Vocabulary Lessons

Being able to buy train tickets and understanding subway schedules and maps will make it easier to get around the world on your vacations. No one wants to feel lost on a train in a distant city. Listen to the words below and consult a dictionary if you need a definition. Write a sample sentence for each word to learn how it is used in context. You can use the internet to find such 

Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

• aisle
• announcement
• cable car
• conductor
• fare
• platform
• reservation
• schedule
• seat
• standing room only
• station
• subway
• ticket
• ticket machine
• train pass

• crowded
• empty

• get off
• get on
• give up your seat
• offer your seat to someone
• stand
• take a seat
• transfer
• wait

Beginner Level

1. Have you ever taken a train?
2. Do you like traveling by train? Why or why not?
3. Where would you like to go by train?
4. What do you see when you look out the train window?
5. Who would you like to travel with on a train trip?

Intermediate Level

1. What do you like or dislike about train travel?
2. How is train travel different from traveling by car or plane?
3. What are some things people can do on a long train ride?
4. How can trains be comfortable or uncomfortable for passengers?
5. What kind of train trip would you like to take one day?

Advanced Level

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of traveling by train?
2. How can train travel be better for the environment than other types of transport?
3. How do high-speed trains change the way people live and travel?
4. What role do trains play in connecting cities and communities?
5. Would you like to see more people use trains in your country? Why or why not?