Learn the vocabulary needed to hold a brief conversation with a Customs officer
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Week of Dec. 15/25
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The lesson includes interactive vocabulary activities, a short video, and reflection questions to…
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | To learn the basic vocabulary needed to answer questions at airport Customs. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 1-3) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 1.5 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Getting things done Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending instructions Getting things done Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students learn about common questions that Customs officers ask in Canada. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students learn basic vocabulary and phrases related to going through airport Customs. Students practice a dialogue with a Customs officer. Students understand the documents they need and what they need to declare at Customs. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson includes original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to talk about going through airport Customs.
- What is an airport?
- What is Customs?
- What are some words and phrases you need at airport Customs?
Skill-building activities
FEATURED CONTENT
- Vocabulary flashcards*
- Listen to the vocabulary again* 🔊 (Pay attention to how to say the words and phrases and what they mean.)
- Talking with an airport Customs agent* 🎥
Skill-using tasks
- Talking with a Customs agent: Audio and role play* 🔊
- Comprehension questions*
- Who says what?* (Move the tiles under “Customs agent” and “Passenger.”)
- What do you need to declare?* (Click on each tiptile for an answer.)
Assessment/review tasks
- Open-ended role play: Going through Customs*
- Pair or no pair?* (Tell us if the items are the same. Tell us what each item means.)
- Vocabulary review* (Ask students to tell you what each word or phrase means.)
Reflection questions
- How long does it take to fly to your home country?
- How many times will you have to change planes?
- Do you have to go through Customs more than once?
- When did you last fly?
- Can you give some examples of what Customs officers will ask you at the airport? How will you answer these questions?
- Is it a good idea to joke with a Customs officer?
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ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and a TESL Canada certified ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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