English for Studying Abroad
ESL Courses and Materials
Difficulty Level: CEFR B1 - Intermediate
A 10-lesson ESL course preparing students for studying abroad, including arriving at an airport and staying with a homestay family. You'll find role-play scenarios, practical vocabulary, and cultural tips for living overseas.
Each lesson is listed separately below, but if you would like to download a PDF of all the lessons, you can do so here:
1. Arriving at the airport
Maki Watanabe, an 18-year-old student from Japan, arrives at the airport in the UK, ready to start her studies at Trinity Language Academy in Brighton. At immigration, she presents her passport and visa, confirms her purpose of visit and where she'll be staying. She's staying with a homestay family in Brighton. Maki is asked if she has anything to declare, such as valuables or alcohol, but she only has some snacks from Japan, which are allowed. The officer wishes her an enjoyable stay.
2. Getting to the city
After navigating her way through the airport, Maki Watanabe tries to find the correct bus to London Bridge. Initially, she can't find the right bus, but with some help from friendly staff, she learns where to go for the bus she needs. Finally, she boards the correct bus, pays her fare, and asks the driver to notify her when she reaches her destination. The driver assures her that there will be an announcement.
3. Meeting your homestay family
Maki Watanabe arrives at her homestay in Brighton and meets her host, Helen. Helen warmly welcomes her and shows her around the house, including the kitchen and where Maki can do her laundry. Helen offers to do Maki's laundry for her, which Maki appreciates. Maki is then shown to her room, which she finds very nice. Helen explains some house rules, including quiet hours and bathroom times. She invites Maki to join them for dinner later, giving Maki time to unpack and settle in.
4. First day
Maki starts her morning at the homestay in Brighton by choosing cereal for breakfast, mentioning her preference against overly sweet food. Helen, her host, plans to take her to the Language Academy to register for classes and advises her to bring essential documents and some money. Realizing she needs to exchange some currency and possibly get a phone, they plan to handle these tasks in town. Maki also inquires about WiFi and realizes she needs an adapter for her power cord, which Helen agrees to help find. Lastly, Helen provides Maki with a list of emergency contact numbers.
5. At school
On her first day at Trinity Language Academy in Brighton, Maki arrives and seeks guidance at the school office. She confirms her student ID and is directed to her orientation session in Room 2A. Maki briefly asks for directions to the toilet before heading to her session. During orientation, Louise Burton, the Student Counselor, introduces herself and outlines the schedule, including checking attendance. Maki meets a fellow student, Amelia from Singapore, corrects the pronunciation of her name, and they agree to sit together, starting a new friendship.
6. Hanging out with friends
After class, Maki invites her classmate Mi Sun to join her for coffee instead of going to the library. They agree to meet outside the school and later find themselves at Starbucks, where Maki orders a tall cafe mocha with whip. While enjoying their coffee, they chat about their homestay experiences, both sharing positive impressions. Maki suggests a weekend outing to the Pier, a plan Mi Sun is excited about, though she needs to confirm it with her homestay mother first.
7. Getting around town
Maki asks her homestay host, Helen, how to get to Brighton Pier. Helen suggests taking a bus to Churchill Square and then walking down West Street to the beach. Following the directions, Maki and her friend Mi Sun reach Churchill Square but are unsure where to go next. They ask someone for directions to West Street, only to learn they just need to head towards the seafront to find the Pier. Once there, they excitedly take pictures and even get directions to a nearby fish and chip shop on the Pier.
8. Shopping
Before heading into town for a shopping trip with her friend Mi Sun, Maki promises her homestay host, Helen, to pick up a loaf of bread. In town, Maki and Mi Sun decide to shop at Debenhams, where Maki tries on and buys a jumper for £17.49 using her Visa card, and declines the offer to sign up for a loyalty card. During their outing, they unexpectedly run into another friend, Amelia, who amusingly has bought the same jumper. They invite Amelia to join them for ice cream, but she has to return to her family.
9. Sightseeing
Maki talks to her friend Amelia about the Royal Pavilion and recommends visiting it because it's beautiful and has a museum. They ask Ms. Burton, their school counselor, for more places to visit. Ms. Burton suggests the Bluebell Railway for a quieter place away from the city. She also tells them about the Brighton Festival, a big event with artists and musicians from around the world, which interests Amelia and Maki. They decide to look up more information about it online.
10. Saying goodbye
As Maki prepares to leave the UK, Helen, her homestay host, expresses how lovely it was to have her and invites her to stay in touch. Maki thanks Helen for her kindness and invites her to visit Japan, sharing her contact details. At the airport, Maki checks in for her flight to Nagoya, Japan, via Helsinki. She opts for a window seat and is informed by the check-in staff to be at her gate 30 minutes before departure. Maki is traveling with one suitcase and a carry-on bag.
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