Airport Travel – Video Lesson
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Pre-Listening
What are three things you can do to make air travel more comfortable and convenient? Explain each of your ideas.
Vocabulary and Expressions From the Video
– A travel pillow is essential for long flights.
– It’s essential to arrive at the airport early to avoid stress.
– I brought a snack for the flight because I didn’t like the airplane food.
– Veggie sticks are a healthy snack to carry in your bag.
– You should choose a seat that is comfortable for you.
– I can’t decide whether to choose an aisle or a window seat.
– She sat comfortably in her aisle seat during the long flight.
– If you dress in layers, you can travel more comfortably.
– The airplane was so cold that I used a blanket to stay warm.
– She packed a small blanket in her carry-on for the trip.
Listen and Read: Listen and answer the questions.
Transcript:
Aubrey: Hello, Randall. Today let’s talk about airport travel.
Randall: Sure.
Aubrey: Now you travel a lot for work. Or at least did in the past. Can you give us some examples of what we can do to make airport travel less stressful and more enjoyable?
Randall: Well, first of all, it has to do with how tall are you? I think it’s really important that you choose seats appropriately, not only for your size but whether you want a window. I hate middle seats. An aisle seat I think is really important for me. Also, depending on whether you want to be in the front or the back, a lot of people like to sit right at the front so they can get right off the airplane.
Aubrey: That makes sense.
Randall: Another thing is [to] dress comfortably. Sometimes, you know, let’s say you dress in layers a little bit. Sometimes the airplanes can be really cold inside. Maybe you do or don’t get a blanket. I think that’s also important. I think some people like to bring their own travel pillow so that their head’s not bobbing around all the time during the flight. I think some people like noise-cancellation headphones so they can listen to their media, their movies, and so forth. And the last thing I would probably say is bring some snacks along with you. Sometimes they only have peanuts and pretzels, but maybe you want some veggie sticks or something like that. So I think that’s really important. So I think those are the type of things I would consider when traveling.
Aubrey: Thank you so much.
Discussion
- What are some of your frustrations when going through an airport? Is there anything you can do personally to minimize these problems? What can airports do to deal with these issues?
Activity: “Pack Like a Pro” Simulation
Objective:
Students will practice decision-making, vocabulary, and collaborative skills by creating a “perfect carry-on bag” for stress-free air travel based on the interview.
Materials Needed:
- A list of possible travel items (some essential, some unnecessary).
- Printable or digital templates of a carry-on suitcase.
- Optional props: small items representing travel gear (e.g., snacks, headphones, blanket).
Steps:
- Warm-Up (5–7 minutes):
- Start with a brainstorming activity: “What do you usually bring in your carry-on for a flight?” Write their answers on the board.
- Transition to asking, “What items do you think are most important for stress-free travel?”
- Listening or Reading (10–12 minutes):
- Play or read the interview aloud.
- Students take notes on the specific items Randall mentions (e.g., travel pillow, snacks, noise-cancellation headphones, comfortable clothes).
- Group Work: Create the Carry-On (15–20 minutes):
- Divide students into groups of 3–4.
- Give each group a list of travel items, including essentials (e.g., travel pillow, snacks) and non-essentials (e.g., heavy hardcover books, formal shoes). Examples:
- A stuffed bear (because everyone needs a cuddle buddy on a plane!)
- Travel pillow
- A roll of duct tape (for “emergency repairs”)
- Snacks (e.g., veggie sticks, granola bars)
- Sunglasses
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- A giant bag of popcorn
- A sweater or jacket
- A set of juggling balls (just in case you need to practice)
- Toothbrush and travel-sized toothpaste
- A karaoke microphone
- A framed photo of your cat for “emotional support”
- A book or e-reader
- A laptop or tablet
- Flip-flops (but you’re flying to Alaska)
- A bottle of water
- A small first aid kit
- A blanket
- A pack of gum
- Full-size shampoo bottle (oops!)
- Each group must discuss and decide on 5–7 items to pack in their carry-on to ensure a stress-free trip. They will justify their choices using ideas from the interview.
- Present the Carry-On (10–15 minutes):
- Groups present their chosen items to the class, explaining why each item is essential.
- Encourage them to use complete sentences and travel-related vocabulary.
- Class Voting and Feedback (5–10 minutes):
- As a class, vote on the most practical and well-prepared carry-on bag.
- Provide constructive feedback on the groups’ choices and their presentations.