News English Lessons
FREE Handout, Listening & Quizzes on Tipping
(11 Pages of Materials & 8 Online Activities)

Home
Donate

COPYRIGHT:
Please write to
me for permission.

British People Don’t Know When To Tip

Half of British people are unsure about tipping in other countries. Many holidaymakers do not do any research when they go abroad. This can be a big problem because tips and service charges can be as much as 30 per cent of a traveler’s spending money. It could also get tourists into embarrassing situations in a hotel, taxi or restaurant. Many British people do not know you have to tip in America. People can get angry if they don’t get a tip. There is no custom of tipping in Japan and it can be awkward to leave a tip. In Italy, it’s easy – the tip is on the bill.

Advertisements

I’m not sure if I agree with tipping. It’s what wealthy people used to do a long time ago. Today, not everyone is rich. Some people go on holiday with very little money. Their spending money will soon go down if they have to tip everyone all the time. It’s OK if you’re rich and you got a really good service. I feel uncomfortable when someone waits for a tip. I also don’t like the staff in hotels carrying my bag. I can do that. I can also find my room. I don’t need someone to do this for me and then I have to give them five dollars.

Advertisements

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.	British people are unsure about	a.	big problem
2	This can be a	b.	the bill
3.	embarrassing	c.	tipping in other countries
4.	People can get angry if	d.	situations
5.	There is no custom	e.	they don’t get a tip
6.	the tip is on	f.	of tipping in Japan

Paragraph 2

1.	I’m not sure if I agree	a.	used to do
2	It’s what wealthy people	b.	soon go down
3.	people go on holiday with	c.	someone waits for a tip
4.	Their spending money will	d.	with tipping
5.	I feel uncomfortable when	e.	do this for me
6.	I don’t need someone to	f.	very little money

LISTENING GAP FILL

Half of British people _________________ tipping in other countries. Many holidaymakers _________________ research when they go abroad. This can be a big problem because tips and service charges _________________ as 30 per cent of a traveler’s spending money. It _________________ tourists into embarrassing situations in a hotel, taxi or restaurant. Many British people do not _________________ tip in America. People can get angry if they don’t get a tip. There is no custom of tipping in Japan and _________________ to leave a tip. In Italy, it’s easy – the tip is on the bill.

I’m not _________________ with tipping. It’s what wealthy people _________________ long time ago. Today, not everyone is rich. Some people go on holiday with very little money. Their spending money will soon go down _________________ tip everyone all the time. It’s OK if you’re rich and _________________ good service. I feel uncomfortable when someone _________________. I also don’t like the staff in hotels carrying my bag. I can do that. I can also find my room. I don’t need someone _________________ and then I have to give them five dollars.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Half of British people are (1) ____ about tipping in other countries. Many holidaymakers do not do any research when they go (2) ____. This can be a big problem because tips and service charges can be as (3) ____ as 30 per cent of a traveler’s spending money. It could also get tourists into embarrassing situations in a hotel, taxi or restaurant. Many British people do not know you have to tip in America. People can get angry if they don’t get a tip. There is no (4) ____ of tipping in Japan and it can be awkward to leave a tip. In Italy, it’s easy – the tip is on the (5) ____.

I’m not sure if I (6) ____ with tipping. It’s what wealthy people used to do a long time ago. Today, not everyone is rich. Some people go on holiday with very (7) ____ money. Their spending money will soon go down if they have to tip everyone all the time. It’s OK if you’re rich and you got a really good (8) ____. I feel uncomfortable when someone waits for a tip. I also don’t like the (9) ____ in hotels carrying my bag. I can do that. I can also find my room. I don’t need someone to do this (10) ____ me and then I have to give them five dollars.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.	(a)	shore	(b)	unsure	(c)	on shore
2.	(a)	abroad	(b)	roads	(c)	abreast
3.	(a)	many	(b)	most	(c)	much
4.	(a)	customs	(b)	custom	(c)	customer
5.	(a)	bill	(b)	beak	(c)	mouth
6.	(a)	agree	(b)	agreement	(c)	agreeing
7.	(a)	few	(b)	little	(c)	small
8.	(a)	services	(b)	servicing	(c)	service
9.	(a)	staffing	(b)	stuff	(c)	staff
10.	(a)	by	(b)	for	(c)	to

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	sruenu about tipping
2.	go adbaro
3.	service gcrhsea
4.	embarrassing uinsotsiat
5.	no sutocm of tipping
6.	it can be wwaadkr
Paragraph 2
7.	I’m not sure if I aeegr
8.	hlwaety people
9.	dingnsep money
10.	really good eersciv
11.	the ffats in hotels
12.	five oslrdla

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	restaurant. Many British people do not know you have to tip in America. People can get angry if they don’t get a tip. There is
( )	rich. Some people go on holiday with very little money. Their spending money will soon go down if they have to
( )	research when they go abroad. This can be a big problem because tips and service charges can be as much as 30
( 1 )	Half of British people are unsure about tipping in other countries. Many holidaymakers do not do any
( )	I’m not sure if I agree with tipping. It’s what wealthy people used to do a long time ago. Today, not everyone is
( )	per cent of a traveler’s spending money. It could also get tourists into embarrassing situations in a hotel, taxi or
( )	no custom of tipping in Japan and it can be awkward to leave a tip. In Italy, it’s easy – the tip is on the bill.
( )	tip everyone all the time. It’s OK if you’re rich and you got a really good service. I feel uncomfortable when someone
( )	room. I don’t need someone to do this for me and then I have to give them five dollars.
( )	waits for a tip. I also don’t like the staff in hotels carrying my bag. I can do that. I can also find my

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	British tipping people are Half unsure of about.
2.	much as 30 per cent Service charges can be as.
3.	into tourists get also could It situations embarrassing
4.	America People do not know you have to tip in.
5.	Japan custom of There tipping is in no.
6.	sure tipping if I I’m agree not with.
7.	little Some on very go with money people holiday.
8.	soon will money spending Their down go.
9.	uncomfortable waits tip feel someone a I when for.
10.	do me don’t to for I someone this need.

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about tipping for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about tipping. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about tipping. Include two imaginary interviews with someone who hates tipping. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR COUNTRY? Write a newspaper article about tipping in your country. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to a British person. Ask him/her three questions about tipping. Write three of your opinions on tipping. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner will answer the questions you asked.

Back to the top

News English Lessons FREE Handout, Listening & Quizzes on Tipping (11 Pages of Materials & 8 Online Activities)