TEACHER’S NOTES

ESL / EF L R E S O U R CES Madrid to Barcelona

Activity Type Introduction

Role-play activity, In this train travel role-play activity, students ask and answer
pairwork questions about rail travel information and practice booking train
tickets.

Language Focus Procedure

Asking for and giving
Tell the students to imagine that they are at a ticket office in a
train travel information
railway station and want to catch a train. Ask the students for
Booking train tickets language a customer or ticket agent might use to buy or sell a
train ticket and write their ideas on the board.

Examples: When is the next train to...?

Aim How much does a ticket cost?
To ask and answer Would you like a single or return ticket?
questions about train Which platform does the train leave from?
travel information and
practice booking train Review the language with the students, adding any other questions
tickets. or vocabulary the students missed.

Next, divide the students into pairs (A and B).

Preparation Give each student a corresponding A or B worksheet. Have the
Make one copy of the students sit face to face and tell them not to show their worksheet
worksheet for each pair to their partner.
of students and cut as
indicated. Ask the students to read through their worksheet. Explain that
Student A is going to take a train journey with a friend and is going
to book some tickets. Student B works at the train station ticket
Level office and is going to answer questions and help book tickets.

Pre-intermediate Student A uses the information in the introductory text to explain

to the ticket agent which train they want to catch, when, and for
how many people.
Time
Student A then asks for information to complete the sentences on
25 minutes their worksheet and book the tickets, e.g. 'When is the next train
to Barcelona?' 'What time does the train arrive in Barcelona?' Etc.

Student B uses the information on the worksheet to tell Student A

about the various train times, platform numbers and ticket prices.

When the students have completed the role-play, have them

exchange worksheets and swap roles, giving both students
a chance to use the language for each role and to confirm the
answers.

Afterwards, invite pairs to role-play the situation in front of the

class and give feedback. Then, check the answers together with
the class. The students should have bought the second class
tickets due to the budget of €380.

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 TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION

ESL / EF L R E S O U R CES Madrid to Barcelona

Student A

It is 7:30 a.m. You and your friend are at Madrid train station. You both want to catch the next
train to Barcelona to do some sightseeing. Your friend is going to stay in Barcelona, but you
need to be back in Madrid by 10:30 p.m. tonight. You have a budget of €380 for both tickets.

Book the train tickets with the ticket agent and complete the following information.

The next train to Barcelona leaves at 8:10 am

The train arrives in Barcelona at 11:05 am

The train leaves from platform number 4

The return train leaves from Barcelona at 7:30 pm

The train arrives in Madrid at 10:10 pm

The train leaves from platform number 7

The cost of a single ....second...... class ticket is 195

The cost of a return ...second... class ticket is 195

The total cost of the tickets is £380

________________________________________________

Student B

It is 7:30 a.m. You work at the Madrid train station ticket office. Use the information below to
answer Student A's questions and help book the train tickets.

Trains from Madrid to Barcelona Trains from Barcelona to Madrid

Depart Arrive Platform Depart Arrive Platform
7:05 a.m. 9:50 a.m. 3 5:35 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 1
8:10 a.m. 11:05 a.m. 4 6:30 p.m. 9:20 p.m. 6
9:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m. 4 7:30 p.m. 10:10 p.m. 7
9:45 a.m. 12:20 p.m. 2 8:15 p.m. 10:45 p.m. 5
10:30 a.m. 1:15 p.m. 3 9:00 p.m. 11:30 p.m. 3

Ticket Prices
First class Second class
Adult single: €145 Adult single: €99
Adult return: €280 Adult return: €195

Teach-This.com © 2018 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.