Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. crown
    • ex. Morningstar Inn was crowned “Harrisburg’s Best Hotel” last year.
  2. (one’s) commitment to (something)
    • ex. The group is known for its commitment to helping animals.
  3. outstanding
    • ex. The movie was outstanding! I loved it.
  4. a connecting flight
    • ex. I have a connecting flight in Chicago because there were no direct flights from Baltimore to Seattle.
  5. accommodation
    • ex. It can be hard to find accommodation on weekends, so you should reserve a hotel room before you travel there.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

Font size

The Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, Qatar, has been crowned the “World’s Best Airport” for 2021 by The World Airport Awards.  In a global airport satisfaction survey done between August 2020 and July 2021, HIA received the highest number of votes. This year was the first time that HIA took the number one spot on the list.

Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, HIA’s chief operating officer, said that he’s proud of the achievement. He explained that the award shows the airport’s commitment to providing outstanding service to travelers. Qatar Airways passengers who have connecting flights at HIA can enjoy free city tours, accommodation, and food. They can also experience VIP service from airline employees who will meet them and help them find their connecting flights.

Three Japanese airports were included in this year’s top 10 list. Haneda Airport ranked second, and it also won the “Best Airport in Asia” and “World’s Best Airport Cleanliness” awards. Narita Airport ranked fifth, while Kansai International Airport was ninth. Airports in Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, and Hong Kong also were in the top 10.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

The Top 10 List

  • Some passengers at HIA, the "World's Best Airport," can enjoy free city tours, accommodation, and food. Do you think all airports should offer these services? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, why were more than half of the airports on the top 10 list in Asia? Discuss.
  • Do you think they should also make a top 10 list for the "World's Worst Airports"? Why or why not? Discuss.

Flying

  • In your opinion, which are better, direct flights or connecting flights? Why? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what airlines provide outstanding service to travelers (ex. Qatar Airways, ANA)? Why? Discuss.
  • Do you think flying is the best way to travel, or do you prefer another way (ex. driving, taking a train)? Why? Discuss.