Train Tickets - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level:	Topic:	Speakers:	Length:
easy	train tickets	man – woman	00:50

Pre-Listening Exercise

How do people find cheap or discount train tickets to get around your city in your country? What about train tickets for popular destinations like New York City, London, France, or Japan? Do foreigners in your country have a difficult time using public transportation in major cities? Why or why not?

Speak Up, Take a Stand! Instructions for Getting the Conversation Started

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, moving, and talking! The goal is to explore ideas, share opinions, and get ready for the next part of the lesson.

In a face-to-face classroom: Read each statement aloud. If you agree, move to one side of the room; if you disagree, move to the other. Talk with your group—why do you feel that way? Then, pair students with members of the other group and have students explain their reasons. Rotate partners for more practice.
In an online classroom: Use polls, emojis, or the chat box in your online platform to show your opinion. Then, join the conversation as a group or in breakout rooms. What do others think? Do you agree or disagree with them?
For independent learners: Read each statement and think about your opinion. Then say your answer out loud and explain your reason, as if you’re talking to a classmate. This helps you get ready to speak and join real conversations in English. Consider recording your ideas and self-assess your progress.

1. It’s better to buy a train ticket in advance than at the station.
2. Train travel is a comfortable way to get to different places.
3. You should always keep your train ticket with you until the end of the journey.
4. It’s okay to bring food or snacks on a train.
5. Train tickets are usually more affordable than plane tickets.
6. It’s important to be on time for your train to avoid missing it.
7. People should be quiet and respectful when traveling by train.
8. Train travel is a good option for short trips.
9. It’s easy to make new friends while traveling on a train.
10. You should always check the train schedule before you travel.

Idioms

“catch a train” = get on a train
“I’m planning on catching the train at 3:10, so I don’t want to be late.”

“hold up traffic” = slow traffic
“The train tends to hold up traffic when it crosses this busy road in the morning.”

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Vocabulary Practice

Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:

Mixed-Up Sentence | Multiple-Choice Questions | Gap-fill Exercise | Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

Post-Listening Exercise

What kinds of public transportation do you have in your country and city? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using public transportation instead of taking your own car to get to school and work? Do universities or companies give their students or employees a pass for free? Discuss these ideas.

Online Investigation

Imagine that you receive $3,000 to take a three-week vacation to one or more of these cities: Las Vegas, Hawaii, or Paris, and one city of your choice. Use the Internet to find out the cost of airfare and train/subway travel to get there from your current location. Compare prices from different travel companies.

See Listening Script

Back to Easy Quizzes

General Listening Quiz