Paris Tourism, Hotel Booking, and Banking History
Describing a City: Paris
Many people think that Paris is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. With 30-40 million visitors a year, it is the most visited city. Until the nineteenth century, this city was the biggest in Europe, but today, with a population of 2.5 million, it is smaller than Berlin or London.
Describing a Hotel: Casa Sant Jordi
The Casa Sant Jordi is a family-run hotel in the city center. All rooms have air conditioning to keep you cool and are non-smoking. There is no restaurant, but a range of drinks and snacks are available in the minibar in each room. There is an internet café next door and lots of restaurants within walking distance.
Reserving a Hotel: Sky Hotel
Receptionist: Good morning, Sky Hotel. L. Madrid speaking. How can I help you?
You: Hello, I’d like to make a reservation for three nights from the third of August, please.
Receptionist: What kind of room would you like?
You: I’d like a single room with a shower and bathtub, if possible.
Receptionist: Okay, let me just check availability. We have a very nice double room on the first floor. It’s at the back of the hotel and very quiet.
You: Could you tell me the room rates, please?
Receptionist: The premium room is 75€ a night, and the standard room is 50€, including breakfast.
You: Okay, I’ll take the premium room.
Financial Roles
- Accountant: Prepares financial records for a company.
- Auditor: Inspects a company’s accounts once a year.
- Cashier: Works at the cash desk in a bank.
- Bank Manager: Is responsible for a branch of a bank.
- Financial Consultant: Gives expert advice to investors.
- Investor: Buys and sells shares in companies.
- Stockbroker: Invests money in the stock market.
- Customer: Is a general word for a person who uses a bank.
- Financial Analyst: Analyzes the financial performance of a company.
- Saver: Deposits money in a bank to earn interest.
- Creditor: Is owed money by another person or company.
- Debtor: Owes money.
A Brief History of Banking
Banking has a rich and varied history. The word “bank” itself is related to the word “bench,” and historically, banks were simply individual moneylenders sitting on benches in the street. In the earliest times, coins made of gold, silver, and other metals were the only form of money. There are many examples of coins from Egypt, ancient Greece, and Rome in museums around the world. The world’s first banknote appeared in China in the 14th century, and the world’s oldest bank, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, opened in Italy in 1472. This bank is still in operation today and has branches throughout Italy. Although it’s believed that the first checks were used in Ancient Rome around 350 BC, they did not come into general use until the 16th century, when traders in Amsterdam began to use them as a form of payment. The first traveler’s checks were introduced by American Express in 1891 and are still used as a safe way of taking money abroad. Credit cards were first introduced in 1950 as a means of paying restaurant bills by an American club called Diner’s Club. Now, billions of credit card transactions are made every day, and other forms of payment, such as checks, are beginning to die out. Many people today get their cash from cash points. The world’s first cash point machine was installed in Barclays Bank.