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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 40 · Out and about · A1–A2
Signs and notices around town
Understand common signs in shops, streets and buildings, and ask what a sign means.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
When do you need English for signs and notices around town? What words do you already know?
Key phrase 1 of 8
No parking
You can't park your car here.
Key phrase 2 of 8
Keep left
Walk or drive on the left side.
Key phrase 3 of 8
Caution: wet floor
Be careful: the floor is wet and slippery.
Key phrase 4 of 8
Staff only
Only people who work here can go in.
Key phrase 5 of 8
Closed for renovations
Closed because the place is being repaired or improved.
Key phrase 6 of 8
Push / Pull
Push the door away from you, or pull it towards you.
Key phrase 7 of 8
Out of order
The machine, lift or toilet isn't working.
Key phrase 8 of 8
Excuse me, what does this sign mean?
Ask someone to explain a sign.
Conversation
Olivia and Hiroshi
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 10
Hiroshi
Olivia, what does that sign mean? 'Closed for renovations'?
Conversation · line 2 of 10
Hiroshi: Olivia, what does that sign mean? 'Closed for renovations'?
Olivia
It means the café is closed because they're fixing it up. It'll open again later.
Conversation · line 3 of 10
Olivia: It means the café is closed because they're fixing it up. It'll open again later.
Hiroshi
Oh, OK. And 'Staff only' on that door?
Conversation · line 4 of 10
Hiroshi: Oh, OK. And 'Staff only' on that door?
Olivia
Only people who work there can go in. Customers can't.
Conversation · line 5 of 10
Olivia: Only people who work there can go in. Customers can't.
Hiroshi
Got it. What about this one: 'No parking, 8 am to 6 pm'?
Conversation · line 6 of 10
Hiroshi: Got it. What about this one: 'No parking, 8 am to 6 pm'?
Olivia
You can't park here between those times. After six, it's fine.
Conversation · line 7 of 10
Olivia: You can't park here between those times. After six, it's fine.
Hiroshi
And there was a yellow sign in the shopping centre: 'Caution: wet floor'.
Conversation · line 8 of 10
Hiroshi: And there was a yellow sign in the shopping centre: 'Caution: wet floor'.
Olivia
Be careful, the floor's slippery. Walk around it if you can.
Conversation · line 9 of 10
Olivia: Be careful, the floor's slippery. Walk around it if you can.
Hiroshi
Also, I always push doors that say 'Pull'!
Conversation · line 10 of 10
Hiroshi: Also, I always push doors that say 'Pull'!
Olivia
Ha! Everyone does that sometimes.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Olivia. Student B is Hiroshi. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
Excuse me, what does this sign mean?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
Sorry, is this door staff only?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
I think the machine is out of order.
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
A door says 'Staff only'. This means…
- A only people who work there can go in
- B there are no staff today
- C staff will help you inside
✓ A: Staff = the people who work there. Customers shouldn't go in.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
You see 'Caution: wet floor'. What should you do?
- A Run across it
- B Walk carefully or go around it
- C Clean it up
✓ B: Caution = be careful. The floor is slippery.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
A toilet has a sign saying 'Out of order'. This means…
- A it's very clean
- B there's a long queue
- C it isn't working
✓ C: Out of order = broken or not working.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
'Closed for renovations' means the place is closed because…
- A it's a public holiday
- B it's being repaired or improved
- C it has moved away
✓ B: Renovations are work to repair or improve a building.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
A door says 'Pull'. You should…
- A pull it towards you
- B push it away from you
- C knock first
✓ A: Pull = towards you. Push = away from you.
Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺
In Australia, a 'No stopping' sign is stricter than 'No parking': you can't stop there at all, even for a moment. On footpaths and escalators, many people keep left so others can pass on the right.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.au/
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 signs and notices around town? What words do you already know?" 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 Olivia and student B is Hiroshi. 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: Olivia is read by Josh and Hiroshi 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
In Australia, a 'No stopping' sign is stricter than 'No parking': you can't stop there at all, even for a moment. On footpaths and escalators, many people keep left so others can pass on the right.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Signs and notices around town. 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 40: Signs and notices around town
Understand common signs in shops, streets and buildings, and ask what a sign means.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: floor · left · only · order · parking · renovations · sign
- No (You can't park your car here)
- Keep (Walk or drive on the left side)
- Caution: wet (Be careful: the floor is wet and slippery)
- Staff (Only people who work here can go in)
- Closed for (Closed because the place is being repaired or improved)
- Push / Pull (Push the door away from you, or pull it towards you)
- Out of (The machine, lift or toilet isn't working)
- Excuse me, what does this mean? (Ask someone to explain a sign)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Hiroshi: Olivia, what does that sign ? 'Closed for renovations'?
- Olivia: It means the café is closed they're fixing it up. It'll open again later.
- Hiroshi: Oh, OK. And 'Staff only' on that ?
- Olivia: Only who work there can go in. Customers can't.
- Hiroshi: Got it. What this one: 'No parking, 8 am to 6 pm'?
- Olivia: You can't park here those times. After six, it's fine.
- Hiroshi: And there was a yellow sign in the centre: 'Caution: wet floor'.
- Olivia: Be careful, the floor's . Walk around it if you can.
- Hiroshi: Also, I push doors that say 'Pull'!
- Olivia: Ha! Everyone does that .
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
A door says 'Staff only'. This means…
a) only people who work there can go inb) there are no staff todayc) staff will help you inside
You see 'Caution: wet floor'. What should you do?
a) Run across itb) Walk carefully or go around itc) Clean it up
A toilet has a sign saying 'Out of order'. This means…
a) it's very cleanb) there's a long queuec) it isn't working
'Closed for renovations' means the place is closed because…
a) it's a public holidayb) it's being repaired or improvedc) it has moved away
A door says 'Pull'. You should…
a) pull it towards youb) push it away from youc) knock first
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- Excuse me, what does this sign mean?
- Sorry, is this door staff only?
- I think the machine is out of order.
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/understanding-signs-and-notices/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 40: Signs and notices around town
A. Key phrases
- No parking
- Keep left
- Caution: wet floor
- Staff only
- Closed for renovations
- Push / Pull
- Out of order
- Excuse me, what does this sign mean?
B. Conversation gaps
- mean
- because
- door
- people
- about
- between
- shopping
- slippery
- always
- sometimes
C. Quiz
- a) only people who work there can go in
- b) Walk carefully or go around it
- c) it isn't working
- b) it's being repaired or improved
- a) pull it towards you
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/understanding-signs-and-notices/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach signs and notices around town 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 40 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/understanding-signs-and-notices/. 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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