Episode 47
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Hi, everyone!
I'm Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help YOU to speak English fluently and confidently.
SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast >
In today's episode:
You'll learn some useful airport English vocabulary.
Later, you'll practice your English speaking with a funny mini-story.
Awesome! Let's get started!
So, you wanna travel by plane, right? It's just natural to be a little worried because sometimes there are things that can prevent us from getting on time. I almost missed the plane on several occasions, and after that, I became more responsible. Nowadays, I can say that I plan my plane trip more efficiently.
The night before the trip, I make sure that the flight is confirmed because it can get delayed or even canceled due to bad weather.
I book my flights online: I book a one-way ticket when I don't want to return to my destination right away. However, I usually book a round-trip ticket, which includes a return ticket too.
And I'm not in the habit of checking in my luggage when I travel. Airlines usually allow us to check up to 2 suitcases. Nonetheless, I like traveling only with my carry-on luggage and a small backpack where I keep my passport, the ID (identification), and boarding pass.
Since I don't check the luggage when I travel, I'm allowed to check-in online. So, when I arrive at the airport, I already have my boarding card printed out.
Like I told you, there are always unexpected things that can happen, so I prefer to be on time. I usually arrive 2 hours early at the airport, and from there, I start my adventure to the boarding gate.
When we have to catch a plane, timing is everything, but for some reason, some of us tend to arrive later than planned. One time I arrived at the airport five hours early. Naturally, I figured I had all the time in the world, so I walked slowly towards the gate. From time to time, I stopped to buy some souvenirs, when all of a sudden, I realized that I was way too late! In fact, that time I had to run fast so I wouldn't miss the plane.
You must have guessed by now that airports make me feel uneasy. There are several terminals which are sometimes located miles away from each other. Besides, arrivals and departures are usually situated on different floors.
Another downside, particularly in the large airports, is that you'll run into many distractions. There are some of the best fashion brands, delicious food and drinks, and even a place where they provide foot and back massages.
On one occasion, after walking around the airport, I saw a place where they were doing foot massages. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to stop because I was again running late, but I must admit I was very tempted.
And what about going through security? Everything moves so fast! You have to take off your belt and shoes, your jacket, you need to check your pockets to see if you left any coins or keys. You should make sure that the liquids are placed in a separate plastic bag, and yes, the laptop! You'll have to take your laptop out of your luggage!
And after all this fuss, it's time to board! So, start looking for your boarding gate!! You usually know the number of the gate because it's on your boarding pass. But make sure you double-check this information on the departure boards. One time I was happily waiting in front of my gate when I suddenly realized that my gate had changed! And I almost missed my flight at that time because the new gate was some miles away from where I was.
But wait, the fun's not over yet! After the plane has landed, there are some extra steps that you need to take. If you've checked your luggage, you'll have to pick it up from the baggage claim.
Before you're allowed to enter another country, you must go through customs. Here they'll check if you're carrying anything illegal such as firearms, drugs, or too much money. They'll ask you if you "have anything to declare?" And if you're not carrying anything that's forbidden, you'll need to answer "no."
Vocabulary:
Board - To board a plane means to go onto it.
Boarding pass – shows you where the plane will be boarding and your seat number.
Carry-on luggage - is the small piece of hand luggage that you are allowed to take with you onto the plane.
Check-in - When you check-in, you notify the airline you have arrived at the airport. They will take your suitcase and hand you a boarding pass.
Conveyor belt/carousel/baggage claim – it's where you pick up your bag after you have arrived at your destination.
Customs – Before entering another country, you'll need to go through customs. They just want to make sure that you're not carrying anything illegal, such as firearms, drugs, or too much money.
Departures /Gate /Arrivals:
When you go on a trip, you go to the departures lounge. There you'll find several boarding gates that lead to different flights.
When you arrive at your destination, your friends will meet you at the arrivals lounge.
One-way ticket – when you don't want to return to your destination.
Return ticket - The opposite of a one-way ticket.
Round-trip ticket – when you purchase the one-way ticket and the return ticket together.
Speaking Practice
Mini-Story: Speaking Practice
Answer each question out loud, then listen to the answer and respond quickly. Don’t worry about mistakes.
Speaking practice
Let’s Start!
Ann wanted to fly to Oakland, so she booked a last-minute flight.
Did Ann want to fly or to swim?
She wanted to fly. Not to swim. In fact, she didn't even know how to swim.
Did she book a flight to Alaska?
No. No. Not to Alaska. She booked a flight to Oakland.
Did she book the flight a month in advance?
No. She didn't book the flight a month in advance. In fact, it was a last-minute flight!
Where did she want to fly to?
To Oakland or Poland?
Not Poland. That's not what I said earlier. What I said is that she wanted to fly to Oakland.
Ann got at the airport 20 minutes just before boarding.
Did she arrive or leave the airport?
She didn't leave the airport. It was the other way around! She arrived at the airport.
Did Ann get at the airport or at the train station?
She didn't get to the train station. Ann got to the airport.
She got to the airport for 1 hour early. Right?
No. No. She didn't get 1 hour early. She got to the airport 20 minutes just before boarding.
Who arrived at the airport 20 minutes before boarding?
Her twin sister?
Not her twin sister. Ann was the one who arrived 20 minutes just before boarding.
Ann got stressed out at the security checkpoint, and she dropped the keys she had in her pocket!
Did Ann get stressed out or relaxed?
Ann didn't get relaxed. Actually, she got stressed out.
Did she get stressed out on the plane?
No. No. She got stressed out at the security checkpoint.
Did she drop her cell phone at the security checkpoint?
Oh no! She didn't drop her cell phone! That would have been awful! She only dropped her keys.
Were the keys in her pocket before she dropped them or after?
Not after she dropped them, before she dropped them, the keys were in her pocket before she dropped them.
After desperately trying to locate the boarding gate, she finally found it and quickly got on board the plane.
Was she desperate or calm?
She wasn't calm at all. She was actually desperate.
What was she trying to locate?
Her boarding pass?
No. No. Not her boarding pass. She was trying to locate the boarding gate.
Did she finally miss the boarding gate?
No. No. On the contrary. She didn't miss the boarding gate. Instead, she finally found it!
Did she get on board the plane slowly?
Not slowly but quickly. She got on board the plane quickly.
Ann was so exhausted that she slept through the whole flight!
Was Ann excited or exhausted?
She wasn't excited. Ann was exhausted.
Did she read a book during her flight?
No. No. She didn't read a book. She was too exhausted to read anything.
Why did she sleep through the whole flight?
Was she filled with energy?
She wasn't filled with energy. In fact, she was exhausted. That's why she slept through the whole flight.
When she arrived at her destination, she got worried because no one was waiting for her.
Did she get worried when she arrived?
Yes. She got worried when she arrived.
When did she get worried, before or after she arrived at her destination?
After she arrived at her destination. Not before getting there.
Who wasn't waiting for her?
Her dog?
Nobody. Nobody was waiting for her. Not even her dog.
And it turns out she landed in Auckland, New Zealand instead of Oakland, California!
Did she land in Oakland, California?
No. No. She didn't land in Oakland. She landed somewhere else.
Where did she want to land?
She wanted to land in Oakland, California.
So, where did she finally land?
In another country?
Not in another country. She landed on a different continent. She was in Auckland, New Zealand!!
Funny that there are two cities with such similar names but still so far away from one another. Poor Ann must have been in a hurry to book a flight to Australia instead of California, USA.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Review
Vocabulary from This Episode
Review the most useful words and expressions before listening again.
01 board
get onto a plane, train, ship, or bus.
05 baggage claim
the area where passengers collect checked luggage.
02 boarding pass
a document showing your flight and seat details.
06 customs
the official check when entering a country.
03 carry-on luggage
a small bag taken onto a plane.
07 departure gate
the place where passengers board a flight.
04 check in
register with the airline before a flight.
08 round-trip ticket
a ticket for traveling to a place and returning.
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Hi Pratik! You can get the audio and the text by selecting the episode. Each episode has this section called RESOURCES. You’ll find the audio and the PDF of the lesson.
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