Buying a Bus or Train Ticket (Novice-Intermediate)

Practice on Your Own

Imagine that you are studying or living in a country where the language is spoken. You are traveling to another part of the country and need to buy a bus or train ticket.

• What do you know about transportation in this country? Is it more common to travel by bus or by train? What are the most popular bus or train companies? What are the typical price ranges? Do you need to make a reservation in advance, or can you buy the tickets on the day you are traveling? Can you pay with a credit or debit card? Do some research online, and prepare to ask your conversation partner if you cannot find certain information.
• Review dates and times, numbers and prices, transportation vocabulary, names of cities and towns, etc.
• Decide what city or town you will travel to and the dates of your trip.
• Plan ahead for what you need to say to the person at the ticket counter. How will you greet them? Be prepared to say where you are traveling and the dates of your trip. You will also need to ask about departure and arrival times, prices, etc.

Practice in Conversation Session

• To warm up, tell your conversation partner and fellow students where you are traveling and the dates of your trip.
• Be prepared to role play buying a bus or train ticket. Remember to use culturally appropriate greetings and polite expressions and be clear about details like locations, dates, times, and prices. Then switch roles and repeat the conversation.
• Are there differences in how tickets are sold in your country and in the country/ies where the language is spoken?