Travel & Culture - Bus Schedules

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! 🤔 (Warm-up)

Let's talk about bus timetables!

Why is it important to check a bus schedule before you travel?
Where can you usually find bus schedules? (Example: online, at the bus stop)
What kind of information does a bus schedule give you?

Activity 2: New Words & Phrases 🗣️ (Vocabulary)

Here are some important words for understanding bus schedules!

1. Schedule / Timetable: A list of bus times and routes.

Example: "Let's check the bus Schedule to see when the next bus arrives."

2. Route: The specific path or direction a bus takes.

Example: "Does this bus Route go past the library?"

3. Departure Time: The time a bus is planned to leave a stop.

Example: "The Departure Time for the number 5 bus is 9:30 AM."

4. Arrival Time: The time a bus is planned to reach a destination or stop.

Example: "What is the estimated Arrival Time in downtown?"

5. Bus Stop: A designated place where buses stop for passengers to get on or off.

Example: "We need to wait at the Bus Stop on Main Street."

Activity 3: Reading - Planning a Bus Trip 📖

Read this story about checking a bus schedule.

Maria wanted to go to the museum. She decided to take the bus. First, she looked up the bus Schedule online. She found that Bus Route number 12 went near the museum. She checked the Departure Times from the Bus Stop closest to her house. The schedule showed buses every 30 minutes. She wanted to arrive at the museum around 10:00 AM. She looked at the Arrival Times listed for the museum stop. She found a bus that left her stop at 9:15 AM and was scheduled to arrive near the museum at 9:45 AM. That was perfect! She made a note of the Departure Time and the Bus Stop name so she wouldn't forget. Reading the Schedule helped her plan her trip easily.

Questions about the Story:

Answer these questions:

What did Maria check first to plan her trip?
Which Bus Route did Maria need to take?
What information did she look for from the Bus Stop near her house?
Why did Maria choose the 9:15 AM bus?
What two things did Maria make a note of?

Activity 4: Role Play - Asking About the Schedule 🎭

Let's pretend! One person is David (Passenger), and the other is Ms. Evans (Bus Station Staff).

David (Passenger): Excuse me, can you help me with the bus Schedule?

Ms. Evans (Bus Station Staff): Of course. Which Route are you interested in?

David (Passenger): I need to get to the City Hospital. Do you know which bus Route goes there?

Ms. Evans (Bus Station Staff): Yes, Route 7A goes directly to the City Hospital. The main Bus Stop for that route is just outside, Platform 3.

David (Passenger): Great! What are the Departure Times for Route 7A from Platform 3?

Ms. Evans (Bus Station Staff): They run every 20 minutes. The next one is at 1:10 PM. The Arrival Time at the hospital is usually about 25 minutes later.

David (Passenger): So, if I take the 1:10 PM bus, the Arrival Time at the hospital would be around 1:35 PM?

Ms. Evans (Bus Station Staff): That's correct, depending on traffic. You can also find the full Schedule posted at the Bus Stop.

David (Passenger): That's very helpful. Thank you!

Ms. Evans (Bus Station Staff): You're welcome. Have a good trip!

Let's Talk About It:

After you read, talk about this:

Which Bus Route did David need?
What was the next Departure Time for David's bus?

Activity 5: Let's Practice - Timetable Talk ✍️

Help Chen (Passenger) complete his part of the dialogue. Bus Driver (Driver) will speak first. Use words from Activity 2!

Driver: Good morning! Tickets, please.

Chen (Passenger): Good morning. I have my ticket. Does this bus go to the Grand Hotel?

Driver: Yes, it does. We should be there in about 15 minutes.

Chen (Passenger): Great. I checked the , and it said the bus from this leaves at 8:45 AM.

Driver: That's right, this is the 8:45 AM service. So the was correct.

Chen (Passenger): Perfect. And what's the expected at the Grand Hotel stop?

Driver: Around 9:00 AM, if traffic is light. Just press the stop button when you see the hotel.

Chen (Passenger): Will do. Thank you!

Driver: No problem.

Chen (Passenger): Thanks again!

Show Answers! (Activity 5) ✨