Dollywood opened on 3 May 1986 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, close to the mountains where Dolly grew up. She created it with Herschend Family Entertainment. Her accountants were not sure it was a good idea, but the park grew fast: today it includes a theme park, a water park, resorts, restaurants and shops.
Dolly's famous coat of many colours is on display in a museum at Dollywood. Source of jobs: Dollywood Jobs (official website).
In this session, you need to present a company, its history and its numbers, and apply for a job.
For a finished date in the past, we use the past simple: Dollywood opened in 1986. For a result that is still true today, we use the present perfect: It has created thousands of jobs. With the present perfect, we use since + a starting point and for + a period.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a theme park | a big park with rides and shows | Dollywood is a theme park. |
| a resort | a hotel with many activities | The park has two resorts. |
| an employer | a company that gives jobs | Dollywood is the largest employer in the county. |
| staff | all the people who work for a company | The staff wear name badges. |
| a seasonal job | a job for one season | Many students take seasonal jobs. |
| a hiring event / a job fair | a day when a company meets candidates | Dollywood organises hiring events. |
| to apply for a job | to ask for a job officially | I want to apply for a job as a lifeguard. |
| customer service | helping customers | Customer service is important in a park. |
Quick check. Correct: Dollywood has opened in 1986.
Say these numbers aloud, then write them in words: 1986 · 4,000 · 4,500 · 3,000,000.
nineteen eighty-six · four thousand · four thousand five hundred · three million
Match: 1. ride operator 2. lifeguard 3. chef 4. housekeeper 5. sales assistant · a. the water park b. the gift shop c. the roller coaster d. the restaurant e. the resort rooms
1c, 2a, 3d, 4e, 5b
Write an email (70 words) to apply for a seasonal job at Dollywood. Say which job, what you have done (present perfect), when you are available, and why you want the job.
Model: Dear Sir or Madam, I would like to apply for a job as a sales assistant this summer. I have studied retail for two years and I have done two work placements in shops. I am available from June to August. I love music and customer service. Yours faithfully, ...
Dolly gave jobs to her family and to her region. Her own goddaughter grew up in Tennessee too. Why do some stars invest in the place where they grew up?
Job interview in pairs: Why do you want to work at Dollywood? What have you learnt in your training? How would you deal with an angry customer? Use the present perfect and would.