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Teach lesson 33: On the plane: boarding and asking for help

Classroom slides with recorded audio, teacher notes and a printable worksheet for Everyday English lesson 33 (Out and about · A1–A2). Goal: Find your seat, ask the flight attendant for things and understand common announcements.

By Team EnglishCoach · How we check our content · Updated 2026-11-10

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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 33 · Out and about · A1–A2

On the plane: boarding and asking for help

Find your seat, ask the flight attendant for things and understand common announcements.

Warm-up · talk with a partner

When do you need English for on the plane: boarding and asking for help? What words do you already know?

Key phrase 1 of 8

Excuse me, I think you're in my seat.

Polite way to say someone is sitting in your seat.

Key phrase 2 of 8

Could you help me with my bag, please?

Ask for help with the overhead locker.

Key phrase 3 of 8

Please fasten your seatbelt.

A common instruction. Fasten = close or lock.

Key phrase 4 of 8

Could I have some water, please?

Ask the flight attendant for a drink.

Key phrase 5 of 8

Is it OK if I put my seat back?

Ask the person behind you before you lean back.

Key phrase 6 of 8

Excuse me, could I get past?

Ask the people in your row to let you out, for example to go to the toilet.

Key phrase 7 of 8

What time do we land?

Ask when the plane arrives.

Key phrase 8 of 8

We're about to start our descent.

The plane will soon begin to go down to land.

Conversation

Flight attendant and Ali

Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.

Conversation · line 1 of 10

Flight attendant

Welcome on board. Can I see your boarding pass?

Conversation · line 2 of 10

Flight attendant: Welcome on board. Can I see your boarding pass?

Ali

Here you go. I'm in 23A.

Conversation · line 3 of 10

Ali: Here you go. I'm in 23A.

Flight attendant

It's on the left, about halfway down. It's a window seat.

Conversation · line 4 of 10

Flight attendant: It's on the left, about halfway down. It's a window seat.

Ali

Thanks. Excuse me, I think someone's in my seat.

Conversation · line 5 of 10

Ali: Thanks. Excuse me, I think someone's in my seat.

Flight attendant

Let me check for you... Yes, he's in the wrong row. He's in 24A, so he's moving now.

Conversation · line 6 of 10

Flight attendant: Let me check for you... Yes, he's in the wrong row. He's in 24A, so he's moving now.

Ali

No worries. Could you help me with my bag, please? It's a bit heavy.

Conversation · line 7 of 10

Ali: No worries. Could you help me with my bag, please? It's a bit heavy.

Flight attendant

Of course. I'll put it in the overhead locker for you. Please fasten your seatbelt.

Conversation · line 8 of 10

Flight attendant: Of course. I'll put it in the overhead locker for you. Please fasten your seatbelt.

Ali

Thanks. Could I have some water when you have a moment?

Conversation · line 9 of 10

Ali: Thanks. Could I have some water when you have a moment?

Flight attendant

Sure, I'll bring some after take-off.

Conversation · line 10 of 10

Flight attendant: Sure, I'll bring some after take-off.

Ali

Great. And what time do we land in Sydney?

Your turn · role-play

Work with a partner

Student A is Flight attendant. Student B is Ali. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.

Your turn · say it 1 of 3

Excuse me, I think you're in my seat.

Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.

Your turn · say it 2 of 3

Could I have some water, please?

Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.

Your turn · say it 3 of 3

Excuse me, could I get past?

Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.

Quiz · question 1 of 5

Someone is sitting in your seat. What's the most polite thing to say?

  1. A Get up!
  2. B That's my seat. Move.
  3. C Excuse me, I think you're in my seat.

✓ C: 'I think' makes it softer and polite, in case it's a mistake.

Quiz · question 2 of 5

'Fasten your seatbelt' means…

  1. A take off your seatbelt
  2. B close your seatbelt
  3. C buy a seatbelt

✓ B: Fasten = close or lock it.

Quiz · question 3 of 5

What is the 'overhead locker'?

  1. A The space for bags above the seats
  2. B The toilet
  3. C The kitchen

✓ A: It's also called the overhead bin or overhead compartment.

Quiz · question 4 of 5

You need to go to the toilet, but you're in the window seat. What do you say?

  1. A Excuse me, could I get past?
  2. B What time do we land?
  3. C Is it a direct flight?

✓ A: Say this to the people in your row.

Quiz · question 5 of 5

The captain says 'We're about to start our descent.' What's going to happen soon?

  1. A The plane will take off
  2. B The plane will begin to go down to land
  3. C Lunch will be served

✓ B: Descent = going down. You'll usually be asked to sit down and fasten your seatbelt.

Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺

Flight attendants are there to help, so it's fine to press the call button if you need something. If you fly into Australia from overseas, you must declare most food, plants and animal products when you arrive (this is called biosecurity). If you're not sure, declare it and ask. If you don't declare something, you can get a big fine.

Well done!

Practise at home

The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/on-the-plane-asking-for-help/

Free lessons at englishcoaching.au

englishcoaching.au

Teacher notes

Level: Out and about · A1–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: "When do you need English for on the plane: boarding and asking for help? What words do you already know?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.

Three steps

  1. 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?"
  2. 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.
  3. 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 Flight attendant and student B is Ali. 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: Flight attendant is read by Mel and Ali 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

Flight attendants are there to help, so it's fine to press the call button if you need something. If you fly into Australia from overseas, you must declare most food, plants and animal products when you arrive (this is called biosecurity). If you're not sure, declare it and ask. If you don't declare something, you can get a big fine.

After class

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 33: On the plane: boarding and asking for help

Find your seat, ask the flight attendant for things and understand common announcements.

A. Key phrases: fill the gaps

Word bank: descent · past · please · seat · seatbelt · think · time

  1. Excuse me, I you're in my seat. (Polite way to say someone is sitting in your seat)
  2. Could you help me with my bag, ? (Ask for help with the overhead locker)
  3. Please fasten your . (A common instruction. Fasten = close or lock)
  4. Could I have some water, ? (Ask the flight attendant for a drink)
  5. Is it OK if I put my back? (Ask the person behind you before you lean back)
  6. Excuse me, could I get ? (Ask the people in your row to let you out, for example to go to the toilet)
  7. What do we land? (Ask when the plane arrives)
  8. We're about to start our . (The plane will soon begin to go down to land)

B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps

  1. Flight attendant: Welcome on board. Can I see your pass?
  2. Ali: Here go. I'm in 23A.
  3. Flight attendant: It's on the left, about down. It's a window seat.
  4. Ali: Thanks. Excuse me, I think someone's in my seat.
  5. Flight attendant: Let me check for you... Yes, he's in the wrong row. He's in 24A, so he's now.
  6. Ali: No . Could you help me with my bag, please? It's a bit heavy.
  7. Flight attendant: Of course. I'll put it in the locker for you. Please fasten your seatbelt.
  8. Ali: Thanks. Could I have some water when you have a ?
  9. Flight attendant: Sure, I'll some after take-off.
  10. Ali: Great. And what time do we in Sydney?

C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer

  1. Someone is sitting in your seat. What's the most polite thing to say?

    a) Get up!b) That's my seat. Move.c) Excuse me, I think you're in my seat.

  2. 'Fasten your seatbelt' means…

    a) take off your seatbeltb) close your seatbeltc) buy a seatbelt

  3. What is the 'overhead locker'?

    a) The space for bags above the seatsb) The toiletc) The kitchen

  4. You need to go to the toilet, but you're in the window seat. What do you say?

    a) Excuse me, could I get past?b) What time do we land?c) Is it a direct flight?

  5. The captain says 'We're about to start our descent.' What's going to happen soon?

    a) The plane will take offb) The plane will begin to go down to landc) Lunch will be served

D. My sentences

Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.

  1. Excuse me, I think you're in my seat.
  2. Could I have some water, please?
  3. Excuse me, could I get past?

Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/on-the-plane-asking-for-help/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.

Answer key · Lesson 33: On the plane: boarding and asking for help

A. Key phrases

  1. Excuse me, I think you're in my seat.
  2. Could you help me with my bag, please?
  3. Please fasten your seatbelt.
  4. Could I have some water, please?
  5. Is it OK if I put my seat back?
  6. Excuse me, could I get past?
  7. What time do we land?
  8. We're about to start our descent.

B. Conversation gaps

  1. boarding
  2. you
  3. halfway
  4. –
  5. moving
  6. worries
  7. overhead
  8. moment
  9. bring
  10. land

C. Quiz

  1. c) Excuse me, I think you're in my seat.
  2. b) close your seatbelt
  3. a) The space for bags above the seats
  4. a) Excuse me, could I get past?
  5. b) The plane will begin to go down to land

englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/on-the-plane-asking-for-help/

Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.

Frequently asked questions

How do I teach on the plane: boarding and asking for help 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?

Out and about level, about CEFR A1–A2. It is lesson 33 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/on-the-plane-asking-for-help/. 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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