Dealing with a flight problem

This ESL lesson plan is designed to equip learners with essential vocabulary and phrases to confidently handle common flight problems and airport scenarios. Tailored for beginner to intermediate English learners, the lesson focuses on practical, travel-related language that is easy to understand and apply.

Through engaging activities like role-plays, vocabulary games, and real-world simulations, students will build fluency in reporting issues (e.g., delayed or canceled flights, lost luggage), asking for help, and using polite expressions when interacting with airport staff.

By incorporating visuals, example conversations, and cultural tips, this lesson creates a dynamic and relatable learning experience, preparing students to navigate airports with confidence and clarity.

Basic vocabulary

Introduce keywords related to flight problems and airport scenarios. These should be simple, practical, and commonly used in travel contexts.

Vocabulary list

• Flight: The airplane trip (e.g., “My flight is delayed”).
• Delay: When a flight is late (e.g., “The flight has a two-hour delay”).
• Cancel: When a flight is stopped (e.g., “The flight was canceled”).
• Boarding: Getting on the plane (e.g., “Boarding starts at 3 PM”).
• Gate: The area where passengers wait to board (e.g., “The gate is C12”).
• Check-in: The process of registering for a flight (e.g., “I need to check in online”).
• Luggage/baggage: Bags or suitcases (e.g., “My luggage is lost”). Note: We use many different words for baggage.
• Ticket: The document for travel (e.g., “I have an e-ticket”).
• Missed flight: Not catching a flight on time (e.g., “I missed my flight”).
• Rebook: To arrange a new flight (e.g., “Can you rebook my flight?”).
• Refund: Money returned for a canceled flight (e.g., “I want a refund”).
• Airport staff: People working at the airport (e.g., gate agent, check-in staff).
• Problem/issue: Something wrong (e.g., “I have a problem with my ticket”).

Vocabulary for extension

• Boarding pass: The document needed to board a flight (e.g., “I lost my boarding pass”).
• Connection: A connecting flight to reach a final destination (e.g., “I missed my connection”).
• Departure: When a flight leaves the airport (e.g., “The departure is delayed”).
• Arrival: When a flight lands at the destination (e.g., “The arrival time is 6 PM”).
• Overbooked: When too many tickets are sold for a flight (e.g., “The flight is overbooked”).
• Compensation: Money or benefits given for a problem (e.g., “Can I get compensation?”).
• Terminal: The main building at an airport (e.g., “The flight is in Terminal 2”).
• Security: The area where bags and passengers are checked (e.g., “I had a problem at security”).
• Baggage claim: The area where passengers pick up luggage (e.g., “My bag isn’t at baggage claim”).
• Reschedule: To change the time or date of a flight (e.g., “Can you reschedule my flight?”).

Teaching tips

• Use visuals like airport signs, a picture of a boarding pass, or a short video of an airport to make vocabulary relatable.
• Practice pronunciation, especially for words like “delay” (/dɪˈleɪ/) or “luggage” (/ˈlʌɡɪdʒ/).
• Create a matching game: Pair words (e.g., “delay”) with definitions or pictures.

Useful phrases

Teach simple, polite phrases for describing and resolving flight problems. These should be easy to memorize and adaptable.

Key phrases

1. Reporting a problem
   • “My flight is delayed/canceled.”
   • “I missed my flight.”
   • “There’s a problem with my ticket/luggage.”
   • “My luggage is lost/damaged.”
2. Asking for help
   • “Can you help me, please?”
   • “What can I do about this?”
   • “Can you rebook my flight?”
   • “Is there another flight today?”
   • “Can I get a refund?”
3. Asking for information
   • “When is the next flight to [destination]?”
   • “Why is the flight delayed?”
   • “Where is the check-in desk/gate?”
   • “How long is the delay?”
4. Polite expressions
   • “Excuse me, I have a question.”
   • “Thank you for your help.”
   • “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

Teaching tips

• Write phrases on a whiteboard or handout and have learners repeat them to build fluency.
• Practice variations by substituting key words (e.g., “My flight is delayed” → “My flight is canceled”).
• Emphasize polite language, as it’s important when dealing with airport staff.

Example conversations

Use short, realistic dialogues to model how to handle flight problems. These examples show how to report issues, ask for solutions, and respond politely.

Conversation 1: Delayed flight

Passenger: Excuse me, my flight to London is delayed.
Staff: I’m sorry about that. The delay is two hours because of the weather.
Passenger: Oh, okay. When will the flight leave?
Staff: It’s now leaving at 5 PM from gate B4.
Passenger: Can I get some water or food?
Staff: Yes, we’re giving vouchers at the desk over there.
Passenger: Thank you for your help!

Conversation 2: Missed flight

Passenger: Hello, I missed my flight to Tokyo. Can you help me?
Staff: I’m sorry to hear that. Do you have your ticket number?
Passenger: Yes, it’s ABC123.
Staff: Okay, there’s another flight at 8 PM. Would you like me to rebook you?
Passenger: Yes, please. How much will it cost?
Staff: There’s no extra cost. Your new boarding pass is ready.
Passenger: Thank you so much!

Conversation 3: Lost luggage

Passenger: Hi, I have a problem. My luggage is missing.
Staff: I’m sorry about that. Can you describe your bag?
Passenger: It’s a black suitcase with a red tag.
Staff: Thank you. Please fill out this form, and we’ll look for it.
Passenger: How long will it take?
Staff: We’ll contact you within 24 hours. Here’s a number to call.
Passenger: Okay, thank you. Teaching Tip

• Role-play these conversations, with you as the airport staff and the learner as the passenger, then switch roles.
• Encourage learners to personalize dialogues (e.g., use their own destination or describe their own bag).
• In a group, pair students to practice, asking them to add one new question or detail to the conversation.

Teaching strategy

Here’s a step-by-step plan for a 45-minute lesson.

Step 1: Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Ask: “Have you ever had a problem at an airport?” or “What’s something that can go wrong with a flight?” to engage learners.
• Show a picture of a busy airport or a delayed flight board to set the context.

Step 2: Vocabulary introduction (10 minutes)

• Present the vocabulary list using visuals or a short airport video.
• Practice pronunciation and have learners repeat words like “delay,” “cancel,” and “luggage.”
• Play a quick game: Say a scenario (e.g., “Your flight is late”), and learners say the word (“delay”).

Step 3: Phrase practice (10 minutes)

• Display key phrases and model their use (e.g., “My flight is canceled. Can you help me?”).
• Have learners practice by inserting their own details (e.g., “My flight to Paris is delayed”).
• Correct pronunciation and stress polite tone (e.g., “Can you help me, please?”).

Step 4: Conversation practice (15 minutes)

• Read one example conversation aloud as a model.
• Role-play with learners, alternating between passenger and staff roles.
• Encourage learners to create their own dialogue based on a specific problem (e.g., lost luggage or missed flight).

Step 5: Wrap-up and review (5 minutes)

• Ask each learner to say one sentence about a flight problem (e.g., “My luggage is lost.”).
• Provide feedback on pronunciation, grammar, or politeness.
• Assign homework: Write a short dialogue about a flight problem or practice asking for help.

Additional tips

• Cultural sensitivity: Teach learners to stay calm and polite, as this is expected when dealing with airport staff in English-speaking countries.
• Visual aids: Use images of boarding passes, airport signs, or a lost luggage desk to make scenarios real.
• Listening practice: Play audio clips of airport announcements or short videos of passengers talking to staff (available on language learning platforms or YouTube).
• Adapt for level: For beginners, focus on simple phrases like “My flight is delayed.” For intermediate learners, add details like “Can you rebook me on the next flight to Paris?”
• Real-world practice: Simulate a check-in desk or gate scenario in class, with props like a fake ticket or suitcase.

Common mistakes to address

• Grammar: Learners might say “My flight delay” instead of “My flight is delayed.” Teach the verb “to be.”
• Pronunciation: Words like “luggage” or “cancel” (/ˈkænsəl/) can be mispronounced. Practice these explicitly.
• Politeness: Learners may forget polite phrases like “please” or “thank you.” Model and reinforce these.
• Word choice: Clarify “missed” (didn’t catch the flight) vs. “lost” (luggage is missing).

Example activity: “Airport role-play”

For a group or solo learner.

• Set up a mock airport desk in class (use a table and props like a fake boarding pass).
• Give learners cards with scenarios (e.g., “Your flight is canceled,” “Your luggage is lost”).
• Have them approach the “desk” (you or another learner) and explain the problem using the phrases learned.
• Encourage follow-up questions like “When is the next flight?” or “How can I get my luggage?”

Homework or follow-up

• Writing: Write 3-5 sentences about a flight problem and how to solve it.
• Speaking: Record a short audio or video explaining a flight issue and asking for help.
• Research: Look up common airport phrases in English or watch a short video about airport travel.