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Classroom slides
Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.
Everyday English · Lesson 32 · Out and about · A1–A2
Airport check-in and security
Check in, drop your bag, get your boarding pass and get through security.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
When do you need English for airport check-in and security? What words do you already know?
Key phrase 1 of 8
I'd like to check in, please.
Say this at the airline counter.
Key phrase 2 of 8
Here's my passport.
Show your ID or passport when they ask.
Key phrase 3 of 8
Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
Window = next to the window. Aisle = next to the walkway.
Key phrase 4 of 8
Can you put your bag on the scale?
They weigh your checked bag.
Key phrase 5 of 8
Is this OK as carry-on?
Ask if you can take a bag on the plane with you.
Key phrase 6 of 8
Here's your boarding pass.
The ticket you show to get on the plane.
Key phrase 7 of 8
Please put your laptop in a separate tray.
A common instruction at security.
Key phrase 8 of 8
Which gate is it?
Ask where your plane leaves from.
Conversation
Check-in staff and Mei
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 10
Check-in staff
Good morning. Where are you flying to today?
Conversation · line 2 of 10
Check-in staff: Good morning. Where are you flying to today?
Mei
Sydney. I'd like to check in, please. Here's my passport.
Conversation · line 3 of 10
Mei: Sydney. I'd like to check in, please. Here's my passport.
Check-in staff
Thank you. Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
Conversation · line 4 of 10
Check-in staff: Thank you. Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
Mei
A window seat, please.
Conversation · line 5 of 10
Mei: A window seat, please.
Check-in staff
No problem. Can you put your bag on the scale?
Conversation · line 6 of 10
Check-in staff: No problem. Can you put your bag on the scale?
Mei
Sure. Is this small bag OK as carry-on?
Conversation · line 7 of 10
Mei: Sure. Is this small bag OK as carry-on?
Check-in staff
Yes, that's fine. Here's your boarding pass. Boarding starts at 9:20.
Conversation · line 8 of 10
Check-in staff: Yes, that's fine. Here's your boarding pass. Boarding starts at 9:20.
Mei
Thanks. Which gate is it?
Conversation · line 9 of 10
Mei: Thanks. Which gate is it?
Check-in staff
Gate 14. Security is just over there, on your left.
Conversation · line 10 of 10
Check-in staff: Gate 14. Security is just over there, on your left.
Mei
Great. Thanks for your help.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Check-in staff. Student B is Mei. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
I'd like to check in, please.
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
A window seat, please.
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
Excuse me, which gate is it?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
Which seat is next to the walkway?
- A A window seat
- B A middle seat
- C An aisle seat
✓ C: The aisle is the walkway between the rows of seats.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
What do you show to get on the plane?
- A Your boarding pass
- B Your receipt
- C Your bag tag
✓ A: Your boarding pass can be on paper or on your phone.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
What is 'carry-on'?
- A A bag you take on the plane with you
- B A bag that goes under the plane
- C A bag you leave at the hotel
✓ A: Carry-on (or 'hand luggage') goes with you. A checked bag goes under the plane.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
At security, the officer says 'Please put your laptop in a separate tray.' What do you do?
- A Turn it on
- B Take it out of your bag and put it in its own tray
- C Give it to the officer
✓ B: A separate tray = its own tray. Take the laptop out of your bag. Rules can change by airport, so listen to the staff and follow the signs.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
How do you ask where your plane leaves from?
- A Which gate is it?
- B Which seat is it?
- C Which bag is it?
✓ A: The gate is where you wait and get on the plane.
Culture talk
How does this work in your country? Tell your partner.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.co/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.co
· englishcoaching.co
Teacher notes
Level: Out and about · A1–A2 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.
Warm-up (5 minutes)
Show the warm-up slide and ask: "When do you need English for airport check-in and security? What words do you already know?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.
Three steps
- Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
- The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
- Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).
Pair work
Student A is Check-in staff and student B is Mei. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.
Using the audio
- Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Check-in staff is read by Josh and Mei by Mel. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
- Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
- Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.
Culture talk
End by asking learners how this works in their country. It's a natural way to practise the new phrases and to learn from each other.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Airport check-in and security. The last slide has a QR code to it.
- Running a course? Print certificates of participation when your group finishes a level.
Printable worksheet
One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.
Name: Date:
Everyday English · Lesson 32: Airport check-in and security
Check in, drop your bag, get your boarding pass and get through security.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: boarding · carry · gate · passport · please · scale · separate · window
- I'd like to check in, . (Say this at the airline counter)
- Here's my . (Show your ID or passport when they ask)
- Would you like a or an aisle seat? (Window = next to the window. Aisle = next to the walkway)
- Can you put your bag on the ? (They weigh your checked bag)
- Is this OK as -on? (Ask if you can take a bag on the plane with you)
- Here's your pass. (The ticket you show to get on the plane)
- Please put your laptop in a tray. (A common instruction at security)
- Which is it? (Ask where your plane leaves from)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Check-in staff: Good . Where are you flying to today?
- Mei: Sydney. I'd like to in, please. Here's my passport.
- Check-in staff: Thank you. Would you like a window or an seat?
- Mei: A window , please.
- Check-in staff: No . Can you put your bag on the scale?
- Mei: Sure. Is this bag OK as carry-on?
- Check-in staff: Yes, that's fine. Here's your boarding pass. Boarding at 9:20.
- Mei: Thanks. Which gate is it?
- Check-in staff: Gate 14. Security is just there, on your left.
- Mei: Great. Thanks for your .
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
Which seat is next to the walkway?
a) A window seatb) A middle seatc) An aisle seat
What do you show to get on the plane?
a) Your boarding passb) Your receiptc) Your bag tag
What is 'carry-on'?
a) A bag you take on the plane with youb) A bag that goes under the planec) A bag you leave at the hotel
At security, the officer says 'Please put your laptop in a separate tray.' What do you do?
a) Turn it onb) Take it out of your bag and put it in its own trayc) Give it to the officer
How do you ask where your plane leaves from?
a) Which gate is it?b) Which seat is it?c) Which bag is it?
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- I'd like to check in, please.
- A window seat, please.
- Excuse me, which gate is it?
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/airport-check-in-and-security/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 32: Airport check-in and security
A. Key phrases
- I'd like to check in, please.
- Here's my passport.
- Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
- Can you put your bag on the scale?
- Is this OK as carry-on?
- Here's your boarding pass.
- Please put your laptop in a separate tray.
- Which gate is it?
B. Conversation gaps
- morning
- check
- aisle
- seat
- problem
- small
- starts
- –
- over
- help
C. Quiz
- c) An aisle seat
- a) Your boarding pass
- a) A bag you take on the plane with you
- b) Take it out of your bag and put it in its own tray
- a) Which gate is it?
englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/airport-check-in-and-security/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach airport check-in and security to adult English learners?
Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.
What level is this lesson?
Out and about level, about CEFR A1–A2. It is lesson 32 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.
Do learners need an account?
No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/airport-check-in-and-security/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.
Can I print the worksheet?
Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.
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