Lesson 1: Arriving at the airport

ESL Course: English for Studying Abroad

An ESL guide to prepare you for your homestay. This is lesson 1 of a 10 lesson course.

PDF: Arriving at the airport

Introduction

  1. Have you ever been to an airport?
  2. Have you flown on an airplane?
  3. If yes, what happens after you get off the plane?

Vocabulary

check-in counterbaggage countercarry-on baggage
fragile luggagesecurity checkimmigration*
travel documents(dis)embarkationbaggage claim
duty freecustomsto declare
* Also called "passport control" or "border control"

Conversation

Immigration Officer: Good morning. May I see your passport please?
Maki: Yes, here you are. And here's my visa.
Immigration Officer: Thank you. Please state your full name, age, and nationality.
Maki: My name is Makiko Watanabe. I'm 18 years old, and I'm Japanese.
Immigration Officer: And what is the nature of your visit?
Maki: I'm a student. I'm going to study at Trinity Language Academy in Brighton.
Immigration Officer: Your papers are in order. You have a student visa for one year.
Maki: Yes, that's right.
Immigration Officer: And where will you be staying?
Maki: I'm staying with a homestay family in Brighton. This is their address.
Immigration Officer: Very well. Do you have anything to declare?
Maki: I'm sorry. I don't understand.
Immigration Officer: Do you have any valuables or alcohol to declare?
Maki: No, but I have these snacks from Japan.
Immigration Officer: Those are fine. Anything else?
Maki: No, that's all.
Immigration Officer: OK. You can go ahead. Enjoy your stay.
Maki: Thank you.

What to Expect

At immigration, you can expect long lines, and you may need to fill out a form while waiting so have a pen with you. The Immigration officer may also ask other questions such as, "How much money do you have for your trip?", "Have you been to (country) before? How long did you stay?", and "Who will you be visiting?". Try role-playing a conversation between you and an immigration officer.

When you've gone through immigration, you'll need to get your luggage from the baggage claim area, and then go through customs where they may search your bags. After that, you'll need to find your way out of the airport and into the city!

Extra

YouTube video: "At the airport_At immigration" by Elena Adamova

Next Lesson

English for Studying Abroad - Lesson 2

Lesson List

  1. Arriving at the airport
  2. Getting to the city
  3. Meeting your homestay family
  4. First day
  5. At school
  6. Hanging out with friends
  7. Getting around town
  8. Shopping
  9. Sightseeing
  10. Saying goodbye

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