Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend. How this works.
🔒 Your group's name is saved only in this browser. Nothing is sent to us.
Classroom slides
Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.
Everyday English · Lesson 18 · Basic · A2
Booking and cancelling
Book a table or an appointment, change it and cancel it politely.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
What do you book ahead: a table, a haircut, an appointment?
Key phrase 1 of 8
I'd like to book a table for four, please.
Restaurant booking.
Key phrase 2 of 8
Have you got anything at seven?
Ask about a time.
Key phrase 3 of 8
Can I book a haircut for Saturday?
Book a service.
Key phrase 4 of 8
Is that under the name Chen?
The booking name.
Key phrase 5 of 8
I need to change my booking.
You want a different time.
Key phrase 6 of 8
I'm afraid I need to cancel.
Polite way to cancel.
Key phrase 7 of 8
Is there a cancellation fee?
Some places charge if you cancel late.
Key phrase 8 of 8
Could you put me on the waitlist?
Ask to be called if a spot opens.
Conversation
Restaurant and Wei
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Restaurant
Good afternoon, Bella Cucina.
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Restaurant: Good afternoon, Bella Cucina.
Wei
Hi, I'd like to book a table for four on Friday, please.
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Wei: Hi, I'd like to book a table for four on Friday, please.
Restaurant
What time were you thinking?
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Restaurant: What time were you thinking?
Wei
Have you got anything at seven?
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Wei: Have you got anything at seven?
Restaurant
We've got seven thirty. Would that work?
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Restaurant: We've got seven thirty. Would that work?
Wei
Yes, perfect.
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Wei: Yes, perfect.
Restaurant
Great. What name is it under?
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Restaurant: Great. What name is it under?
Wei
Chen. C-H-E-N. Thanks very much.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Restaurant. Student B is Wei. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
I'd like to book a table for …, please.
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
Have you got anything at …?
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
I'm afraid I need to cancel my booking.
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
What does 'What name is it under?' mean?
- A What name is the booking for?
- B Where do you live?
- C What's under the table?
✓ A: They want the name for the booking.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
Which phrase cancels politely?
- A I'm afraid I need to cancel.
- B I'm not coming.
- C Delete it.
✓ A: 'I'm afraid…' softens bad news.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
What's a 'waitlist'?
- A A list of people waiting for a spot
- B The menu
- C A bill
✓ A: If someone cancels, they call people on the waitlist.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
Why spell your name on the phone?
- A To be rude
- B So they write it correctly
- C It's the law
✓ B: Spelling avoids mistakes.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
Complete: 'Have you ___ anything at seven?'
- A got
- B get
- C getting
✓ A: 'Have you got…?' is very common in Australia.
Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺
Some clinics, salons and restaurants charge a fee if you cancel late or don't turn up. If you can't make it, call or cancel online as early as possible.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.au/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.au
· englishcoaching.au
Teacher notes
Level: Basic · A2 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.
Warm-up (5 minutes)
Show the warm-up slide and ask: "What do you book ahead: a table, a haircut, an appointment?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.
Three steps
- Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
- The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
- Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).
Pair work
Student A is Restaurant and student B is Wei. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.
Using the audio
- Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Restaurant is read by Mel and Wei by Josh. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
- Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
- Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.
Good to know in Australia
Some clinics, salons and restaurants charge a fee if you cancel late or don't turn up. If you can't make it, call or cancel online as early as possible.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Booking and cancelling. The last slide has a QR code to it.
- Running a course? Print certificates of participation when your group finishes a level.
Printable worksheet
One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.
Name: Date:
Everyday English · Lesson 18: Booking and cancelling
Book a table or an appointment, change it and cancel it politely.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: afraid · anything · booking · cancellation · haircut · please · under · waitlist
- I'd like to book a table for four, . (Restaurant booking)
- Have you got at seven? (Ask about a time)
- Can I book a for Saturday? (Book a service)
- Is that the name Chen? (The booking name)
- I need to change my . (You want a different time)
- I'm I need to cancel. (Polite way to cancel)
- Is there a fee? (Some places charge if you cancel late)
- Could you put me on the ? (Ask to be called if a spot opens)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Restaurant: Good , Bella Cucina.
- Wei: Hi, I'd like to book a for four on Friday, please.
- Restaurant: What time were you ?
- Wei: Have you got anything at ?
- Restaurant: We've got seven . Would that work?
- Wei: Yes, .
- Restaurant: Great. What is it under?
- Wei: Chen. C-H-E-N. Thanks much.
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
What does 'What name is it under?' mean?
a) What name is the booking for?b) Where do you live?c) What's under the table?
Which phrase cancels politely?
a) I'm afraid I need to cancel.b) I'm not coming.c) Delete it.
What's a 'waitlist'?
a) A list of people waiting for a spotb) The menuc) A bill
Why spell your name on the phone?
a) To be rudeb) So they write it correctlyc) It's the law
Complete: 'Have you ___ anything at seven?'
a) gotb) getc) getting
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- I'd like to book a table for , please.
- Have you got anything at ?
- I'm afraid I need to cancel my booking.
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/booking-and-cancelling/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 18: Booking and cancelling
A. Key phrases
- I'd like to book a table for four, please.
- Have you got anything at seven?
- Can I book a haircut for Saturday?
- Is that under the name Chen?
- I need to change my booking.
- I'm afraid I need to cancel.
- Is there a cancellation fee?
- Could you put me on the waitlist?
B. Conversation gaps
- afternoon
- table
- thinking
- seven
- thirty
- perfect
- name
- very
C. Quiz
- a) What name is the booking for?
- a) I'm afraid I need to cancel.
- a) A list of people waiting for a spot
- b) So they write it correctly
- a) got
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/booking-and-cancelling/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach booking and cancelling to adult English learners?
Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.
What level is this lesson?
Basic level, about CEFR A2. It is lesson 18 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.
Do learners need an account?
No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/booking-and-cancelling/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.
Can I print the worksheet?
Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.
Found this useful? Buy us a coffee on Ko-fi to help keep English Coaching free.