A café counter
At the café
You want a cappuccino. What do you say?
Could I have a cappuccino, please?
Activity 01 · 5 minutes
Quick reactions
Warm up with realistic travel moments. Try to answer in one complete sentence without reading the examples first.
Paying by card
Paying
You want to check whether you can use your bank card.
Can I pay by card?
Asking someone to repeat
Speak more slowly
You don't understand. Ask the person to repeat it more slowly.
Sorry, could you repeat that more slowly, please?
Teacher tip: Give Vale five seconds to answer, then ask her to repeat the phrase naturally.
Activity 02 · 10 minutes
Supermarket shopping challenge
The shopping list only gives you the product. Remember the correct unit of measure and ask for each item politely.
Useful questions
Can I help you?
Anything else?
How much is it?
Can I pay by card?
Would you like a bag?
Where can I find …?
Units of measure cheat sheet
Use these phrases to build your requests. The product is not shown here.
a loaf of
a carton of
a bottle of
a can of
a bag of
a packet of
a jar of
a dozen
a bar of
a tub of
a slice of
a piece of
a cup of
a bowl of
Your shopping list
You're staying in an apartment. Buy these things for breakfast and snacks.
1. bread
2. milk
3. water
4. apples
5. biscuits
6. eggs
7. chocolate
8. jam
9. yoghurt
10. cola
Possible answers:
a loaf of bread · a carton of milk · a bottle of water · a bag of apples · a packet of biscuits · a dozen eggs · a bar of chocolate · a jar of jam · a tub of yoghurt · a can of cola.
a loaf of bread · a carton of milk · a bottle of water · a bag of apples · a packet of biscuits · a dozen eggs · a bar of chocolate · a jar of jam · a tub of yoghurt · a can of cola.
Role-play: You are the shop assistant. Vale requests the items, asks for the total and pays. Keep the useful questions visible during the conversation.
Activity 03 · 15 minutes
At a restaurant in Edinburgh
Choose something from the menu. Ask questions, order politely and respond to the waiter.
Useful questions & phrases
Customer
Could I see the menu, please?
What do you recommend?
I'd like the …, please.
Does it contain …?
Could I have the bill, please?
Waiter asks
Are you ready to order?
Would you like anything to drink?
Anything else?
Is everything OK?
The haggis is sold out today. Help Vale choose something else. Then say: “Sorry, we only take cash.”
Soup of the day
Starter
Ask what the soup of the day is.
A main course
Main course
Choose a Scottish dish or a familiar favourite.
Activity 04 · 10 minutes
Café & takeaway
Look at each photo and act out the situation. Try not to prepare a full dialogue in advance.
Coffee and café counter
Situation A · Coffee break
You want a cappuccino and two croissants.
Order politely. Ask how much it costs and pay by card.
A sandwich ready to go
Situation B · Takeaway lunch
You want a sandwich to take away.
Ask what is in it and ask for a napkin.
Tea and coffee on a café table
Situation C · Something went wrong
You ordered tea, but you got coffee.
Explain the problem politely and ask for the correct drink.
Useful language: “For here or to take away?” · “To take away, please.” · “What is in it?” · “Could I have a napkin, please?” · “Sorry, I ordered tea.” · “That's all, thank you.”
Activity 05 · 10 minutes
Tourist survival phrases
Show one situation at a time. Vale chooses a useful phrase or makes her own sentence.
A city street
Find a place
You're looking for the train station.
Excuse me, where is the train station? · Is it far from here? · How can I get there?
A conversation
You don't understand
The person speaks too quickly.
Could you repeat that, please? · Could you speak more slowly, please? · Sorry, I don't understand.
A public place
Find a toilet
You need to find a toilet.
Excuse me, where are the toilets? · Is there a toilet nearby?
Paying by card
Payment problem
Your card doesn't work.
Sorry, my card isn't working. · Can I pay in cash? · Is there a cash machine nearby?
Activity 06 · 10 minutes
Final mission: a day in Edinburgh
Complete the missions in order. Respond naturally; the teacher can add a surprise at any time.
Breakfast in a café
Mission 1 · Breakfast
Order a coffee and a croissant. Ask for the price.
Groceries in a shop
Mission 2 · Shopping
Buy bread, milk, apples and a bottle of water. Remember the units.
A restaurant
Mission 3 · Lunch
Order a main course and a drink. Ask for the bill.
A city street
Mission 4 · Directions
Ask someone how to get to the train station. Ask them to repeat the answer.
Teacher's surprise cards
Choose one unexpected problem and ask Vale to respond.
Take-away reference
Travel phrasebook
A compact set of phrases Vale can save or screenshot before travelling.
Ordering food
I'd like …, please.
Could I have …, please?
What do you recommend?
Could I have the bill, please?
Shopping
How much is it?
Can I pay by card?
Where can I find …?
Would you like a bag? — Yes, please. / No, thank you.
When you need help
Excuse me, where is …?
Could you repeat that, please?
Could you speak more slowly, please?
Sorry, I don't understand.
Useful responses
That's all, thank you.
For here, please. / To take away, please.
Sorry, I ordered …
Can you help me, please?