Completing a Full Day of Travel in Confident English.

In the final lesson you bring the whole course together in a complete day of travel. You follow a simple story from morning to night, planning a day trip, solving small problems and talking about your experience. You start by checking transport times and booking an activity, then move through key moments such as buying tickets, asking for directions, ordering lunch, shopping for a small item and dealing with a minor delay or change of plan. You finish the day by sharing your opinions about the trip and talking about future travel ideas. Throughout the lesson you review and reuse core phrases and strategies from earlier units, and you notice how much more fluent and confident you sound. By the end you can handle a full sequence of travel situations in English and have a clear plan for continuing to improve before your next real journey.

1. Planning your full travel day in the morning.

Imagine it is your last full day in a new city. You wake up in your hotel room, make a cup of coffee and think, right, what am I going to do today? In this lesson we will follow one complete day like this, from morning to evening. In this first step, we will focus on planning the day clearly in English. You will see how to organise your ideas, use time expressions like in the morning, after lunch and in the evening, and connect your plans with simple linking words such as first, then, after that and finally. We will also include one or two backup ideas, in case something is closed or there is a delay. On the screen, you will see an example day plan and a short model description. Then you will write a simple plan for your own ideal travel day, using the useful chunks from this unit, such as in the morning I am going to and the best part of the day will be.

Your travel day: start with a clear plan.

To enjoy a full day of travel, it helps to have a simple plan in English. In this course finale we imagine you are in a city like Barcelona or Lisbon. You have one free day and you want to use it well.

First, look at this example day plan.

Plan A – Day trip into the city

• Morning: Take the train into town, walk through the old centre, visit an art museum.
• Lunch: Try a local restaurant near the river.
• Afternoon: Boat trip at 3 p.m., then buy a small souvenir.
• Evening: Relax in a café, take the metro back, write a short message about the day.

Now look at a model description of this plan:

> In the morning I am going to take the train into town. First I will walk around the old centre and visit the art museum. After that I am going to have lunch in a local restaurant by the river. In the afternoon I will go on a boat trip at three o’clock and then I want to buy a small souvenir. In the evening I will sit in a café and relax. Finally, I am going to take the metro back to the hotel and write a short message about my day.

Notice how the description:

• uses time phrases: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening;
• uses sequencing words: first, after that, finally;
• uses future plans with I am going to… and I will….

We also want a backup idea, in case something changes:

> If the museum is closed, we can visit the park instead.

Keeping one or two extra ideas in your head makes you feel calmer if your original plan does not work.

In a moment, you will read another short plan and then write your own day plan. Do not worry about long sentences. Focus on clear times, places and order.

Practice & Feedback

Read the short day plan in the box below. Then write 4–6 sentences describing your own ideal travel day in English.

Follow these steps:

1. Use time expressions like in the morning, after lunch, in the evening.
2. Use sequencing words such as first, then, after that, finally.
3. Include at least one backup idea, for example: If the museum is closed, we can visit the park instead.
4. You can imagine any city you like, or use the example city from the screen.

Try to reuse some chunks from the lesson, such as In the morning I am going to…, First I will…, The best part of the day will be…. Write in one clear paragraph. It is fine if your day is simple; focus on clarity and good travel phrases, not on being creative.

2. Buying tickets and checking times at the station.

Now that you have a clear plan for the day, let us move to your first real task outside the hotel. You go to the main station to buy tickets. You need to make sure you get the right train, at the right time, from the right platform. This is where clear questions and careful listening are very important. In this block, you will look at a short model dialogue between a traveller and a ticket clerk. You will notice useful phrases for asking about times, prices and platforms, and for checking that you understood correctly. Then you will listen to a different but similar conversation and practise pulling out the key information. Instead of trying to understand every word, you will focus on the important details: departure time, destination, platform number and any changes. After that, you will write a short answer with the information you heard, as if you are explaining it to a friend who is travelling with you.

At the station: asking for tickets and information.

You arrive at the main station. It is busy and a bit noisy, but you need to stay calm and ask for what you need.

Here is a model dialogue between a traveller and a ticket clerk.

> Traveller: Good morning. I would like a return ticket to the city centre, please.

> Clerk: Of course. For today?

> Traveller: Yes, for this morning.

> Clerk: The next train leaves at 9.32 from platform four.

> Traveller: 9.32 from platform four. How long does the journey take?

> Clerk: About twenty minutes.

> Traveller: Great, thank you. How much is a day pass for the metro as well?

> Clerk: It is ten euros. You can use it on all metro lines.

> Traveller: Perfect. I will take one, please.

> Clerk: Here you are. The train is already boarding, so please go straight to the platform.

> Traveller: Thank you very much.

Useful phrases from the dialogue.

• I would like a return ticket to… please.
• For today? / For this morning?
• The next train leaves at 9.32 from platform four.
• How long does the journey take?
• How much is a day pass for the metro?
• The train is already boarding.

Notice how the traveller repeats back the important information:

> 9.32 from platform four.

Repeating times and platform numbers helps you avoid mistakes and shows the clerk that you are listening carefully.

In the audio activity for this block you will hear a similar station conversation. Your job is to catch the time, the platform and what to do if you miss that train.

Practice & Feedback

Listen to the short station conversation in the audio below. You can play it two or three times. Do not worry if you do not understand every word; focus on the key travel details.

When you are ready, write a short answer to these questions in full sentences:

1. What time does the train to the city centre leave?
2. Which platform does it leave from?
3. What does the clerk say you should do if you miss that train?

Write your answers as if you are sending a message to a friend who is still at the hotel, for example: The next train is at… from platform… If we miss it, we…. Use clear English and double check your numbers and times before you send your answer.

3. Changing plans when a place is closed.

You have your ticket, you take the train and you arrive safely in the city centre. You walk to the museum you want to visit. But when you arrive, there is a sign on the door. The museum is closed this morning because of a private event. This is a very typical travel problem. Your original plan does not work. In this block we will practise staying calm and changing your plans in clear English. You will see how to read a short notice, understand the key information and then explain the situation to someone else. We will also use useful problem and solution language, such as, we had to change our plans because of the delay and if the museum is closed, we can visit the park instead. On the screen you will see an example notice and some model sentences. Then you will read a similar notice and write a short explanation to a friend about what happened and what you are going to do now.

When your Plan A does not work.

Travel days are rarely perfect. Sometimes a place is closed, there is a delay, or something is full. The important thing is to use simple English to understand the problem and choose a new plan.

Imagine this scene: you arrive at the city art museum, but you see this sign on the door.

> City Art Museum

> Tuesday 7 May

> The museum is closed this morning for a private event.

> We will open at 14:00.

> We apologise for any inconvenience.

From this short text, you can understand:

• the museum is not open now;
• it will open again at 2 p.m.;
• the problem is temporary, only for this morning.

Explaining the problem to someone.

Now you want to tell your friend what is happening and suggest a new idea. Look at these examples:

> The museum is closed this morning because of a private event, so we had to change our plans.

> If we still want to visit the museum, we can come back after two o’clock.

> If we do not want to wait, we can visit the park instead.

Notice these useful patterns:

• because of + the reason: because of a private event, because of the delay;
• If + problem, we can + solution: If the museum is closed, we can visit the park instead.

These structures help you sound calm and organised, even when your plans change.

In the activity below, you will read another short notice and then write a short message to a friend. You will explain the problem and your new plan in your own words.

Practice & Feedback

Read the museum notice in the box carefully. Then imagine that your friend is waiting in a café and does not know about the problem.

Write a short message of 3–5 sentences to your friend. In your message:

1. Explain what the problem is and when the museum will open.
2. Say that you had to change your plans.
3. Suggest one or two new ideas, using patterns like If the museum is closed, we can… or If we still want to visit it, we can….

Try to reuse phrases from the screen, such as We had to change our plans because… and we can visit the park instead. Write as if you are using a messaging app, but use full sentences and clear English.

4. Lunch, souvenirs and chatting about your day.

After changing your plans, you decide not to wait outside the museum. Instead, you walk through the old streets, take some photos and then you start to feel hungry. It is time for lunch and maybe a bit of shopping. In this block, we will connect three things: ordering food, buying a small souvenir and chatting about your experience with a friend. You will see two short dialogues, one in a café and one in a souvenir shop. Then you will see a sample chat conversation where a traveller tells a friend what they ate and what they bought. This will help you to recycle language from earlier lessons and to practise small talk about your day. At the end, you will write a few short chat messages yourself, as if you are sending them from your table in the restaurant or from outside the shop.

A quick lunch in a busy café.

You find a small local café near the river. It is quite busy, but there is a free table.

> Server: Table for one?

> You: Yes, please. Could I sit by the window?

> Server: Of course. Here is the menu.

> You: Thank you. What do you recommend for lunch?

> Server: The grilled fish is very popular, and the vegetable soup is also very good.

> You: That sounds nice. I do not eat meat, so I will have the soup and a salad, please.

> Server: Anything to drink?

> You: Could I have some tap water and a small beer, please?

> Server: No problem.

> Later…

> You: Could we have the bill, please? Was service included?

> Server: Yes, service is included. I will bring the bill now.

Useful language: What do you recommend?, I do not eat meat, Could we have the bill, please?, Is service included?

Buying a small souvenir.

After lunch you go into a souvenir shop.

> Assistant: Can I help you?

> You: Yes, how much is this mug?

> Assistant: It is twelve euros.

> You: Do you have this in a different colour?

> Assistant: Yes, we have it in blue and green.

> You: I would like the blue one, please.

> Assistant: Anything else?

> You: No, that is all, thank you.

Telling a friend in a chat.

Later, you sit down in a square and send some messages to a friend.

> Hi! I am in a small café near the river. I had vegetable soup and a salad for lunch. Everything was delicious.

> After lunch I bought a blue mug with a picture of the old town. It was not very cheap, but I really like it.

> The best part of the day so far was walking through the old streets.

In the activity below, you will read a similar chat and then continue the conversation with your own messages.

Practice & Feedback

Read the short chat conversation in the box. Then imagine you are the same traveller, sending more messages to the same friend about your lunch and shopping.

Write 3–6 short chat-style messages. You can:

• say exactly what you ate and drank;
• say what you bought and why you chose it;
• give a simple opinion, for example: Everything was delicious or It was a bit expensive but I loved it;
• recommend the place, for example: You should try this café one day.

Use friendly, informal language, but write in clear English with full sentences and correct punctuation. Try to reuse some phrases from the dialogues above, such as What do you recommend?, Could we have the bill, please?, The best part of the day was…. Imagine your friend will answer you, so make it sound natural and personal.

5. Handling delays and changing your route back.

After lunch and a bit of shopping, it is time to move on. You plan to take the metro to the river for a late afternoon boat trip. However, travel days like to surprise us. When you arrive at the metro station, you hear an announcement and see a message on the screen. There is a delay on your line. In this block, we will practise understanding a simple delay announcement and explaining the situation to someone else. You will focus again on the key details: which line, how long the delay is and what you should do instead. We will reuse useful phrases such as, we had to change our plans because of the delay and if this line is closed, we can take the bus instead. After listening to a short announcement, you will write a short message to a friend or to your hotel, explaining why you are late and what your new plan is.

When transport is delayed.

You arrive at the metro station and look at the electronic board. You also hear an announcement.

Typical information you need to catch is:

• which line or route has a problem;
• the reason (if they say it);
• the length of the delay;
• what passengers should do.

Here is an example of the kind of announcement you might hear:

> Attention, passengers. Due to a technical problem, metro line two is currently delayed. Services towards the river will be suspended for approximately twenty minutes. Passengers are advised to use bus number fifteen as an alternative route. We apologise for the inconvenience.

From this, you can say:

> We had to change our plans because of a delay on metro line two. Services to the river are stopped for about twenty minutes, so we are going to take bus fifteen instead.

The structure is very similar to the museum problem:

• We had to change our plans because of… + the problem;
• so we are going to… + your new solution.

You can also use a conditional:

> If the metro does not start again soon, we will take a taxi.

In the activity below you will listen to a short announcement like this. Then you will write a short explanation message to someone, using clear problem and solution language.

Practice & Feedback

Listen to the metro announcement in the audio below. You can listen more than once. Focus on these questions:

1. Which line has a problem?
2. How long will the delay be?
3. What alternative transport should passengers use?

Then write a short message of 3–5 sentences to a friend you are meeting near the river. Explain:

• what the problem is;
• how long you will probably be delayed;
• what you will do instead (for example, a different line, a bus, a taxi).

Use phrases like We had to change our plans because of the delay and We are going to take… instead. Imagine you are sending this as a text message, but still use clear sentences with capital letters and full stops.

6. Evening reflection and future travel plans.

You finally reach the river, enjoy your boat trip and take some beautiful photos. In the evening, you sit back in your hotel room or in a quiet café and think about the day. This is a perfect moment to bring everything together in English. In this final block, you will practise talking about your complete day, from morning to night. You will describe what you did, how you felt, which part was the best and how you handled problems. You will also look a little to the future and say what you would like to do on your next trip. On the screen you will see a model diary-style text that uses many of the key chunks from this lesson, such as, in the morning I am going to take the train into town, the best part of the day was the boat trip, and next time I would like to stay for longer. Your task will be to write your own short reflection using similar language. This is your chance to see how much more confident and fluent you sound now.

Telling the story of your travel day.

A good way to remember your English and your experiences is to write a short reflection at the end of the day. This can be in a diary, a social media post, or an email to a friend.

Read this model text from our traveller’s day:

> Today was my last full day in this city and overall the day was really enjoyable. In the morning I took the train into town and walked around the old centre. First I tried to visit the art museum, but it was closed because of a private event, so we had to change our plans. If the museum is open tomorrow, I will go back.

> After that, we explored some small streets and then had lunch in a busy café near the river. Everything was delicious and the staff were very friendly. In the afternoon we went on a boat trip. The best part of the day was the view of the city from the water. In the evening I bought a small souvenir and came back to the hotel by metro. Now I feel more confident travelling in English. Next time I would like to stay for longer and visit more museums.

Notice how the writer:

• uses a clear structure from morning to evening;
• mentions one problem and the solution;
• gives opinions and feelings: really enjoyable, everything was delicious, the best part of the day…;
• talks about the future: If the museum is open tomorrow…, Next time I would like to…;
• reflects on their English: Now I feel more confident travelling in English.

You do not need to write something long or perfect. A simple but complete story is enough. In the final activity, you will write about your own complete travel day. It can be a real day from your life or an imaginary day based on this lesson’s story.

Practice & Feedback

Write a short reflection about a full day of travel. It can be:

• a real day from a past trip, or
• an imaginary day similar to the story in this lesson.

Write one or two paragraphs (about 120–160 words). Try to:

1. Describe your day from morning to evening in order.
2. Mention at least one problem and how you solved it.
3. Say what was the best part of the day and how you felt.
4. Add one idea for the future, for example: Next time I would like to stay for longer or Before my next trip I want to practise more listening.

Use some of the chunks from this lesson, such as In the morning I…, We had to change our plans because…, Overall the day was really enjoyable, Now I feel more confident travelling in English. Do not worry if your grammar is not perfect; focus on telling a clear, interesting story.