kounthea finished her work shift at 5:00 PM.

Kounthea wants to speak better French and stay calm when guests are angry.True is: Kounthea wants to speak better English and stay calm when guests are angry.

Kounthea wants to practice using the computer so guests do not wait in line.

Kounthea wrote down guest requests for extra towels, clean pillows, and water.

Kounthea hopes to find a new job tomorrow.True is: Kounthea hopes tomorrow will be a great day.

Kounthea decided to quit her job at the end of the day.True is: Kounthea wants to do a better job tomorrow.

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Match the first half of the sentence with its correct second half:

First halves

1. Kounthea felt happy on her first day,
2. Mr. Sopheap helped her a lot and
3. At 9:00 AM, Kounthea smiled and checked
4. After checking in the French family, she
5. The afternoon was difficult because ten
6. The line became very long when her
7. One guest was angry because he waited
8. Dara came to help right away and
9. At 5:00 PM, Kounthea was tired but
10. Tomorrow, Kounthea wants to stay calm

Second Halves

• A. people came to the hotel at 2:00 PM.
• B. for twenty minutes for his room.
• C. gave the angry guest a cold drink.
• D. but she was also a little nervous.
• E. when guests are sad or angry.
• F. booked a dinner table for another guest.
• G. computer stopped working properly.
• H. gave her a clean uniform.
• I. she learned many new things.
• J. the first family into room 402.

_____________________________

Answer Key:
1-D, 2-H, 3-J, 4-F, 5-A, 6-G, 7-B, 8-C, 9-I, 10-E

_____________________________

Full version:

1. Kounthea felt happy on her first day, but she was also a little nervous.
2. Mr. Sopheap helped her a lot and gave her a clean uniform.
3. At 9:00 AM, Kounthea smiled and checked the first family into room 402.
4. After checking in the French family, she booked a dinner table for another guest.
5. The afternoon was difficult because ten people came to the hotel at 2:00 PM.
6. The line became very long when her computer stopped working properly.
7. One guest was angry because he waited for twenty minutes for his room.
8. Dara came to help right away and gave the angry guest a cold drink.
9. At 5:00 PM, Kounthea was tired but she learned many new things.
10. Tomorrow, Kounthea wants to stay calm when guests are sad or angry.

#####################

Match each cause with its correct effect:

Causes

1. Mr. Sopheap was very kind and helpful.
2. Kounthea smiled and greeted the French family politely.
3. Ten people arrived at 2:00 PM and the computer stopped working.
4. The guest had to wait twenty minutes for an unprepared room.
5. Dara stepped in immediately to offer a cold drink and fix the key card.
6. Kounthea experienced challenges on her first day.

Effects

• A. A long line formed at the front desk and the afternoon became very difficult.
• B. She became determined to practice her computer skills and improve her English for tomorrow.
• C. The guest became very angry, making Kounthea feel embarrassed with a red face.
• D. Kounthea learned basic jobs quickly, including using the computer and answering the phone.
• E. The situation with the angry guest was handled and resolved safely.
• F. She successfully checked them into room 402, and the morning started smoothly.

____________________________

Answer key:
1-D, 2-F, 3-A, 4-C, 5-E, 6-B

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Fill in, words below:

to practise – uniform – computer – to be tired – however –
a request – to succeed – friend – morning –
to be determined – angry –
to wait in line

Yesterday was Kounthea’s first day at the hotel, and her 1. ________________ shift started smoothly when Mr. Sopheap gave her a neat 2. ________________ to wear. She helped several guests and carefully wrote down 3. ________________ for extra towels and water. 4. ________________, everything changed at 2:00 PM when ten people arrived together. The front desk system froze after her main 5. ________________ stopped working, which forced arriving guests 6. ________________ for a long time. Seeing a customer get 7. ________________ after waiting twenty minutes made her nervous, but Kounthea’s helpful 8. ________________ Dara arrived with a cold drink to calm the situation. By the time her shift ended at 5:00 PM, Kounthea started 9. ________________ from the hard work. 10. ________________ to overcome her mistakes, she promised to do better tomorrow. She truly wants 11. ________________ in her hotel career, so she plans 12. ________________ her computer skills tonight.

———————————

Answer key:
1-morning, 2-uniform, 3-a request, 4-however, 5-computer, 6-to wait in line, 7-angry, 8-friend, 9-to be tired, 10-to be determined, 11-to succeed, 12-to practise

_____________________

Full version:

Word Bank: to practise – uniform – computer – to be tired – however – a request – to succeed – friend – morning – to be determined – to wait in line – angry

Yesterday was Kounthea’s first day at the hotel, and her morning shift started smoothly when Mr. Sopheap gave her a neat uniform to wear.
She helped several guests and carefully wrote down a request for extra towels and water.
However, everything changed at 2:00 PM when ten people arrived together.
The front desk system froze after her main computer stopped working, which forced arriving guests to wait in line for a long time.
Seeing a customer get angry after waiting twenty minutes made her nervous, but Kounthea’s helpful friend Dara arrived with a cold drink to calm the situation.
By the time her shift ended at 5:00 PM, Kounthea started to be tired from the hard work.
To be determined to overcome her mistakes, she promised to do better tomorrow.
She truly wants to succeed in her hotel career, so she plans to practise her computer skills tonight.

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___________________________________

Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN………………

SMFrockZ@gmx.at

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