Public transport: Asking for tickets and directions

Summary

This 90-minute ESL lesson for A1 learners explores Public transport: Asking for tickets and directions through a real article. Across 10 interactive exercises, you'll develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, practical communication, speaking skills — all built around authentic English content.

What you'll practise:

• 5 key vocabulary items with definitions and usage notes
• Grammar focus: Asking 'Where is...?' and 'How much is...?' with examples and practice
• Real-world phrases for buying a ticket
• Gap-fill and cloze exercises to test vocabulary in context
• Matching exercise to connect terms with their meanings

Lesson activities (10 exercises)

Each exercise builds on the previous one. Work through them in order for the best learning experience.

1. Warm-up — Discussion questions to activate what you already know about the topic.
2. Comprehension — Answer questions to check your understanding of the main ideas and supporting details.
3. Vocabulary — Learn key words and expressions from the article, with definitions and usage notes.
4. Matching — Connect words, phrases, or concepts to their correct counterparts.
5. Grammar — Study Asking 'Where is...?' and 'How much is...?' — explanation, examples, and key rules.
6. Fill the gaps — Complete sentences with the correct vocabulary. Drag and drop or type your answers.
7. Practical English — Learn phrases for buying a ticket — ready to use in real conversations.
8. Multiple choice — Choose the correct answer from four options — testing comprehension and language use.
9. Discussion — Reflect on the topic and share your opinions using the language you've learned.

Vocabulary

This lesson introduces 5 key terms drawn directly from the article:

• A single ticket — a ticket for a journey to one place, but not back again.
• Get off at... — to leave a bus, train, or other transport at a specific stop.
• The next stop — the place where the bus or train will stop next.
• Excuse me... — a polite phrase to get someone's attention before you ask a question.
• How long does it take? — a question to ask about the time needed for a journey.

Grammar

This lesson focuses on Asking 'Where is...?' and 'How much is...?'.

We use 'Where is...?' to ask about a place, like a bus stop or a train station. We use 'How much is...?' to ask about the price of something, like a ticket.

Examples from the lesson:

• Where is the bus stop? — Use 'Where is...?' to ask for a location.
• How much is a ticket to the city center? — Use 'How much is...?' to ask for a price.
• Excuse me, where is the train station? — It is polite to say 'Excuse me' before you ask a question.

Key rules:

• Use 'Where is...?' for places.
• Use 'How much is...?' for prices.
• Remember the word order: 'Where is the...?' not 'Where the is...?'

Practical English

Buying a ticket

Here are some simple phrases to help you buy a bus or train ticket in an English-speaking city.

Phrases you'll learn:

• "One ticket to the city center, please." — To ask for a ticket to a specific place.
• "A return ticket, please." — To ask for a ticket for a journey there and back.
• "How much is that?" — To ask for the price.
• "Can I pay by card?" — To ask if you can use a credit or debit card.
• "Which platform is it?" — To ask where to wait for the train.