Travel & Culture - Reading Airport Signs

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

Let's talk about signs at the airport!

Why are signs important at an airport?
What kind of pictures or symbols do you see on airport signs?
What information do airport signs usually give you?

Activity 2: New Words & Phrases 🗣️ (Vocabulary)

Here are some important words you'll see on airport signs!

1. Arrivals: The place or screen showing flights that are coming in or have landed.

Example: "Let's check the Arrivals board to see if their flight is on time."

2. Departures: The place or screen showing flights that are leaving.

Example: "The Departures screen shows all the flights leaving today."

3. Baggage Claim: The area where you pick up your checked luggage after your flight.

Example: "Follow the signs for Baggage Claim to get your suitcases."

4. Restrooms / Toilets: The place to use the bathroom.

Example: "I need to find the Restrooms before we go to the gate."

5. Exit: The way out of the airport building.

Example: "Look for the Exit signs to leave the terminal."

Activity 3: Reading - Sarah's Airport Adventure with Signs 📖

Read this story about Sarah using signs at the airport.

Sarah arrived at the airport for her flight. It was a big place, and she felt a little lost at first. She remembered her mom telling her to always look for signs. The first thing she did was look for a big screen. She found one that said "Departures." This screen showed her flight number and the check-in counter for her airline. After checking in her bag, Sarah needed to go through security. She followed the signs that had a picture of a person being scanned and said "Security Checkpoint."

Once she was past security, she looked for signs with gate numbers. Her boarding pass said "Gate B12." She followed the arrows pointing towards the B gates. On her way, she saw a sign with a man and woman symbol and the word "Restrooms." She decided to use the restroom before going to her gate. Finally, she saw a big sign that said "Gate B12." She found her gate and sat down, feeling happy and proud that she could understand the airport signs and find her way. It made her feel more confident about traveling.

Questions about the Story:

Answer these questions:

What was the first sign Sarah looked for to find her flight information?
What kind of sign helped her find where to give her bags (check-in)? (Hint: The story mentions what she looked for first)
What sign did she follow before going to her gate?
How did understanding the signs make Sarah feel?
What information was on her boarding pass that helped her find the right place to wait for her plane?

Activity 4: Role Play - Lost at the Airport! 🎭

Let's pretend! One person is Anna (Lost Tourist), and the other is Mark (Helpful Airport Staff).

Anna (Lost Tourist): Excuse me, I'm a bit lost. Can you help me, please?

Mark (Airport Staff): Of course! I'd be happy to. What are you looking for?

Anna (Lost Tourist): I just arrived on a flight. I need to find where to pick up my bags.

Mark (Airport Staff): Ah, you need to go to Baggage Claim. Follow those signs with the suitcase symbol.

Anna (Lost Tourist): Okay, Baggage Claim. Thank you! And after I get my bags, how do I leave the airport?

Mark (Airport Staff): Once you have your luggage, you'll look for the Exit signs. They are usually green and will lead you out.

Anna (Lost Tourist): Great! My friend is meeting me. Is there an Arrivals area where people wait for passengers?

Mark (Airport Staff): Yes, the main Arrivals hall is just past baggage claim, before the main exit. You'll see signs pointing to it.

Anna (Lost Tourist): Perfect. And one last question, are there any Restrooms nearby?

Mark (Airport Staff): Certainly. There are Restrooms just over there, to your left. See the sign with the little figures?

Let's Talk About It:

After you read, talk about this:

What signs did Mark tell Anna to look for? (Name two)
What symbol helps people find Baggage Claim?

Activity 5: Let's Practice - Finding Your Way ✍️

Help Tom (Tourist) complete his part of the dialogue. Clara (Airport Info Desk) will speak first. Use words from Activity 2!

Clara (Info Desk): Hello, welcome to the airport! How can I help you today?

Tom (Tourist): Hi! I'm trying to find my flight to Rome. Should I look at the board for flight information?

Clara (Info Desk): Yes, that's right. The Departures board will show your flight number and gate.

Tom (Tourist): Okay, thank you. My family is flying in from London. Where can I meet them? Is there an area?

Clara (Info Desk): Yes, you can meet them in the Arrivals hall. Just follow the signs for that.

Tom (Tourist): Great! After they get their suitcases from , we'll meet there.

Clara (Info Desk): Exactly. Is there anything else?

Tom (Tourist): Yes, before I go there, I really need to find the .

Clara (Info Desk): Of course. There are restrooms just down that hallway, follow the signs with the male and female symbols.

Tom (Tourist): Thanks! And then we'll look for the main to leave the airport and get a taxi.

Show Answers! (Activity 5) ✨