Manuals > General English > Rosetta Stone Advantage > Beginner - Book 1 > Lesson 27
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By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to take a taxi and communicate with the driver.
Communication strategies:
The student should be able to able to take a taxi someone by following the 4 steps below:
1) state where they want to go
2) state where something is located
3) ask about payment
4) state where to stop the taxi
e.g. I’d like to go to the Plaza Hotel, please. It’s near the station. You can stop here. How much is it? Keep the change.
Words and rules:
The student should be able to use the relative adverb "where"
e.g. The trunk is where you put your luggage.
The student should be able to use prepositions of place
e.g. on Main Street
The student should be able to use some vocabulary related to taxis. e.g. the meter
Appropriateness:
Non-verbal behaviour: The student should know how to hail a taxi
Register: When taking you taxi you can use a casual or a polite register depending on the driver.
Social rules: It's customary to tip a taxi driver in the USA.
Cultural references: "Where to" is a common expression used by drivers which means "Where are you going to?"
Track #58
I need to catch my train. Can you take me to Central Station?
Track #59
Please take me to my hotel - the Grand Plaza.
Track #60
Take me to the airport, please - and quickly.
Because the lesson touches on the topic of taxis, you are welcome to introduce some of the following vocabulary if you like.
1) a toll (n)
2) a passenger (n)
3) in a hurry (exp)
4) a map (n)
5) an accident (n)
6) a traffic jam (n)
7) to pick someone up (v)
8) to drop someone off (v)
9) an expressway (n)
10) the meter (n)
Option 1:
Difficulty ★
Type: Skit
Purpose: To teach the student how to hail a cab,
Method: Teach the student different phrases or gestures they can use to hail a cab.
Option 2:
Difficulty ★★
Type: Fluency practice
Purpose: To teach the student how to give directions on the fly.
Method: Pull up a map of a city, and have one person move their finger around the map
pretending to be the taxi driver, while the other person gives directions in real time.
Option 3:
Difficulty ★★★
Type: Fluency practice
Purpose: To teach the student how to reply to frequently asked questions
Method: Brainstorm some questions that passengers are frequently asked by friendly taxi
drivers e.g. Where are you from? Then role-play a conversation with a taxi driver.
Naruhodo point:
There is a new style of taxi that is becoming popular called “Uber”. The company develops, markets and operates the Uber mobile app, which allows consumers with smartphones to submit a trip request which is then routed to Uber drivers who use their own cars.
Extra questions you might like to ask in the lesson
- Where to?
- Do you have the address?
- Are you here on business?
- Where are you from?
- Is this your first time in NY?
Let’s start
Match the words to their definitions.
Cab = another name for a taxi
Trunk = the back part of a taxi where you put your luggage
Hail = to ask a taxi to stop for you so you can get in
Destination = the place you want to go to
Fare = the cost of your trip in the taxi
surcharge = an extra fee you need to pay
Ask your teacher one question using each of the words in the vocabulary box.
Trunk = Can you open the trunk?
Hail = How do you hail a cab?
Cab = When was the last time you took a cab?
Fare = How much is the fare to your house?
Destination = What is your destination?
surcharge = Is there a surcharge?
Let’s try
Listen and write down each passenger’s destination.
Central Station
The Grand Plaza Hotel
The airport
Tell your teacher where each person is taking a taxi to.
She is taking a taxi to central station.
She is taking a taxi to the Grand Plaza Hotel
He is taking a taxi to the airport
A) What are some places you often take taxis to?
B) I usually take a taxi home when it’s raining.
Let’s practice
Use the information and phrases below to practice taking a taxi.
Destination: The National Theater
Location: on Main Street
Fare: $10
A) Where to?
B) Please take me to the National Theater
A) Where is that?
B) It’s near the station.
A) Ah OK. I know it.
B) You can stop here. How much is it?
A) $25
B) Can I pay by credit card?
A) Sure.
B) Here’s the tip.
Let’s speak
Complete the role-play
Same as above role-play