Unit 10 — Travelling by Train

Learning objectives Link to heading

• I can understand a station announcement.
• I can read a train timetable and find a connection with one change.
• I can buy a ticket using polite phrases.

Bildungsplan alignment Link to heading

• 3.1.1 Soziokulturelles Orientierungswissen / Themen
• 3.1.3.1 Hör-/Hörsehverstehen
• 3.1.3.2 Leseverstehen
• 3.1.3.7 Verfügen über sprachliche Mittel – Wortschatz

(Source: https://www.bildungsplaene-bw.de/,Lde/LS/BP2016BW/ALLG/SEK1/E1)

Lead-in story Link to heading

Sam and Lina are at the station with three large rucksacks. The train is delayed by twelve minutes. They have read every poster on the platform twice. Mr. Flint has bought tea from a small kiosk and looks suspiciously content. “This,” he says, “is the proper way to start a journey.”

1. Activate Link to heading

Station noticing. Photo of a British station on the slide. With your partner, list 6 English words you can see.

2. Input Link to heading

Vocabulary — train travel Link to heading

platform, ticket office, single (BrE) / one-way (AmE), return (BrE) / round-trip (AmE), connection, departure, arrival, delay, cancelled, on time, lost property, the guard, the ticket inspector, the trolley, the waiting room, off-peak / peak.

Reading — a small timetable Link to heading

Buying a ticket Link to heading

• A return to Karlsruhe, please.
• Single or return?
• That’s £18.50.
• Which platform? — Platform 5.
• When is the next train to …?
• Is the train on time?

3. Practise Link to heading

Niveau E — controlled Link to heading

1. From the timetable: which platform for Karlsruhe? When does the train to Strasbourg leave?
2. Match: single — one-way; return — round-trip; delayed — late; cancelled — not running.

Niveau E — productive Link to heading

3. Build a ticket-buying dialogue: 8 polite lines.

4. Produce Link to heading

Pair role-play — At the Ticket Office (Niveau E). Two minutes. Customer asks for a ticket, a platform, and the next train; clerk answers. Polite forms.

Sample Link to heading

— Hello, a return to Karlsruhe, please. Off-peak, if possible. — That’s £18.50. Platform 5. The next train is in 12 minutes. — Thank you very much.

5. Reflect Link to heading

• I can understand a station announcement.
• I can read a small timetable and find a connection.
• I can run an 8-line ticket-buying dialogue.

One thing in your notebook: Write one sentence using something you learned in this Unit.

Exam example Link to heading

Task 1 — Listening (8 BE) Link to heading

Listen twice.

“This is the announcement for the 09:14 to Karlsruhe. The train will leave from Platform 5. Please mind the gap between the train and the platform. The next train to Frankfurt is delayed by ten minutes.”

1. To Karlsruhe — time: ___ . 2. Platform: ___ . 3. Watch out for: ___ . 4. Frankfurt: ___ .

Task 2 — Reading (8 BE) Link to heading

Read the timetable above. Answer.

1. Platform for Karlsruhe: ___ .
2. Departure to Strasbourg: ___ .
3. Arrival in Paris: ___ .
4. Total Stuttgart → Paris: ___ .

Task 3 — Use of English (8 BE) Link to heading

Fill in train vocabulary.

1. A __________ to London, please. (one-way)
2. The train from __________ 5.
3. The train is __________ by ten minutes.
4. The next train __________ at 09:14.

Task 4 — Writing (6 BE) Link to heading

Write an 8-line ticket-office dialogue.

Downloads Link to heading

Common pitfalls Link to heading

• single ticket (BrE) vs. one-way ticket (AmE).
• the train is in delay → ✗ / the train is delayed → ✓.
• L1 trap: Gleis → platform, not track.

Further reading / listening Link to heading

• National Rail Enquiries (UK) — example timetables.
• BBC Learning English — At the station.

Downloads

Presentation

Download .pptx

Worksheet

Download .pdf