English Course · Level 5 (B2) · Week 9 of 12

Travel and Globalisation

Grammar: Discourse markers · formal vs informal register (furthermore, on the other hand, having said that)

This week's plan

Day	Learn	Listen / Watch	Practise
Day 1	Words: Globalisation · Sentences 1–2	BBC 6 Minute English: “How the world learned to love fast food” (podcast)	Exercise 1
Day 2	Words: Travel · Sentences 3–4	TED: Pico Iyer, “Where is home?” (video)	Exercise 2
Day 3	Words: Travel verbs · Sentences 5–6	British Council B2: “A report on working abroad” (writing)	Exercise 3
Day 4	Words: Formal markers · Sentences 7–8	BBC 6 Minute English: “Island life: Is it paradise?” (podcast) + BBC The English We Speak: “Neck of the woods” (podcast)	Exercise 4
Day 5	Words: Informal markers · Sentences 9–10	BBC 6 Minute English: “Is English really English?” (podcast)	Write & Speak
Day 6	Review all 30 words + 10 sentences	British Council B2: “A covering email” (writing)	Redo mistakes
Day 7	Free day ☺	BBC The English We Speak: “Passing Ships” (podcast)	Tick your tracker

30 minutes a day: review, learn, listen, practise, speak. Day 7 is a free day. Tap a resource to find it.

30 words to learn

Set 1 · Globalisation

globalisationالعولمة
a multinational companyشركة متعدّدة الجنسيات
cultural identityالهوية الثقافية
free tradeالتجارة الحرة
outsourcingالاستعانة بمصادر خارجية
interconnectedمترابط

Set 2 · Travel

mass tourismالسياحة الجماعية
off the beaten trackبعيدًا عن الأماكن السياحية المعتادة
an itineraryبرنامج / خط سير الرحلة
jet lagإرهاق فرق التوقيت بعد السفر
culture shockصدمة ثقافية
ecotourismالسياحة البيئية

Set 3 · Travel verbs

set offينطلق في رحلة
stop over (in)يتوقّف في محطة / ترانزيت
soak up (the atmosphere)يستمتع بالأجواء ويتشرّبها
get away from it allيبتعد عن ضغوط الحياة / يغيّر جو
broaden the mindيوسّع الأفق
immerse yourself inينغمس في

Set 4 · Formal markers

furthermoreعلاوةً على ذلك
moreoverفضلًا عن ذلك
neverthelessومع ذلك
consequentlyوبالتالي / نتيجةً لذلك
in additionبالإضافة إلى ذلك
on the other handمن ناحية أخرى

Set 5 · Informal markers

anywayعلى أي حال
by the wayبالمناسبة
having said thatومع ذلك / بس برضه
plusوكمان / بالإضافة إلى ذلك
mind youومع ذلك / على فكرة
basicallyببساطة / في الأساس

10 sentences to memorise

1Tourism creates jobs. Furthermore, it helps to protect historic sites.تخلق السياحة فرص عمل. علاوةً على ذلك، فهي تساعد على حماية المواقع التاريخية.
2Globalisation has made products cheaper; on the other hand, many local businesses have closed.جعلت العولمة المنتجات أرخص؛ ومن ناحية أخرى، أُغلقت كثير من الشركات المحلية.
3The hotel was rather expensive. Having said that, the view of the Nile was amazing.كان الفندق غاليًا إلى حدٍّ ما. ومع ذلك، كان منظر النيل رائعًا.
4Travelling broadens the mind.السفر يوسّع الأفق.
5We'd like to get off the beaten track and visit the villages of Siwa.نودّ أن نبتعد عن الأماكن السياحية المعتادة ونزور قرى سيوة.
6I am writing to complain about the service I received during my stay.أكتب إليكم لأشكو من الخدمة التي تلقّيتها أثناء إقامتي.
7Anyway, let me know when you're free and we'll plan the trip.على أي حال، أخبرني متى تكون متفرّغًا وسنخطّط للرحلة.
8The flight was delayed; consequently, we missed our connection.تأخّرت الرحلة؛ وبالتالي فاتتنا الرحلة التالية (الترانزيت).
9I experienced real culture shock during my first month in London.عشت صدمة ثقافية حقيقية خلال شهري الأول في لندن.
10I would be grateful if you could send me further information.سأكون ممتنًا لو أرسلتم لي مزيدًا من المعلومات.

Grammar: Discourse markers · formal vs informal register (furthermore, on the other hand, having said that)

Discourse markers show how ideas are connected: adding, contrasting, giving a result, changing the topic or summarising. Choose them according to register: formal (essays, reports, emails to companies) or informal (chats, messages to friends).

المتعلم العربي يستخدم and وbut وso في كل شيء، أو يكتب كلمة رسمية جدًا في رسالة لصديق (Furthermore, the party was fun!). اختر أداة الربط حسب «المستوى» (register): في المقال والرسالة الرسمية: Furthermore, However, Consequently، وفي الكلام والرسائل غير الرسمية: Plus, Anyway, Mind you. وانتبه للترقيم: However وFurthermore وNevertheless تأتي غالبًا في أول الجملة وبعدها فاصلة، ولا تربط بها جملتين بفاصلة فقط: …, however we… ✗ ← …. However, we… ✓ أو استخدم الفاصلة المنقوطة: …; however, we…

Function	Formal	Informal
adding	furthermore · moreover · in addition	plus · also · and another thing
contrast	however · nevertheless · on the other hand	but · mind you · having said that · still
result	consequently · therefore · as a result	so · that's why
changing the topic	with regard to · as for	by the way · anyway
summarising	in conclusion · overall · to sum up	basically · all in all

Informal	Formal
Thanks for your email.	Thank you for your email of 3 May.
I want to know…	I would like to enquire…
Can you send me…?	I would be grateful if you could send me…
Sorry about…	Please accept my apologies for…
Hope to hear from you soon.	I look forward to hearing from you.
Love, / Cheers,	Yours sincerely, (you know the name) · Yours faithfully, (Dear Sir or Madam)

Formal writing: no contractions (I am, not I'm), no slang, more passives and nouns (Your assistance would be appreciated).

Having said that / That said = a neutral way to add a contrasting point; nevertheless is its formal partner.

Don't start every sentence with a marker: one or two per paragraph is enough.

Exercises

Exercise 1 · Choose the formal option.

1) (Furthermore / Plus), the hotel offers free airport transfers.
2) (By the way / With regard to) your request, we will reply within 48 hours.
3) The flight was cancelled; (consequently / that's why), we stayed an extra night.
4) (I would like to enquire / I want to know) whether rooms are available.
5) Dear Sir or Madam, … (Cheers, / Yours faithfully,)
6) The museum is small. (Mind you / Nevertheless), it is well worth a visit.

Show the answers

1) Furthermore 2) With regard to 3) consequently 4) I would like to enquire 5) Yours faithfully, 6) Nevertheless

Exercise 2 · Complete with: however · furthermore · consequently · on the other hand · having said that · by the way. Use each one once.

1) Tourism brings money to Luxor. ___, it creates jobs for local people.
2) Mass tourism can damage ancient sites. ___, it pays for their protection.
3) The train was full; ___, we had to stand for three hours.
4) The food was a bit too spicy for me. ___, it was delicious! (informal)
5) I loved Aswan. ___, did you get the photos I sent you?
6) The tour was well organised. ___, the guide spoke too quickly.

Show the answers

1) Furthermore 2) On the other hand (However is also possible) 3) consequently 4) Having said that 5) By the way 6) However (On the other hand is also possible)

Exercise 3 · Rewrite the informal sentences in a formal style.

1) Sorry about the delay.
2) Can you send me the price list?
3) I want to know if breakfast is included.
4) Thanks a lot for your help.
5) Hope to hear from you soon.

Show the answers

1) Please accept my apologies for the delay. 2) I would be grateful if you could send me the price list. 3) I would like to enquire whether breakfast is included. 4) Thank you very much for your assistance / help. 5) I look forward to hearing from you.

Exercise 4 · Translate into English (formal style).

1) أكتب إليكم للاستفسار عن الرحلات إلى الأقصر.
2) كانت الغرفة نظيفة؛ ومع ذلك، كانت صغيرة جدًا.
3) علاوةً على ذلك، لم يكن هناك ماء ساخن.
4) أتطلّع إلى سماع ردّكم.

Show the answers

1) I am writing to enquire about trips to Luxor. 2) The room was clean; nevertheless / however, it was very small. 3) Furthermore, there was no hot water. 4) I look forward to hearing from you.

Do each exercise in pencil first, then open the answers to check.

Write & Speak

Write & Speak — Write a formal email of complaint (200–250 words) to a travel company about a disappointing trip (problems with the hotel, the transport and the guide). Use formal discourse markers and formal phrases. Then tell a friend about the same trip aloud in informal English, using anyway, plus and having said that.

Example: Subject: Complaint about the “Nile Treasures” tour, 12–16 March Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to complain about the five-day “Nile Treasures” tour from Luxor to Aswan, which I booked through your website for my family. Unfortunately, the trip fell far short of the description in your brochure. Firstly, the hotel in Luxor was not the four-star hotel we had been promised. Our room was next to the kitchen, the air conditioning did not work and, despite several requests, nobody came to repair it. Consequently, my children were unable to sleep for two nights. Furthermore, the transport was extremely unreliable. On the second day, the bus to the Valley of the Kings arrived an hour and a half late, and as a result we missed the guided visit to the tomb of Tutankhamun, which was the main reason for our trip. In addition, our guide spoke very little English, even though your website states that all guides are fluent. Nevertheless, I should point out that the felucca trip in Aswan was excellent, and the boat crew were extremely helpful. In view of these problems, I believe that a partial refund of at least 40% of the total cost would be appropriate. I have attached copies of my booking confirmation and several photographs of the room. I would be grateful if you could look into this matter and reply within fourteen days. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Karim Adel