Lesson 10

Travel Problems

Handling the unexpected: lost luggage, wrong bookings, and asking for help while traveling

Adult Speaking English · Arc 3: Getting Around

By the end of this lesson

Today's Goals

You will be able to:

The student can explain a travel problem clearly (lost luggage, wrong reservation, cancelled flight) to a member of staff.
The student can ask for help and understand simple instructions in return.
The student can describe what is missing or wrong using specific details (color, size, flight number, dates).
The student can stay calm and keep a conversation going even when frustrated, using polite but firm language.
The student can roleplay a full problem-help-resolution interaction from start to finish without switching to Chinese.

Lesson flow — 45 min

Warm-up5 min

Input8 min

Controlled Practice8 min

Listening7 min

Role-play10 min

Free Speaking5 min

Review/Homework2 min

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems3

Stage 1

Warm-up

55 min

Goal

Get the student talking about past travel problems or worries, activate the topic

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems4

High-frequency words

Key Vocabulary

Press C to show or hide the Chinese.

luggage / baggage

行李

My luggage didn't arrive with me.

missing

丢失的，找不到的

One of my bags is missing.

delayed

延误的

Our flight was delayed by three hours.

cancelled

取消的

The airline cancelled my flight.

reservation / booking

预订

I have a reservation, but it's not in the system.

refund

退款

Can I get a refund for this?

claim tag / baggage tag

行李条

Here is my baggage claim tag.

next available flight

下一班可用航班

Can you put me on the next available flight?

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems5

High-frequency words

Key Vocabulary (cont.)

Press C to show or hide the Chinese.

customer service desk

客服台

You can report it at the customer service desk.

to file a report

提交报告/登记

I need to file a lost luggage report.

compensation *(recognition only)*

补偿

Will the airline offer any compensation?

inconvenience *(recognition only)*

不便

I’m sorry for the inconvenience.

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems6

2 of 8 patterns

Core Expressions 1–2

I have a problem.

我遇到了一个问题（用于开启对话，说明情况）

Excuse me, I have a problem with my hotel room.

I have a problem — my flight was changed and nobody told me.

Your turn: Think of a real (or imagined) travel problem you've had. How would you start explaining it to staff?

I can't find...

我找不到...

I can't find my suitcase anywhere.

I can't find my boarding pass.

Your turn: What is something you have actually lost while traveling or in daily life? Say it with this pattern.

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems7

4 of 8 patterns

Core Expressions 3–4

I lost...

我丢了...

I lost my passport on the train.

I lost one of my bags during the connection.

Your turn: Tell your teacher about a real time you lost something (even a small thing, like keys or a phone).

My luggage is missing.

我的行李不见了/丢失了

My luggage is missing. It didn't come out on the belt.

My luggage is missing — can you check the system for me?

Your turn: Describe your real suitcase (color, brand, size) as if you were reporting it missing.

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems8

6 of 8 patterns

Core Expressions 5–6

My flight was cancelled.

我的航班被取消了

My flight was cancelled because of the weather.

My flight was cancelled, so I missed my connection.

Your turn: Imagine your flight to [Destination] was just cancelled. Say it out loud.

Could you help me?

您能帮帮我吗？（礼貌请求帮助）

Could you help me find my luggage?

Could you help me change my ticket?

Your turn: Practice asking this to a "staff member" (your teacher) about your specific problem today.

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems9

8 of 8 patterns

Core Expressions 7–8

What should I do?

我该怎么办？

My hotel room is already booked by someone else — what should I do?

I missed my flight. What should I do now?

Your turn: After explaining your problem, ask this question to move the conversation forward.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience. / I understand your frustration.

（工作人员/对方常用的安慰语）给您带来不便，我很抱歉

I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Let me check what we can do.

I understand your frustration. We'll find a solution.

Your turn: This one is for listening recognition — notice it when staff say it to you, and respond naturally (e.g. "Thank you, I appreciate that.").

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems10

Stage 4

Listening

77 min

An airport baggage claim area. A traveler (T) approaches an airline staff member (S).

Excuse me, I have a problem. My luggage didn't come out on the belt.

I'm sorry to hear that. Can I see your baggage claim tag, please?

Sure, here it is.

Thank you. And what flight were you on?

Flight CA 981, from Beijing to London.

Okay, let me check the system... I see. It looks like your bag was left in Beijing. It's on the next available flight, which arrives tonight at nine.

Oh no. That's really inconvenient — I need some things from that bag tonight.

I understand your frustration. We can deliver the bag to your hotel once it arrives, free of charge. Can you give me your hotel address?

Yes, it's the Central Hotel, near King's Cross station.

Perfect. I'll also give you a small kit with a toothbrush and a T-shirt for tonight, and here's a reference number in case you need to follow up.

Thank you. What's the reference number?

It's B-4-4-7-2. Someone will call you when the bag arrives.

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems11

Stage 4

Listening (cont.)

Okay, thank you for your help.

You're welcome, and again, I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems12

Comprehension & discussion

Listening Check

Before listening

Where do you think this conversation is happening?
What kind of travel problem do you think the traveler has?

While listening

Listen and write down the flight number.
Listen and check: does the traveler get the bag back today or tomorrow?
Listen for the reference number — write it down.
What two things does the staff member give the traveler for tonight?

After listening

In your own words, what was the traveler's problem?
What did the airline offer to fix the problem?
Do you think the staff member handled it well? Why or why not?
Has something like this ever happened to you? What did you do?

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems13

Stage 5

Controlled Practice

88 min

Model

Teacher says the target sentence clearly, once at normal speed, once slowly.

Repeat

Student repeats the sentence 2–3 times, focus on rhythm and stress, not just accuracy.

Substitute

Teacher gives new nouns/situations, student swaps them into the same pattern.

luggage → passport → boarding pass → hotel reservation
"My ___ is missing. Could you help me?"
"My flight was cancelled." → "My train was cancelled." → "My tour was cancelled."

Personalize

Student uses their own real (or imagined) details.

"My flight to [Destination] was cancelled."
"I lost my [real item] at [real place]."

Remove prompts

Teacher describes a situation only in Chinese or with a picture/gesture; student must produce the full English sentence from memory, no text visible.

Teacher: "你的行李不见了，你要请求帮助。" → Student produces the full exchange unprompted.

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems14

Stage 6

Role-play

1010 min

Situation

The student has just landed at an airport. Something has gone wrong — their luggage is missing, or their hotel reservation isn't in the system, or their flight home was suddenly cancelled. They need to explain the problem and get help.

Teacher

Play the airline/hotel staff member. Stay polite and helpful, but don't make it too easy — ask follow-up questions (flight number, dates, description of the bag, ID) and occasionally give unexpected information that requires the student to react (e.g. "We can offer a partial refund, but not a full one.").

Student

Approach staff, explain the problem clearly, answer their questions, and try to reach a solution. Ask "What should I do?" if unsure.

Useful language

I have a problem.

I can't find... / I lost... / My luggage is missing.

My flight was cancelled.

Could you help me?

What should I do?

Is there anything you can do about...?

How long will that take?

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems15

Make it unpredictable

Challenge Cards

Drop one of these in mid-role-play.

Double trouble

Your luggage is missing AND you've also missed your connecting flight because of the delay. Explain both problems and ask what happens next.

Surprise question

The staff member asks, "Did you pack any valuable items in that bag?" — you didn't expect this question. Answer naturally and continue the conversation.

Partial solution

The staff member can only offer a hotel voucher, not a full refund. Decide how to respond — accept, negotiate, or ask for something else.

Reservation mix-up

You arrive at your hotel and there's no record of your booking, but you have a confirmation email. Explain the situation and ask them to check again.

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems16

Stage 7

Free Speaking

55 min

Without looking at your notes, tell your teacher about an unexpected travel problem — real or imagined — as a full story with a beginning, middle, and end. Speak for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Structure it naturally: 1. What was the problem? (I had a problem — my...) 2. Who did you talk to, and what did you ask them? 3. How was it solved (or not solved)? Example starting point: "Last year, when I was traveling to [Destination], I had a big problem..."

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems17

Error correction

Review & Common Mistakes

Correct immediately

Errors that block communication (staff/listener wouldn't understand the problem being described).
Misuse of this lesson's core expressions ("I have lost" said as "I lose", "my luggage missing" without "is").
Wrong or missing key details that would matter in real life (flight number, dates) if the student garbles them so badly the meaning is lost.

Note & correct later

Minor grammar issues (article errors: "the flight" vs "a flight") that don't block understanding — note them, review at the end.
Pronunciation slips on non-critical words (e.g. slightly off stress on "inconvenience") — mention briefly at the end, don't interrupt flow.
Word order issues in long sentences that are still understandable — log and revisit in review.

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems18

Before next lesson

Homework

22 min

Speaking

Record yourself (voice memo, 1 minute) explaining a lost-luggage or cancelled-flight problem to an imaginary staff member, from start to finish, including asking "What should I do?"

Review

Review all 8 core expressions from Section 4. Write one new original sentence for each, using a different situation than the one used in class.

Real life

Next time you watch an English-language video, movie, or show, notice: how do people ask for help when something goes wrong? Try to catch one useful phrase and bring it to the next lesson.

Lesson 10 — Travel Problems19

Lesson 10 complete

Nice work.

Next up: Lesson 11

Adult Speaking English