Learn English with Photos : Air Travel Transcript

Hello and welcome to the first installment of Learn English with Photos. My name is Jeffrey Hill and I’m going to be using photos I’ve taken to help you improve your English vocabulary and p se your speaking skills. In this episode, we’re going to be looking at language connected with air travel. So without further ado, let’s get started. This photo was taken in May 2012 at Glasgow airport. I flew from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris to Glasgow with easyJet, a low-cost or budget airline. The flight took about one and a half hours; I think. Of course, this being Scotland, the sky is overcast and it looks like it could rain at any minute. I think the temperature was about 5 degrees—and that was in May. So much for global warming! I took the photo just a er the plane had landed and you can see the passengers disembarking. The bald man with the glasses (who looks a bit like me in fact!) is coming down the ramp or stairs. He’s carrying a red suitcase in hi hand and has an armful of stuff—probably books, newspapers and the like. The young boy just ahead of him is pulling a suitcase on wheels (or wheeled suitcase) behind him. Not an easy job! The grey-haired couple at the bo om of the stairs are both carrying blue bags. The girl with the scarf around her neck is pulling a red suitcase on wheels. She also has a pla bag. The passenger on the l here has a rucksack or backpack on his back. So all the passengers have what’s called carry-on baggage or hand baggage. This means that it is small enough to fit into the lockers in the cabin of the plane. On easyJet, you are allowed to take one piece of hand baggage into the cabin with you. You don’t have to pay for this. However, if you have extra pieces of luggage or items which are too big to fit into the lockers, they will have to be checked in and put into the hold of the plane (that’s the storage area beneath the cabin). And, of course, you’ll have to pay an add onal charge. In fact, even though budget airlines are supposed to be cheap you might end up paying a lot of add onal charges on top of the basic fare. For example, there’ll probably be an admin on fee or a credit card fee when you book. I’ve already m oned the luggage charges, and during the flight you’ll have to pay for newspapers and food or drink if you want them. Nothing is free—oh, except for the toilets. And Ryanair were planning to charge for using those at one stage.

This second photo was taken at Mao airport in Menorca, where the weather was a bit warmer. The

men on the left here are baggage handlers and are unloading the baggage from the hold of the

plane, which has just landed. Now let’s look at some words used to describe parts of the plane. The

front part of the plane is the nose. The pilot sits in the cockpit. The middle part of the plane is the

fuselage and the long flat pieces sticking out on either side are the wings. Beneath each wing is a jet

engine. The back of the plane is called the tail.

OK, just before we finish, a few more important words and expressions. When you arrive at the

airport terminal, you have to show your boarding pass and check in. After going through the security

checks and passport control, you’ll be able to board the plane, which takes off from and lands on a

runway. Hopefully, your flight won’t be delayed.

Vocabulary

q aircr — a machine (such as an airplane or helicopter) that flies through the air q airplane/aeroplane — another word for plane q airport — a place where ai land and take off q backpack — a bag used for carrying things that has two shoulder straps and is carried on the back q baggage (U) — the bags and suitcases that a person carries when travelling q bin — a compartment which is used to store luggage and other personal items in the cabin of a plane q board — to get into or onto a plane, a bus, a train, etc. (but not a car) q cabin crew — the people whose job it is to look the passengers during the flight q carry-on baggage — baggage you are allowed to take with you into the cabin of the plane q cockpit — the part of the plane where the pilot sits q Customs — the place where people arriving from a foreign country have to declare goods that they bring with them q disembark — to leave a ship or airplane q flight — a journey by plane q flight endant — a member of the cabin crew q fly —to travel in a plane q fuselage — the main body of the plane between the nose and the tail q hand luggage — luggage you are allowed to take with you into the cabin of the plane q jet — a fast airplane that has one or more jet engines q hold — a place where cargo or luggage is stored on a ship or aeroplane q land — when an aeroplane lands, it returns to the ground a er a flight q landing — the end of a flight, when an a returns to the ground q locker — a compartment which is used to store luggage and other personal items in the cabin of a plane q low-cost airline — a low-cost airline or low-cost carrier (also known as a no-frills, discount or budget airline or carrier) is an airline that offers generally low fares in exchange for elimina ng many trad onal passenger services. q luggage (U) — the bags and suitcases that a person carries when travelling q passenger — a person who is travelling from one place to another in a car, bus, train, ship, airplane, etc. q passport control — the place where you have to show your passport at an airport or border crossing q pilot — the person who flies the plane q plane — a vehicle that has wings and an engine and can carry people or things in the air q ramp — the set of steps which allows passengers to board a plane or disembark q rucksack — a bag used for carrying things that has two shoulder straps and is carried on the back q runway — a long strip of ground where airplanes take off and land q stairs — a set of steps which allows passengers to board a plane or disembark q suitcase — a large case that you use to carry your clothes and belongings when you are travelling q tail — the back part of the plane q take off —when an aeroplane takes off, it leaves the ground and starts flying q take-off — the beginning of a flight, when an a eaves the ground q terminal — the airport building where passengers wait to board their plane q wing — the long flat parts that out of the side of the aeroplane

Questions

1. When was the last time you flew in a plane? 2. Which countries have you flown to? 3. Do you always try and find the cheapest fare? 4. What’s your opinion of low-cost airlines? 5. Some people are afraid of flying. Do you get nervous when you fly? 6. What things do you like and dislike about flying? 7. What’s the worst experience you’ve had when travelling by air? 8. What could airlines do to improve their service? 9. Do you worry about the effects of air travel on the environment? 10. What do you think air travel will be like fifty years from now?