Chapter 9: Oral Literature

After practising the activities in this chapter of Oral Literature, you should be able to:
1. Use subject-specific language.
2. Give instructions orally and in writing. 3. Make reservations in different media and for different purposes.
4. Hold a conversation that involves explaining and giving reasons for your views and choices.
5. Participate in a debate.
Keywords

• instructions
• reservations
• accommodation
• travel agent
• budget
• visa flights
• spending money
• double room
• tours snorkelling

Introduction

This chapter is linked to Chapter 6 Tourism. You should refer to Chapter 6, as it will help you with the oral literature activities in this chapter.

You will work in groups and role-play planning a trip. This involves activities such as visiting or speaking on the telephone to a travel agent or airline. You will need to follow up on your conversations with a written email and letter to confirm your arrangements.

1. Read the comic strip with a partner. The comic strip shows a discussion about booking a holiday trip. You should each read the words of one woman.

2. Work in pairs to discuss the questions.
a) Who is having a discussion?
b) What are the main points of the discussion?
c) What information do you think the travel agent will send to
Mrs Agaba?
d) What are the main points that Mrs Agaba and her husband need
to discuss?
e) What do you think Mrs Aqaba and her husband’s decision will be?



Activity 1.2 Role-play booking a trip
1. Work in pairs. Plan a conversation between two people, about booking a trip. You can pretend that you are visiting a travel agent, or that you are speaking plan on the phone. You must each choose a character to role-play and the questions you will ask. Consider:
what information you want to find out how you will ask your questions
what answers you will provide
how you will start and end the conversation.
2. Practise your role-play and when you are ready, perform it for other pairs. Discuss how you could improve your role-play.
3. Each pair can perform their role-play for the class.

Activity 1.3 Choose your package
Mrs Agaba and her husband spent the evening reading through the information and brochures that the travel agent sent to them. They were so excited about the different possibilities. Mr and Mrs Agaba
narrowed their choices down to Stone Town’s two possible packages. Study their choices carefully.

Package 1
Ocean Beach Hotel
7 nights
Package includes:
bus from the airport to the hotel
all meals
all drinks
tours to stone town and spice route
live music every night
beach towel.
Flights not included
USD 1250 per person sharing

Package 2
Pemba Palace 

6 nights
Package includes:
return flights from Kampala
bus from airport to hotel
breakfast and dinner
selected drinks (water, cool drinks, beer)
tours to stone town and spice route
snorkelling ocean safari with seafood lunch
forest tour
flying fox tour.
USD 1310 per person sharing

1. Work in pairs. Write down the advantages and disadvantages of each package.
2. Decide which package you would choose. Give your reasons for choosing either Package 1 or Package 
3. Debate your choice with another pair. Remember, only one person may speak at a time. One pair presents their argument, then the other pair. Your pair must:
present the advantages and disadvantages of each package
say why you made your choice
listen to what the other pair says
think of any further points that strengthen the argument for the choice you made
decide who presented the better argument.
4. Notice what makes a speech effective, for example, logical arrangement of points, and speaking clearly.

Activity 1.4 Give instructions to confirm your booking
You need to visit, or phone, the travel agent to confirm the booking of your chosen package.
1. Role-play your visit, or telephone call, to the travel agent. Discuss:

• your choice of package
• preferred dates
• type of accommodation (double room with double bed, or twin room with two beds)any dietary needs (Halaal, vegetarian, lactose intolerant)
• tours you would like to book spending money while you are away
• flight times
• what you need to take (passport, cash, any medication)
• how you will pay for the booking.

2. Your flights must be booked separately from the rest of your package. Role-play a telephone conversation with an airline to book your flights. You must discuss the following:

• your dates of travel (these must fit in with the dates of your package booked with the travel agent)
• the cost of flights
• where the flights arrive and depart from
• how long the flights are.