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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 7 · Starter · A1
Catching public transport
Buy and use a transport card, ask which bus or train to take, and understand announcements.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
How did you get here today? By bus, train, car or on foot?
Key phrase 1 of 8
Does this bus go to the city?
Check the route.
Key phrase 2 of 8
Which platform for Parramatta?
Ask where to catch a train.
Key phrase 3 of 8
Where do I top up my card?
Add money to your transport card.
Key phrase 4 of 8
Tap on and tap off.
Touch your card when you get on and off.
Key phrase 5 of 8
Is this the right stop for the hospital?
Check where to get off.
Key phrase 6 of 8
The next stop is Central.
A common announcement.
Key phrase 7 of 8
Excuse me, is this seat taken?
Ask before you sit next to someone.
Key phrase 8 of 8
I think I missed my stop.
Explain a problem.
Conversation
Driver and Kofi
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Driver
Morning.
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Driver: Morning.
Kofi
Hi. Does this bus go to Westmead Hospital?
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Kofi: Hi. Does this bus go to Westmead Hospital?
Driver
Yes, it does. Just tap on.
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Driver: Yes, it does. Just tap on.
Kofi
Thanks. How long does it take?
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Kofi: Thanks. How long does it take?
Driver
About twenty minutes.
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Driver: About twenty minutes.
Kofi
Could you tell me when we get there?
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Kofi: Could you tell me when we get there?
Driver
Sure. It's the stop after the shopping centre.
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Driver: Sure. It's the stop after the shopping centre.
Kofi
Great, thanks a lot.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Driver. Student B is Kofi. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
Does this bus go to the city?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
Is this the right stop for the hospital?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
Excuse me, is this seat taken?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
'Top up your card' means…
- A add money to it
- B throw it away
- C show it to the driver
✓ A: You can top up online, in an app or at shops and stations.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
'Tap on and tap off' means…
- A touch your card when you get on and off
- B pay the driver cash
- C knock on the door
✓ A: If you forget to tap off, you may be charged more.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
How do you check a bus route?
- A Does this bus go to the city?
- B Where is the bus?
- C Is this bus?
✓ A: Drivers are used to this question.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
Where do you catch a train?
- A At a platform
- B At a counter
- C At a bus stop
✓ A: Ask 'Which platform for…?'
Quiz · question 5 of 5
Which is polite before sitting down?
- A Move, please.
- B Excuse me, is this seat taken?
- C My seat!
✓ B: 'Is this seat taken?' asks if someone is sitting there.
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: Starter · A1 · 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: "How did you get here today? By bus, train, car or on foot?" 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 Driver and student B is Kofi. 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: Driver is read by Mel and Kofi by Josh. 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: Catching public transport. 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 7: Catching public transport
Buy and use a transport card, ask which bus or train to take, and understand announcements.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: and · card · city · hospital · missed · next · platform · taken
- Does this bus go to the ? (Check the route)
- Which for Parramatta? (Ask where to catch a train)
- Where do I top up my ? (Add money to your transport card)
- Tap on tap off. (Touch your card when you get on and off)
- Is this the right stop for the ? (Check where to get off)
- The stop is Central. (A common announcement)
- Excuse me, is this seat ? (Ask before you sit next to someone)
- I think I my stop. (Explain a problem)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Driver: Morning.
- Kofi: Hi. Does bus go to Westmead Hospital?
- Driver: Yes, it . Just tap on.
- Kofi: Thanks. How does it take?
- Driver: About twenty .
- Kofi: Could you me when we get there?
- Driver: Sure. It's the stop after the centre.
- Kofi: Great, a lot.
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
'Top up your card' means…
a) add money to itb) throw it awayc) show it to the driver
'Tap on and tap off' means…
a) touch your card when you get on and offb) pay the driver cashc) knock on the door
How do you check a bus route?
a) Does this bus go to the city?b) Where is the bus?c) Is this bus?
Where do you catch a train?
a) At a platformb) At a counterc) At a bus stop
Which is polite before sitting down?
a) Move, please.b) Excuse me, is this seat taken?c) My seat!
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- Does this bus go to the city?
- Is this the right stop for the hospital?
- Excuse me, is this seat taken?
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/catching-public-transport/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 7: Catching public transport
A. Key phrases
- Does this bus go to the city?
- Which platform for Parramatta?
- Where do I top up my card?
- Tap on and tap off.
- Is this the right stop for the hospital?
- The next stop is Central.
- Excuse me, is this seat taken?
- I think I missed my stop.
B. Conversation gaps
- –
- this
- does
- long
- minutes
- tell
- shopping
- thanks
C. Quiz
- a) add money to it
- a) touch your card when you get on and off
- a) Does this bus go to the city?
- a) At a platform
- b) Excuse me, is this seat taken?
englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/catching-public-transport/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach catching public transport 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?
Starter level, about CEFR A1. It is lesson 7 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/catching-public-transport/. 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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