air travel listening exercise

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Free English Lessons

Checking in at the airport – listening lesson (a1-a2).

Do you ever use English when you travel – for holidays or business trips? This free English listening lesson from Oxford Online English will introduce some useful words and phrases to use when checking in at the airport . This is a lesson for elementary and pre-intermediate learners.

or listen to a slower version here: https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-25pc-slower.mp3

Woman : Good morning, sir. Where are you flying today? Man : Paris, via Dubai. Woman : Can I take your passport? Man : Yes, here you are. Woman : Have you already checked in 1 online? Man : No, I haven’t. Woman : OK. How many bags will you be checking 2 in ? Man: Just one. Woman : OK, put it on the belt 3 for me, please. Hmmm, it’s a little overweight. Man : Oh, really? I’m sorry… Woman : No problem, I’ll let you off 4 this time. Man : Oh, thanks very much. Woman : Do you have any hand luggage 5 ? Man : No, I don’t. Woman : Here’s your passport, and your boarding pass 6 . Gate number 25. You need to be at the gate forty minutes before departure. Man : Thanks. By the way, do I have to pick up my bag in Dubai? Woman : No, your baggage is checked through 7 to Paris. Man : Great! Woman : Have a nice flight!

Some of the answers to exercise 3 are included in these vocabulary notes. You may prefer to try the exercises and return to this section later if you need to.

1. You can check in for a flight, or a hotel. 2. Future continuous is used here to show politeness. 3. Belt = conveyor belt: a machine used to move baggage around 4. Let sb off = not to punish someone, a bit like “let sb go” 5. Hand luggage (or hand baggage) is a small bag you can take on board the plane. 6. You can say boarding pass or boarding card . 7. Checked through = checked in for more than one flight

Checking In at the Airport – exercise 1 Listening skill: following what is happening

Many coursebooks have exercises that ask whether statements are true, false or ‘not stated’ in the recording. To do this sort of exercise, first you need to understand what is happening at every stage of the conversation. Then you can listen again to check what details are mentioned – or not.

The recording has been cut into sections. Listen to each section and decide what is happening.

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1 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-section-1.mp3

• An employee is identifying a customer and what he has booked.
• An employee is taking a booking from a customer.
• An employee is telling a customer what he has booked.

2 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-section-2.mp3

• The employee is checking whether the customer has followed a procedure.
• The employee is telling the customer what he must do.
• The employee is informing the customer that he has done something wrong.

3 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-section-3.mp3

• The employee tells the customer to do something, which he does, and she reacts.
• The employee tells the customer to do something, but he refuses.
• The employee tells the customer to do something, which he does, then she tells him to do something else.

4 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-section-4.mp3

• The employee is telling the customer what to do later.
• The employee is telling the customer what to do at the moment of speaking.
• The employee is telling the customer what to do differently another time.

5 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-section-5.mp3

• The customer asks a question, which the employee answers.
• The customer asks a question, but the employee doesn’t answer it.
• The customer asks the employee to clarify what she has said already.

Checking In at the Airport – exercise 2 Comprehension: true, false or not stated

Now answer five questions about the information in the dialogue. There is one question for each section in the previous exercise.

Choose True if the information is stated, False if the opposite of the information is stated, or Not stated if it cannot be understood from anything in the recording.

1. The customer is checking in at an airport in Europe.

If you are uncertain which part of the dialogue to check, go back to exercise 1 and listen to each section in turn.

2. The customer has checked in online.

3. The customer’s luggage is too heavy.

The word ‘heavy’ is not used in the dialogue, but there is a word that means the same – check the transcript above if you need to.

4. The flight departs from gate number 40.

Two numbers are in the dialogue. Listen carefully for what they refer to.

5. The customer does not need to collect his luggage when he changes planes.

Identify the verbs and their objects in the question – then look for words to say the same thing in the dialogue.

Checking In at the Airport – exercise 3 Vocabulary: airport words

The conversation includes words and expressions that you will almost certainly hear or use when you go to an airport.

Complete five facts about flying, using words from the recording.

You should write one word in each gap. Click ‘Hint’ to see a time reference for where you hear it in the dialogue.

1. Direct flights are often more expensive than indirect flights another airport, where you transfer to another plane.

Write a three-letter word starting with V. If you listen to the dialogue at normal speed, you can hear the word at 0.03.

Write one word in the gap.

2. When you check in your luggage, you put it onto a conveyor , which moves it to a different location. You pick it up from another one at your final destination.

Write a four-letter word beginning with B. You can hear the word at 0.15.

3. Small bags that you take onto the plane with you are referred to as luggage.

Write a four-letter word starting with H. You can hear the word at 0.28.

4. To get on an aeroplane, you need some ID (e.g. a passport) and a pass, which you receive when you check in.

Write an eight-letter word starting with B. You can hear the word at 0.32.

5. You have to be at the correct gate a certain time (often at least half an hour) before .

Write a nine-letter word beginning with D. You can hear the word at 0.36.

Checking In at the Airport – exercise 4 Grammar: talking about the future

The conversation refers to some things in the past (e.g. “Have you already checked in online?”) and other things happening at the moment of speaking (e.g. “Here’s your passport”). However, most of the dialogue refers to things in the very near future – the next few hours.

Listen to five sentences and read a note about why the verb is in the form used. Then, complete the gaps with the exact words you hear.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-grammar-where-are-you-flying.mp3 1. This sentence uses the present continuous form: this is used to describe actions that are in progress at the moment of speaking, plus plans that are due to take place very soon – like the man’s flight.

Write one word in each gap.

Where you today?

The present continuous is formed by the verb ‘be’ in the correct person and the main verb in -ing form.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-grammar-you-need-to-be.mp3 2. This sentence uses the present simple: it refers to something that will happen in the future, but the speaker is expressing a fact that is true for everyone on the flight – for facts and rules, use the present simple.

You be at the gate forty minutes before departure.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-grammar-do-I-have-to.mp3 3, This is similar to the previous clip, but this time it’s a question: verbs of obligation are usually in the present simple, even when the obligation is in the future.

I pick up my bag in Dubai?

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-grammar-Ill-let-you-off.mp3 4. This verb form is sometimes called the ‘future simple’ and it’s formed by a modal verb plus the infinitive (without to): the speaker uses it to express a decision that she makes at the time of speaking.

Write one word in each gap. The first gap is a contraction of the subject + the modal verb.

you off this time.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Airport-checkin-grammar-will-you-be-checking.mp3 5. This verb form is called the future continuous: in this dialogue, it’s used to be polite.

Write one word in each gap – this time there are no contractions.

How many bags you in?

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Vocabulary exercises b2, vocabulary exercises c1, practice english listening b2 exercises – air travel: the inside story.

• English Listening B2 Exercises

A . You are going to listen to an interview with two pilots. Listen to the first part of the interview and answer questions.

1   What weather conditions are the most dangerous when flying a plane?

2   Which is more dangerous, taking off or landing?

3   Is it really worth passengers wearing seat belts?

4   Is it worth listening to the safety instructions?

5   Are some airports more dangerous than others?

6   How important is it for pilots to speak English well?

1   Sudden changes of wind direction, especially during thunderstorms and typhoons. But more turbulence isn’t dangerous as pilots are prepared.

2    Both are dangerous, but take-off is a bit more dangerous than landing, especially if there is a problem just before the plane goes into the air.

3    Yes, because if the plane moves suddenly, e.g. in turbulence or when the plane brakes on the ground, you can be thrown out of your seat.

4   Yes, because if there’s a fire, it might be dark and knowing where the nearest exit is could save you.

5   Yes, especially ones with mountains or in countries with older more basic equipment. Only very experienced pilots are allowed to land at these airports.

6    Very important as it’s the official language of the air. Most pilots and controllers speak good English, but not all.

Audioscripts

I = interviews, S = Steven, R = Richard

I    With me in the studio today I have two pilots, Richard and Steven, who are going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about flying and air travel. Hello to both of you.

S & R    Hello.

I    Right, the first question is what weather conditions are the most dangerous when flying a plane?

S    Probably the most dangerous weather conditions are when the wind changes direction very suddenly. This tends to happen during thunderstorms and typhoons, and it’s especially dangerous during take-off and landing. But it’s quite unusual – I’ve been flying for 37 years now and I’ve only experienced this three or four times.

I    Is all turbulence dangerous?

S    No, in fact it’s not normally dangerous. Pilots know when to expect turbulence and we try to avoid it by changing routes or flight levels.

I    Which is more dangerous, take-off or landing?

R    Both take-off and landing can be dangerous. They’re the most critical moments of a flight. Pilots talk about the ‘critical eight minutes’ – the three minutes after take-off and the five minutes before landing. Most accidents happen in this period.

S    I would say take-off is probably slightly more dangerous than landing. There is a critical moment just before take-off when the plane is accelerating, but it hasn’t yet reached the speed to be able to fly. If the pilot has a problem with the plane at this point, he has very little time – maybe only a second – to abort the take-off.

I    Passengers often think that putting on seat belts in a plane is really a waste of time. Is that true?

S    Not at all. When the plane is moving on the ground and the pilot suddenly puts the brakes on, passengers can be thrown out of their seats, just like in a car. But more importantly, during the flight if there is sudden and severe turbulence, you could be thrown all over the cabin if you aren’t wearing your seat belt. That’s why airlines usually recommend you wear your belt even when the seat belt light is off.

I    Should we really listen to the safety information?

S    It’s definitely worth listening to the information about emergency exits. If there’s a fire on a plane, it may be dark and the plane will be full of smoke and fumes. So listening to where the exits are, and working out which one is the nearest exit to you, might save your life. Most aircrew can even tell you where the emergency exits are in the hotels where they stay.

I    What about life jackets?

R    Fortunately, planes very rarely have to land in the sea, but to be honest the chances of surviving if your plane did crash into the sea are not high.

I    Are some airports more dangerous than others?

S    Yes, some are – particularly airports with high mountains around them and airports in countries with older or more basic navigation equipment.

R    For some difficult airports like, let’s say Kathmandu, they only allow very experienced pilots to land there. And for some of these airports pilots have to practise on a simulator first before they are given permission to land a plane there.

I    How important is it for pilots and controllers to have good clear English?

S    It’s the official language of the air, so obviously it’s vital for pilots and controllers to have good English. To be honest, it doesn’t always happen.

R    And apart from people’s English not being good, some countries don’t respect the convention and don’t force their pilots to speak in English. But most of them do, luckily.

B . Now listen to the second part. What three questions do they answer?

1   Have you ever had a problem with a famous person as a passenger?

2   What’s your most frightening experience as a pilot?

3   Have you ever been taken ill during a flight?

I    Have you ever had a problem with a famous person as a passenger?

R    I’ve carried a lot of famous people and they are usually very well behaved. But I remember once I had the actor Steven Seagal as a passenger – and the cabin crew told me that he had just got on board and he was carrying an enormous samurai sword. Weapons aren’t allowed on board, of course, so I had to go and speak to him. He looked very imposing standing in the cabin. He was nearly 2 metres tall, dressed completely in black, carrying a sword and he is – as you probably know – a martial arts expert. But in fact, he was very happy to give us the sword, which was gold and which had been give to him as a present in Bali.

I    What’s your most frightening experience as a pilot?

S    Crossing the road outside the airport terminal! That’s certainly the most dangerous thing I do. Probably in connection with flying, my most frightening experience would have to be a near miss I had when I was flying a Boeing 747 at night. A small aeroplane passed in the opposite direction just 15 metres below my plane… Just after this happened, a flight attendant brought us some hot snacks and I distinctly remember how good they tasted!

I    Have you ever been taken ill during a flight?

R    Once I was flying from Hong Kong to London, that’s a 13-hour flight, and I got food poisoning after six hours. I felt terrible – incapable of doing anything at all for the rest of the flight. Luckily though, the rest of the crew were fine, because on all flights the crew are given different meals, just in case. So as my co-pilots had eaten a different meal and felt fine, the flight was able to continue safely.

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General Listening Quiz

“travel on sky airlines”.

Pre-Listening Exercise

What types of information would you expect to hear from the pilot or flight attendant on an airplane?

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Travel on Sky Airlines

What is the number of this flight, how long is the flight, what is the local time in seattle, what is the current weather in seattle, at what gate will the plane arrive, vocabulary practice.

Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:

• Mixed-Up Sentence   |   Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

Post-Listening Exercise

Talk about your last trip on an airplane. Where did you go? How much did it cost? What was your flight like: pleasant, comfortable, long?

Online Investigation

What are the most important points you look for when you choose an airline for your next flight? Which things are most important to you? Price, destination, length of flight, on-time record, meals, comfort and seating, and customer service? Then, choose a destination and compare two different airlines and see which company is the best choice for you.

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A website to improve your English comprehension skills

In this section there is a selection of listening exercises about travelling and places from all around the world

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Air travel - listening

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• A2 listening

Trains and travel

Listen to five different conversations at a train station and do the exercises to practise and improve your listening skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise before you listen. Then do the other exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

Do this exercise before you listen.

Passenger:  Excuse me? Which platform does the train to Cambridge leave from?

Train station attendant:  The 10:15 train or the 10:40?

Passenger:  The 10:15.

Train station attendant:  The 10:15 train leaves from platform 3.

Passenger:  Thanks.

Passenger:  Hi. Could I have a ticket for the next train to Manchester, please?

Train ticket vendor:  Single or return?

Passenger:  Errr, single please.

Train ticket vendor:  The next train is at 12:30pm, leaving from platform 2.

Passenger:  And how much is it?

Train ticket vendor:  £13:50

Ticket inspector:  Tickets, please. Can I see your ticket, please?

Passenger:  Yes, here you are.

Ticket inspector:  This ticket is for Oxford.

Passenger:  Yes, that's right.

Ticket inspector:  But this train doesn't go to Oxford, it goes to Liverpool.

Passenger:  What? Liverpool? Oh no!

Train station announcement:  The next train arriving at platform 1 is the 15:45 train to Exeter, stopping at Bristol Temple Meads and arriving at Exeter St David's at 18:30.

Harry:  What time is our train back to London? 

Angel:  It leaves at 4:30. We've only got 5 minutes.

Harry:  What platform does it leave from?

Angel:  Platform 2. Look, over there. 

Harry:  I can't see our train anywhere. Let me see the ticket. Look, it says 4:20, not 4:30!

Angel:  Oh no, we've missed it.

Harry:  No we haven't, it's late. Look, here it is now.

Angel:  Phew, that was lucky!

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• B1-B2 vocabulary

Do the exercises to improve your vocabulary for air travel.

Have you travelled by air? What is the longest flight you have taken?

Language level

I can't open the top part of https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/vocabulary/b1-b2-vocabulary/air-travel. It does not display in Chrome on some computers with Windows 11 and Chrome, nor in Edge please help me

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Hello DavidLeonSosa,

I'm afraid there is a technical issue, which we are working to fix as soon as possible. 

In the meantime, I would recommend trying to view the page in an Incognito or InPrivate window. This worked for me yesterday, though it's not working now. It might allow you to see the main exercise as well as Task 2.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience!

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

I have not traveled by air, but I'd like to. I would like to fly to see a soccer world cup.

This topic is insane, it's helpful and help me a lot

A few difficult

I travel many time by air.Usually I travel with hand baggage and put there on overhead locker.I adore feeling when plane take off and lands.The most longer flight was 4 hours.

Great topic many thanks

I do travel by air sometimes. The longest flight I took was from Iraq Baghdad to Iran Mashhad. It was more than three hours flight. Unfortunately we sot at the end of the plane and the seats were very uncomfortable. The meal was so small.

My first travel by air was from Madrid to Huston. I found very strange (and a bit unfriendly) that in the American airport everything was written in English, just English and no other language but English, while in Spain they were even in Chinese.

My longest flight is 3 hours to Mumbai. I like to travel by flight but I hate long lines at the airport.

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Citing self-defense against repeated Israeli military aggressions, Iravani said the strikes were specifically in retaliation to an Israeli attack on April 1 against what Iran says were diplomatic facilities in Damascus.

Iran claims the attack violated international law and led to the death of seven Iranian military advisors, including key commanders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The statement also criticizes the United Nations Security Council for “failing to uphold international peace,” allowing Israel to “breach” established international norms and “escalate” regional tensions.

Additional context: Israel has carried out numerous strikes on Iran-backed targets in Syria, often targeting weapons shipments allegedly intended for Hezbollah, a powerful Iranian proxy in Lebanon. 

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the April 1 attack which destroyed an Iranian consulate building in the capital Damascus, including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top Revolutionary Guards commander.

However an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told CNN that their intelligence showed the building was not a consulate and was instead “a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building.”

China expresses 'deep concern', calls for ceasefire

From CNN's Philip Wang and Irene Nasser

China has expressed "deep concern" over the "current escalation" following Iran's attack on Israel, according to a spokesperson for its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, adding that it is a "spillover of the Gaza conflict" and a ceasefire should be implemented without delay.

In a statement, China called "on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent further escalations."

"The ongoing situation is the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict," the spokesperson said, adding that a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas should be implemented without any more delay.

Beijing did not  name or condemn Hamas  in the wake of the initial October 7 attacks. Since then, it has condemned the war and been a vocal  proponent of an immediate ceasefire  and the implementation of a “two-state” solution.

Last month, Chinese diplomat Wang Kejian met Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, the first meeting between a Chinese and Hamas official publicly acknowledged by Beijing since the outbreak of the  war in Gaza .

Wang’s visit follows efforts by Beijing to step up its profile as a  peace broker in the Middle East conflict.

US forces intercepted 70+ drones and at least three ballistic missiles, US officials say

From CNN's Oren Liebermann and Haley Britzky

US forces intercepted more than 70 one-way attack drones and at least three ballistic missiles during Iran's attack on Israel, according to two US officials familiar with the situation.

The ballistic missiles were intercepted by warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, one of the officials said. Iran launched more than 100 ballistic missiles in total at Israel, according to a senior administration official.

The US Navy currently has two destroyers in that area, both are guided missile destroyers capable of intercepting missile and drone launches.

US fighter jets were also part of the response to Iran’s attack on Saturday and shot down drones launched towards Israel, another US official told CNN.

Biden to meet with G7 leaders Sunday as he condemns Iran's "brazen attack"

From CNN’s Lauren Koenig

US President Joe Biden will meet with G7 leaders Sunday “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” according to a statement released by the White House. 

“My team will engage with their counterparts across the region. And we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders,” the statement from Biden reads. “And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people.”

US defensive assets moved to the region earlier this week and “helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” according to the statement.

Biden also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu following Saturday’s attack “to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel.” 

United Airlines cancels three Middle East flights

From CNN’s Sara Smart

At least three United Airlines flights headed to or departing from the Middle East have been canceled amid the ongoing conflict unfolding between Iran and Israel.

On Saturday a flight from Newark, New Jersey to Tel Aviv, a flight from Washington D.C. to Amman, Jordan, and one from Dubai to Newark were canceled, the airline told CNN in a statement.

There have been no changes to any Sunday flights for United as of Saturday night, according to the airline. 

CNN has reached out to other airlines regarding cancellations.

Biden told Netanyahu US will not participate in offensive operations against Iran, US official says

From CNN's MJ Lee

The US will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, US President Joe Biden has made clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a senior administration official told CNN.

The comments were relayed during the phone call that the two leaders shared in the aftermath of Iran's retaliatory strikes against Israel.

Biden tells Netanyahu tonight was a win, nothing of "value" hit in Israel, US official says 

Israel should consider tonight a win because the current US assessment is that Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s superior military capability, President Joe Biden told Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their phone call, a senior administration official told CNN.

The US’s assessment tonight was that almost all of the drones and missiles – including more than 100 ballistic missiles -- launched by Iran had been knocked out of the sky. No cruise missile made impact, the official said, and nothing of “value” was hit. 

Bolton: 'Passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake'

From CNN's Heather Chen

John Bolton, the former US national security adviser and ambassador to the UN, said “passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake,” warning of more attacks. 

“This is not time to play academic games and message and signal. This is a question of power,” Bolton told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. "If they came from a different location containing nuclear warheads, Israel might not be so lucky.”

A known Iran policy hawk, Bolton served in senior national security positions during the Trump and Bush administrations. A neoconservative, Bolton has in the past advocated war with Iran and a pre-emptive strike on North Korea.

In 2022, he was the target of an alleged assassination attempt orchestrated by a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

He has warned against underestimating Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran has said is for peaceful purposes only.

“I think we have enough experience with faulty intelligence by now, not to be so sure, not to know how much of Iran’s uranium enrichment program is really being conducted under a mountain in North Korea,” Bolton said.

If Tehran sent “a wire transfer to Pyongyang,” it would give the North Koreans “enough time to put a couple of warheads on an airplane and fly them to Tehran. (But) if you take away their nuclear capability, that would be a dramatic hit to the regime, maybe enough to topple it.”

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• AGRICULTURE

Hilton lifts 2024 profit forecast on international travel demand

(Reuters) -Hotel operator Hilton Worldwide raised its annual adjusted profit forecast on Wednesday, banking on international travel demand to offset normalizing domestic travel in the U.S.

The company forecast 2024 adjusted profit of between $6.89 and $7.03 per share, up from the previously forecast $6.80 to $6.94 per share.

International travel demand is expected to remain strong this year as global air connectivity increases and travelers flock to Asian and Latin American countries, while demand for domestic travel plateaus in North America.

Hilton, which also owns brands such as Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, reported quarterly revenue per available room (RevPAR) of $104.16, up 2% from the same period last year.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Milla Nissi)

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Listening Exercises A2 – Travel

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Exercise  1   

Cindy is talking about her vacation. Listen and number the pictures.

Answer & Transcript

A:   So how was your trip to San Francisco, Cindy?

B:   Oh, pretty good, mostly.

A:   Mostly?

B:   Yeah, it started off okay. I did all the usual things. You know, I took a ride on the cable car. That was fun.

A:   I know, I love the cable cars.

B:   Then I looked around Chinatown. The food there is terrific.

B:   Anyway. On my second day I decided to rent a car. I wanted to get out of the city and look around.

A:   Were you on your own?

B:   Uh-huh. So first I drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and stopped to take some photos. Then I decided to drive out to Napa Valley.

A:   Napa Valley?

B:   Yeah. That’s where they grow grapes to make wine. It’s really beautiful. All green – great vineyards. Unfortunately, while I was driving I had a slight accident.

A:   Oh, no. Were you hurt?

B:   No, But it was awful. I had to leave the car and take a taxi all the way back to the hotel. It cost me an arm and a leg!

A:   On, no. What a vacation!

People are calling home while they are on vacation. Listen and check the word that describes each person.

     ◻  worried

     ◻  excited

    ◻  upset

     ◻  relaxed

     ◻  happy

    ◻   frightened

     ◻  pleased

    ◻  worried

     ◻  sick

    ◻  excited

     ◻  upset

    ◻  relaxed

6.  Margaret

     ◻  bored

    ◻  angry

Listen again. Why does each person call? Circle the correct answer.

1.   Jill …………… .

a.   has some news

b.   was in a dangerous situation

c.   wants to ask a favor

2.   Sean …………… .

a.   isn’t having a good time

b.   has met someone interesting

c.   needs money

3.   John …………… .

a.   lost his wallet

b.   lost his ticket

c.   will be coming back on time

4.   Rachel …………… .

a.   has good news

b.   needs help

c.   to tell her friend about a health problem

5.   Mary …………… .

a.   lost her glasses

b.   was in an accident

c.   has good news

6.   Margaret …………… .

a.   is coming home earlier

b.   is taking a different flight

c.   doesn’t have anything to do

Hi, Mom. This is Jill. Just calling to say hello. I’m having a wonderful time. Last week I met this gorgeous Italian guy. He’s really nice. Umm, he doesn’t have a jot yet, but I’m sure he’s going to be very successful and guess what? He wants to marry me. He gave me a beautiful ring – I think it belonged to a relative – anyway, what do you think? I’ll call back later. Bye.

Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad. This is Sean. I’m having a terrific time but I’m not relaxing much. The weather is great so I’m always busy doing something. Things are really expensive in Hawaii – the hotel, the clothes, the food, everything – and I’m completely out of money. So can you send me some money as soon as possible? Thanks. Love you. Bye.

Mom. This is John. Listen. I’m going to be back a day late. Traffic to the airport this morning was terrible. By the time I arrived, my plane had left. I also lost my wallet in the rush. It has all my credit cards in it. And the airline won’t help me. I’m not sure what to do. I’ll call you later. Bye.

Oh, Bob. This is Rachel. Sorry I missed your call last night. I went out for dinner and today I’ve got a terrible stomachache. It must be something I ate. Anyway, I’m going to see the doctor. Don’t worry – I’m sure I’ll be fine. Talk to you soon.

Hi, Dad. This is Mary calling from Paris. Sorry I missed you. Listen. Something terrible happened. I went on a bus tour this morning, and dropped my glasses somewhere. I can’t find them, and I can’t see anything without them. Can you call me back as soon as you get this message?

Hi, Mom. This is Margaret calling. Listen. I won’t be home tomorrow night. They changed my flight and there’s no flight tomorrow. So, uh, I’ll be home on Friday. Don’t worry about me! I’m excited because I can do a few more things here in Hong Kong. See you soon.

People are describing travel experiences. Is each statement true or false? Listen and check the correct answer.

Listen again. Why does each person want to go back again? Write the correct letter.

1.   Cassandra ……

2.   Brooke ……

3.   Corey ……

4.   Melanie ……

a.   He wants to listen to the traditional music.

b.   She wants to see a temple.

c.   She wants to see the museums she missed.

d.   She wants to scuba dive.

I met this really nice family when I was in Korea last year. I was in a restaurant, and I was having trouble understanding the menu. The wife came over and asked me what I wanted to eat and told me all about Korean food. Then they asked me to join them at their table, and they paid for my dinner. They also invited me to their house. We became friends, and we keep in touch now by e-mail. They’ll take me to a famous temple the next time I go back. Isn’t that fabulous? I can’t wait to see that temple!

Once when I was in Italy, I took a bus trip from Rome to Florence. The bus was very crowded, and I had to stand most of the way. I had a couple of small bags with me. One was a backpack that had my wallet in it. I kept it in front of me for the entire trip. But when I got to Florence, I couldn’t believe what had happened! Someone had cut a hole in my backpack, put in their hand, and removed my wallet. Then they took the money out and put the wallet back inside my backpack. I never noticed a thing! It really ruined my vacation because I couldn’t pay to get into any museums. So now I want to go back again next summer and really see the museums I missed.

Last summer I flew from London to Casablanca in Morocco to do some research on the traditional music there. Unfortunately, my bags didn’t arrive with the flight. I thought they would probably arrive on the next flight, but they didn’t. I had nothing to wear except the clothes I was wearing. Luckily the airline gave me some money to buy some extra clothes and things. The bags didn’t turn up till four days later. I was really glad to get my bags back because I had a lot of important stuff inside them. But I had to wait around until they turned up, so I didn’t get a chance to listen to any of the traditional music. That’s why I want to get back there again sometime.

I was on vacation in Australia last summer when I got a terrible case of the flu. I had to stay in bed for four days and it was a week before I was feeling well enough to go out. I have a cousin in Sydney who was really kind and spent a lot of time with me until I was better. By then, I only had three days of sightseeing left before I had to leave. I saw the Sydney Opera house, and that was about it. The most awful thing is I didn’t have the chance to go scuba diving. I want to go back and scuba dive there. It has the best coral reefs in the world.

Frank is telling Lisa about his vacation. listen and number the events from 1 to 5 in the order they took place.

He was in an accident.       …….

He lost his wallet.                …….

His bags didn’t arrive.         …….

He missed his flight.            …….

He got sick.                            …….

5   4   2   1   3

A:   How was your trip to Miami?

B:   Well, it could have been better.

A:   Really? What happened?

B:   Well, first, I missed my flight. I had to wait five hours for the next flight. I was so angry.

A:   But you made it to Miami safely?

B:   Yes, I made it to Miami, but my bags didn’t arrive. I got them back four days later.

A:   That’s too bad. Did you spend any time at the beach?

B:   Yes, I went to the beach on Monday, and I lay in the sun all day. And then, I got sick. Sunstroke! I was in bed for three days.

A:   Oh, no! Was the rest of your vacation any better?

B:   Not really. After I felt better, I went sightseeing in South Beach, but, I lost my wallet that day. I’m sure it was stolen.

A:   Oh, Frank. What else happened?

B:   You’re not going to believe this, but on my way back to the airport, my taxi was in an accident.

A:   Were you okay?

B:   Yes, I was fine. And I didn’t miss my flight back home. I was so lucky!

Courtney is describing her recent trip. Are these statements true or false? listen and check the correct answer.

1 False   2 False   3 True   4 True   5 True

Well, last year I took my family on a trip to New York City for the first time. We were a little nervous, because we thought that the city would be really dangerous, but it was actually quite safe. We went all over the city and never felt scared. We got to see New York’s skyscrapers, museums, and stores, and eat ethnic food in several great restaurants. The people were so nice and helpful everywhere we went. We were really glad we decided to go, because we ended up having a great time. But, yes, everything in New York City is very expensive.

Related Posts

• Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Travel
• Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Experiences
• Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Health
• Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Plans
• Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Transportation
• Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Now

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Iran air defences activated amid reports of Israeli strike near city of Isfahan — as it happened

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has "urged" Australians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to leave "if it's safe to do so".

The updated travel advice comes after Iran fired anti-aircraft missiles on Friday amid reports of an Israeli missile strike near the city of Isfahan.

In updated travel advice, DFAT noted "a high threat of military reprisals and terrorist attacks against Israel and Israeli interests across the region".

Look back on our live coverage in our blog below.

• 6:48 AM 6:48 AM Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 6:48am Minister says Australia 'extremely' concerned about potential for 'further escalation'
• 5:46 AM 5:46 AM Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 5:46am An apparent Israeli strike puts US President Joe Biden in a tricky spot
• 4:56 AM 4:56 AM Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 4:56am Australian government updates travel advice for Iran, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

To leave a comment on the blog, please log in or sign up for an ABC account.

Live updates

That is where we will leave our live coverage.

By Claudia Williams

Thank you for joining us. Here is where things stand:

• Sources say Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil on Friday
• Iranian media reported explosions, which an Iranian official told Reuters were caused by air defense systems
• Three drones over the central city of Isfahan had been shot down, according to state media
• A senior Iranian official told Reuters Iran has no plan to strike back immediately
• A source familiar with the situation said the US was notified before Israel's attack
• The attack came days after Iran launched an unprecedented strike on Israel with a barrage of drones and missiles
• Israel's leadership and the military have not commented on the reports

Egypt 'deeply concerned' over Iran-Israel escalation

Egypt's foreign ministry said it was "deeply concerned" about an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, following reports of an Israeli attack on Iran.

It also warned of the consequences of expanding the conflict and instability in the region.

EU Commission president calls on Israel, Iran to refrain from escalation

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has called on Iran, Israel and their allies to refrain from escalation in the Middle East.

"It is absolutely necessary that the region remains stable and that all sides restrain from further action," she said.

State media says Israeli strike targeted air defence unit in Syria

Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in its south and causing material damage, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the strike hit a military radar for government forces. It was not clear if there were casualties, the Observatory said.

The Observatory’s chief Rami Abdurrahman said six Israeli fighter jets entered Syria’s airspace and were flying east when they were spotted by the radar.

The warplanes were seen around the time loud noises and drones were reported near a major Iranian air base and nuclear site early Friday.

That area of Syria is directly west of Isfahan, some 1,500 kilometers away, and east of Israel.

Israelis respond to reports of attack on Iran

  Let's take a look at how residents in Israel have responded to reports of the attack in Iran.

"Israel attacked Iran land because we were supposed to... we have no other option beside to react, but this is not the way we want it to be, we want to get back to our routine; our life - to run, to live our life, no more wars, enough." — Tel Aviv resident Moshe Pretz

"We're good, you can look around, we're happy here, not from the attack but I think the situation in the Middle East is complicated but Israel will always win and everybody has to know that. So, enjoy your day and hope people in Iran will understand we are not seeking for war but we are seeking for peace and we want to be here safe, so, understand that." — Pavlo Tzuk from Central Israel

"I am very sad that Israel attacked Iran and I am afraid what will happen now, what will be in Israel." —Israeli resident Edna Reshef

Expert says reports indicate it could be a targeted attack

Samir Puri from King's College London said the reported attack appeared to be no where near the scale of the one that Israel had suffered from Iran.

He said this could indicate that it was a targeted attack.

"If Iran has been struck by only a handful of Israel missiles it might have been a very precisely targeted attempt to strike Iranian military facilities, and in particular, facilities Iran might have used to launch its own attack a few days ago on April 13 against Israel," he told ABC News Channel.

Dr Puri said the great uncertainty was whether there would be further waves of Israeli attacks.

"We can't speak of this as a finished episode necessarily," he said. "It is possible that Israel and Iran might back into their more undeclared way of sniping at each other and of striking blows at each other, which has been going on for years and decades through proxies and more covert action. "The reason why this is such a show stopping and perilous moment is that they have not lobbed missiles and drones at each other from their own territory ever before. "We are really hoping to see that this particular cycle comes to an end and clearly nothing is going to solve Iran and Israel's deep enmity in the region across many, many issues, made even worse by the conflict in Gaza. "But we are just hoping to see that it slips away from this current phase."

Oman condemns reported Israeli attack on Iran

In a statementOman's foreign ministry has condemned the reported Israeli attack on Iranian soil, as well as "the repeated Israeli military attacks in the region".

Oman has been acting as a mediator in the Middle East.

Unnamed Iranian official says there's no plan for an immediate retaliation

A senior Iranian official has told Reuters news agency Iran has no plan for immediate retaliation against Israel after sources said Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil.

"The foreign source of the incident has not been confirmed," the Iranian official said on condition of anonymity. "We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack."

Iran's airports and airspace reopen

Earlier we covered that Iran had closed its airports in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan after the reported attack.

It also cleared flights from the western portion of its airspace for a few hours after the attack, according to FlightRadar24.

State media is now reporting the airports and airspace have reopened.

Minister says Australia 'extremely' concerned about potential for 'further escalation'

Earlier we reported that DFAT had updated its travel advice for   Iran, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories .

Acting Foreign Minister Katy Gallagher has issued a statement following the reports.

"Australia remains extremely concerned about the potential for miscalculation and further escalation of conflict in the region," she said. "This is in no one's interests. "We urge all parties to exercise restraint and step back to avoid a further spiral of violence. "Australia will continue working with partners to try to reduce tensions and prevent further regional spillover."

This was the outcome world leaders were keen to avoid

By Rebecca Armitage

ABC correspondent Isabella Higgins who's currently in Jerusalem, says that after Iran struck Israel last weekend, world leaders have been trying to avoid a tit-for-tat escalation of retaliatory strikes:

"For days, world leaders have been urging calm on Israel, amid fears a major retaliation would drag the region into a serious war. "The Middle East is on the on a precipice … one miscalculation, one miscommunication, one mistake, could lead to the unthinkable – a full-scale regional conflict," the UN's Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. The Israeli Government made it clear they would respond to last weekend's unprecedented missile and drone attack from Iran. Tehran said the barrage was a retaliatory strike in response to the killing of several Iranian leaders in a presumed Israeli air strike on an embassy in Damascus earlier this month — and the matter was now concluded. The US, UK and European Union have been encouraging Israel to accept a package of international economic sanction in response to Iran's attack and avoid a serious military reprisal. Israel's western partners felt this walked the tightrope of deterring Tehran, without further escalation. But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the nation would do what it felt it needed to defend itself. "They also have all kinds of suggestions and advice, I appreciate it, but I want to make it clear — we will make our own decisions." These decisions appear to be playing out in front of us right now — and the West will be watching anxiously."

Expert says Israel and Iran both in difficult positions domestically, need to show strong response

University of Melbourne Political Sciences lecturer Dara Conduit has told ABC News Channel the way that Israel and Iran are responding speaks to the severity of the situation.

"The government in Israel and the regime in Iran are both in difficult positions domestically and they both have a really strong need to show to a domestic audience that they are responding to this," she said. "Israel, [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu in particular, needed to do this. Domestically he is in a really tight spot and he is very keen to show strength and also to highlight the regional risks that Israel faces."

Dr Conduit said how Iran was reacting was important with it trying to diminish the reports.

"There is a chance that Iranian officials, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will decide we can't accept this and we do need to respond and that is where there is a risk of miscalculation and a risk of mistakes and that is the scary part." she said.

Dr Conduit said she believed both sides were aware that there would not be "any winners of a direct conflict between the two states".

IAEA confirms no damage made to Iran's nuclear sites

An apparent israeli strike puts us president joe biden in a tricky spot.

This is not what the White House wanted, according to Barbara Miller, the ABC's North America correspondent based in Washington DC:  

"The US has been trying to dissuade its ally from retaliating for the Iranian weekend strikes. The message from the administration was that Israel should take the win. With the help of its allies it had repelled the vast majority of the Iranian drones and missiles. The White House announced new sanctions on Iran in a further show of solidarity with Israel. It became increasingly clear however that Israel would act, stoking fears in Washington of an escalating tit for tat situation. From what we know so far this appears to have been a limited action. If that's the case, there will be hope here that Iran may draw a line. An interview Iran's Foreign Minister gave CNN just hours before news of the apparent Israeli action is cause for concern. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told the network Iran would respond immediately and "at a maximum level" if Israel struck.

Unnamed sources say Israel attacked Iran, state media says Iran defence system destroyed drones

Here is a recap of what is being reported as information continues to come in.

Three people familiar with the matter have told Reuters news agency Israel has attacked Iran.

Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones.  

The reports come days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.

One source told Reuters the US was not involved but was notified by Israel before the attack.

Iran's Fars news agency reported three explosions were heard near an army base in the central city of Isfahan.

An Iranian official told Reuters there was no missile attack and the explosions were the result of the activation of Iran's air defense systems.

Iranian state TV said that shortly after midnight "three drones were observed in the sky over Isfahan".

"The air defense system became active and destroyed these drones in the sky," state media reported.

The broadcaster later said the situation in Isfahan was normal and no ground explosions had occurred.

The Israeli military had no comment on the reports.

Iranian spokesman says 'quadcopter' drones shot down

We mentioned earlier that an Iranian government official and state-run TV have suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.

We now have some more information on what has been said.

Hossein Dalirian, who is a spokesman for Iran's civilian space program, said on X that several small "quadcopter" drones had been shot down.

A state television reporter in Isfahan said the same in a live report, saying "several small drones were flying in the sky over Isfahan, which were fired at".

Iranian senior commander says no damage was caused

A senior commander of Iran's army has said no damage was caused in the overnight attack, according to state TV.

He added that the noise heard overnight in Isfahan was due to air defence systems targeting a "suspicious object".

Australian government updates travel advice for Iran, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

By Tom Crowley

In updated travel advice, DFAT notes "a high threat of military reprisals and terrorist attacks against Israel and Israeli interests across the region".

"The security situation could deteriorate quickly, with little or no notice."

DFAT had already advised Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Israel and had warned against travel near Gaza or the West Bank beyond East Jerusalem.

But the request to leave is new.

DFAT warned military attacks could lead to travel disruptions including airspace closures. "Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport may pause operations due to heightened security concerns at any time, and at short notice."

A stronger 'do not travel' warning was already in place for Iran, but DFAT has updated its advice for that country, saying "regional tensions are high, and the security situation could deteriorate quickly with little or no notice."

Australian government officials have been directed not to leave the cities of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah and Tehran as a precaution.

'Do not travel' warnings remain in place for Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.

Australian citizens and permanent residents can register their location and stay in contact with officials via DFAT's crisis registration portal.

Nuclear facility in area where explosions heard

Malcolm Davis, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, has told ABC News the key facility in the area was the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

As we covered earlier, Iranian state media has described all nuclear sites in the area as "fully safe."

Dr Davis said it was a "harder and deeply buried target" and was one of the core aspects of Iran's potential to acquire nuclear weapons.

"There's also a series of military bases nearby that site as well as well as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps bases in the region," he said.

Dr Davis said Israel could not afford to allow Iran to get nuclear weapons.

"When you look at the size of Israel, the use of a nuclear weapon against Israel by Iran would be an existential threat to Israel itself," he said.

"So, I think that Israel would have every interest in preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons under any circumstances including if necessary through military strikes."

Could this be the beginning of a broader conflict?

Here's what Allyson Horn, the ABC's Middle East correspondent in Jerusalem, says:  

"I'll start by saying you never know what's going to happen in the Middle East – and that very little is still confirmed on this unfolding issue.

But if, as it appears, these are limited, targeted drone strikes on military facilities in Iran, then it would be considered at the lesser end of the responses that Israel could have exacted.

We need to still see what the damage is in Iran, and whether there have been any civilian casualties, because that could change what Iran decides to do next.

Last weekend, Iran launched a missile barrage against Israel — most of it intercepted by the Iron Dome defence system.

And after that Iranian attack, there was a lot of internal pressure from within Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, to hit-back immediately, and strike hard.

That doesn't appear to have happened – it wasn't immediate and it appears the US was given warning ahead of time. And it also appears to be only a few drones launched into Iran, targeting limited military sites.

That's not to say that the Israeli response isn't serious – it is. Israel is still directing an attack on Iranian soil, which in itself will be seen as a provocation. And Iran could decide that it has to respond.

So the threat of escalation is high – and it's real.

But, it could also be seen by Iran as an expected response by Israel – and one that didn't target civilians – therefore lessening Iran's appetite to prompt a wider-regional conflict."