Short Story
Tomoko is a young Japanese student who is visiting the United States for the first time. She is quite hungry, so she chooses to dine at a restaurant. However, because she does not speak much English, she is a bit nervous. This is Tomoko’s narrative about ordering food, and it will help other children living in a strange place order meals with confidence.
Steps to Order Food
1. Enter the Restaurant
Tomoko walks into a restaurant, and the host welcomes her with a smile.
2. Getting Seated
The host asks, “How many people?”
Tomoko raises one finger and replies in simple English, “One, please.”
The host nods and leads Tomoko to a table.
3. Looking at the Menu
Once seated, the host gives Tomoko a menu. She looks through the options. When she is ready, she waves her hand slightly to get the server’s attention.
4. Asking for Help
Tomoko smiles at the server and says, “Excuse me, can you help me, please?”
The server nods and says, “Of course!”
5. Ordering Food
Tomoko points to a picture of a burger on the menu and says, “I want this, please.”
The server says, “A burger, sure! Would you like fries with that?”
Tomoko nods and says, “Yes, please.”
The server then asks, “What would you like to drink?”
Tomoko thinks for a moment and responds, “Orange juice, please.”
6. Confirming the Order
The server repeats the order to make sure it’s correct: “One burger, fries, and an orange juice. Is that right?”
Tomoko smiles and says, “Yes, that’s right. Thank you!”
7. Enjoying the Meal
When the food arrives, Tomoko says, “Thank you,” to the server. She then happily enjoys her meal.
8. Asking for the Bill
After finishing her meal, Tomoko wants to pay. She waves to the server and asks, “Can I have the bill, please?”
The server brings the bill, and Tomoko takes out her money to pay. She says, “Thank you,” once more before leaving the restaurant.
9. Saying Goodbye
As she leaves, Tomoko waves to the staff and says, “Goodbye!”
Conclusion
With these simple steps, even if you don’t speak the language well, you can still order food in a restaurant and enjoy a nice meal. Just be polite, smile, and use easy words. Remember, people are usually happy to help!
Tips
Use simple phrases like “please” and “thank you.”
Don’t be afraid to point at pictures on the menu.
Smiling can make communication easier and friendlier.
Useful Phrases
“Hello”
“One, please”
“Can you help me, please?”
“I want this, please”
“Yes, please”
“No, thank you”
“Can I have the bill, please?”
“Thank you”
“Goodbye”
By following these steps, you can confidently order food in a foreign country, just like Tomoko!
