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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 19 · Basic · A2
Emergencies and calling triple zero
Call 000, give your location and explain an emergency clearly.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
Do you know the emergency phone number here? When would you call it?
Key phrase 1 of 8
I need an ambulance.
Say which service first.
Key phrase 2 of 8
There's a fire.
Fire brigade.
Key phrase 3 of 8
I need the police.
Police.
Key phrase 4 of 8
The address is 14 Park Road, Blacktown.
Give your exact location.
Key phrase 5 of 8
He's not breathing.
Say the most important thing.
Key phrase 6 of 8
She's fallen and hit her head.
Describe what happened.
Key phrase 7 of 8
I don't speak English well.
Tell them if you need help with language.
Key phrase 8 of 8
Please hurry.
Ask them to come quickly.
Conversation
Operator and Caller
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Operator
Emergency. Police, fire or ambulance?
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Operator: Emergency. Police, fire or ambulance?
Caller
Ambulance, please.
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Caller: Ambulance, please.
Operator
What's the address of the emergency?
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Operator: What's the address of the emergency?
Caller
14 Park Road, Blacktown.
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Caller: 14 Park Road, Blacktown.
Operator
What's happened?
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Operator: What's happened?
Caller
My father has fallen and hit his head. He's awake but confused.
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Caller: My father has fallen and hit his head. He's awake but confused.
Operator
OK, an ambulance is on the way. Stay on the line with me.
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Operator: OK, an ambulance is on the way. Stay on the line with me.
Caller
OK. Please hurry.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Operator. Student B is Caller. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
Ambulance, please.
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
The address is …
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
My … has fallen and hit their head.
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
What number do you call in an emergency in Australia?
- A 911
- B 000
- C 999
✓ B: Triple zero (000). From a mobile you can also call 112.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
What's the first thing the operator asks?
- A Your name
- B Police, fire or ambulance?
- C Your age
✓ B: Say which service you need.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
Why is your address so important?
- A So help can find you
- B For a form
- C To send a bill
✓ A: Give the full address and nearest cross street if you can.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
What does 'Stay on the line' mean?
- A Don't hang up
- B Stand in a queue
- C Call back later
✓ A: Keep the call connected.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
What can you call for non-urgent police help?
- A 000
- B The Police Assistance Line, 131 444
- C 112
✓ B: 131 444 is for non-urgent police matters in most states.
Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺
Only call 000 in a real emergency. For non-urgent police matters, most states use 131 444. For health advice, you can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
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: "Do you know the emergency phone number here? When would you call it?" 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 Operator and student B is Caller. 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: Operator is read by Josh and Caller by Mel. 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
Only call 000 in a real emergency. For non-urgent police matters, most states use 131 444. For health advice, you can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Emergencies and calling triple zero. 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 19: Emergencies and calling triple zero
Call 000, give your location and explain an emergency clearly.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: address · ambulance · breathing · fallen · fire · hurry · police · speak
- I need an . (Say which service first)
- There's a . (Fire brigade)
- I need the . (Police)
- The is 14 Park Road, Blacktown. (Give your exact location)
- He's not . (Say the most important thing)
- She's and hit her head. (Describe what happened)
- I don't English well. (Tell them if you need help with language)
- Please . (Ask them to come quickly)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Operator: Emergency. Police, fire or ambulance?
- Caller: Ambulance, .
- Operator: What's the address of the ?
- Caller: 14 Park Road, Blacktown.
- Operator: What's ?
- Caller: My father has fallen and hit his head. He's awake but .
- Operator: OK, an ambulance is on the way. Stay on the with me.
- Caller: OK. Please hurry.
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
What number do you call in an emergency in Australia?
a) 911b) 000c) 999
What's the first thing the operator asks?
a) Your nameb) Police, fire or ambulance?c) Your age
Why is your address so important?
a) So help can find youb) For a formc) To send a bill
What does 'Stay on the line' mean?
a) Don't hang upb) Stand in a queuec) Call back later
What can you call for non-urgent police help?
a) 000b) The Police Assistance Line, 131 444c) 112
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- Ambulance, please.
- The address is
- My has fallen and hit their head.
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/emergencies-and-calling-000/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 19: Emergencies and calling triple zero
A. Key phrases
- I need an ambulance.
- There's a fire.
- I need the police.
- The address is 14 Park Road, Blacktown.
- He's not breathing.
- She's fallen and hit her head.
- I don't speak English well.
- Please hurry.
B. Conversation gaps
- –
- please
- emergency
- –
- happened
- confused
- line
- –
C. Quiz
- b) 000
- b) Police, fire or ambulance?
- a) So help can find you
- a) Don't hang up
- b) The Police Assistance Line, 131 444
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/emergencies-and-calling-000/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach emergencies and calling triple zero 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 19 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/emergencies-and-calling-000/. 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.
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