Internet Lesson: Roleplay: Travelling by Train
Secondary
Tom Bekers
Aim:
to provide practice in controlled web search
to provide practice in a sales conversation (railway ticket office)
to provide practice in scanning for specific information
to provide practice in saying hours, dates, reading timetables
Level:
pre-intermediate
Time:
one hour
Material:
one computer per two pupils, internet access surf to < www.virgin.com > (a US-based company). Go to the Online Timetable screen as shown below in the instructions section. Provide alternative destinations (typing random places will open a screen giving you possible destinations to pick from) a British alternative is < www.nationalrail.com > (for German classes try < www.oebb.at > (Austrian railways) if necessary: role cards with instructions (see below)
WARNING: working online has its disadvantages: lines do get overloaded (especially on Friday afternoons). It is good to know that interactive webpages can be downloaded by means of programmes like memoweb (which is in French, but works fine), I had a free download from memoweb.be.
Of course you can also provide paper versions to do the same job.
Surplus value:
None. Compared to the paper version there is no objective surplus value. On the contrary, there are serious drawbacks: the line can get overloaded, access to the webpage can be denied.
However, the computerised version tends to be appreciated because it's closer to a real life situation: sales people do use computers and occasionally turn to paper versions if ICT is out of use.
Acknowledgements:
The idea for this exercise not new. The paper version appears in many course books.
Pre-teaching:
Pre-teach the following words and expressions:
single, return, outward journey, return journey, arrival and departure times, a day return, a period return, platform (Am E gate)
Good morning, can I help you,...
Yes please, I....
What time does it arrive/depart?
When are you coming back? When is the return journey?
Is that direct or do I have to change?
I'll take/ I prefer the 11.55 (eleven fifty-five)
Which platform does it leave from?
Instructions
Work in pairs. You are going to practise a dialogue at a railway information desk.
| Student A: |
You want to travel from Berkswell (USA) to Brockley (USA) on October 22 and return on October 29. Check availability at the Railway Information desk.
Prepare your questions while your partner is going online. |
| Student B: |
Surf to < http://www.virgin.com >
Click the < Virgin Trains > button in the Virgin Top Ten (on the right)
Click < check train times > in the menu
In the < Online Timetable > enter journey details as desired by your customer
Follow the instructions on the screen. Give details to your customer as required.
Clicking the < Availability and Price Button > will allow to give extra details about price, availability, platforms, etc. |
Afterwards change roles. Your teacher will provide alternative destinations and journey details.
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