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What does a typical Tour Guide day look like?
Ultimately, Tour Guides are the front line of Language in Action. You are the ones who will spend the most time with the students and the group leaders when they are off campus.
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As a tour guide you will plan, organise and run a wide range of tours and excursions across not only the city you are in, but surrounding areas too. You will represent our company whenever our students are out in public, so it is up to you to make sure that Language in Action is seen as a safe, responsible, respectful and fun organisation.
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Start by watching the below video to learn all about what a typical day in the life of a Tour Guide looks likes. When you have finished the video, continue through this page and the rest of your training.
0830 > Starting your day
At the start of each day, you must check in with the manager on shift, so they know you are there, and to find out any last-minute changes to your day. This is the very first thing you do.
You should check over your tour guide notes and risk assessments one last time, and make sure that any tickets you need are ready to collect.
If you're in London you'll also need to collect your daily travel cards.
0900 > Setting off
You should meet your assigned groups at 9.00am and brief them on the day ahead. Speak to the group leaders first, outlining travel routes and timings, then speak to the students about where they are going. This is also a good time to remind students about basic safety on public transport. This initial briefing must be done with as much enthusiasm as possible
It is then time to set off. Depending on the day and type of tour you may be asked to stagger your departure so that you travel or queue at your destination separately. You should also have games, quizzes or activities in mind that you can use when waiting for the tube or bus, or whilst waiting to get into a venue - remember, it is your job to keep the students energetic and entertained from the moment you leave campus.
1000 > On Tour
Your tour will usually be either a walking tour of the city, or a trip to a gallery or museum. Light rain or slightly adverse weather will not usually result in a tour changing, however extreme weather such as heavy rain or excessive heat might require a last minute change. Keep in contact with your Tour Coordinator if it looks like a change might be necessary.
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Walking Tours
If you are delivering a walking tour, make sure you are confident with the route before you set off. If you want to use Google Maps on your phone, you can, but be careful of thieves if you have your phone out.
At each stop on your tour you should find an open space and gather the students around you, and if you can, a step or somewhere you can be higher up than the students. Make sure not to block any pavements or walkways, and always stay away from the road. This is also a great time to do a quick head count and check your student numbers.
You'll be provided with notes for each stop on the tour, so the important thing to remember is to speak clearly, loudly and confidently to the group. To keep the students engaged make sure to speak to all of them, making eye contact, and including them in your speech through questions, jokes or actions.
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Venue Tours
When you arrive at your destination you should brief the students about what they will see, whilst reminding them of some basic behavioural rules. Language in Action will take almost 4000 students to each destination, and you are clearly identifiable in your uniform. It is important that you do not cause problems at a venue, as should a venue decide to refuse future entry, it could jeopardise the entire summer programme.
If you are taking a group to a gallery, museum or attraction, you the tour will be made up of two parts;
Firstly, you will have tour notes for around three or four exhibits, usually close to the entrance or on the ground floor. You should take the students to these exhibits as a group, and deliver the tour notes to the entire group.
Secondly, after you have exhausted your tour notes for that venue, you will be able to give the students some free time to explore the rest of the building.
You must set up a meeting point in a large, open room with access to toilets.
You must set a meeting time for all students - it is good to encourage the students to set a timer on their phones so they don't lose track of time and delay the departure.
You must make sure all students are buddied up with a partner, and that no student explores the museum on their own.
This is not free time for you or the group leaders, and you are expected to spend your time catching up with smaller groups of students and engaging with them about the exhibits they can see. Encourage the students to speak English, help with translations, and ask questions to check their understanding.
Make sure you are the first back to the meeting point when their free time is up. Do a headcount of students and check with the gorup leader that the students are all present and everyone is ready to go.
1300 > Lunch
On the midweek half-day tours, you must get the students back to campus before lunch service, which typically starts at 1:00pm. Plan your travel time in advance, and check your plans are accurate on the outbound journey. Again, for the return journey to campus you should make an effort to engage with the students about through questions, quizzes or games whilst travelling. Lunch is also your break, so relax a little, get ready for the next tour, and enjoy your meal.
On full-day tours, which typically run on weekends, the students will have a packed lunch during their tour. There are a couple of important steps to ensure this happens;
You must liaise with the Campus team in the morning, as you and the students will need to collect your packed meals at the end of breakfast service. Depending on your centre, the packed meals will either be provided by the canteen or an external supplier - the latter will be stored at residence.
1300 > Back On Tour
You will typically run the same tour in the afternoon as you did in the morning, with a different group. Use this to your advantage by tweaking your delivery of the tour to improve it.
1750 > Back At Campus
You must get the students back to campus before dinner service, which typically starts at 6:00pm. Plan your travel time in advance, and check your plans are accurate on the outbound journey. Again, for the return journey to campus you should make an effort to engage with the students about through questions, quizzes or games whilst travelling.
The final job of the day is to check in with your manager, and drop off any travel cards or notes from your day.
1900 > Evening activities
On rare occasions you may be asked to support the campus team on an evening. Your rota will reflect this and your coordinator will speak to you in advance about it.
NOTE: there will be more tasks on specific days throughout the summer programme including room checks on turnover days, and transfers from local airports. Those are covered in other sections in the training.
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