The final Intermediate lesson. Real scripts for real situations. Put everything together.
“You have learned grammar, vocabulary, tenses, questions. Now we put it all in action. Three real situations. Three scripts. Practise these and you will survive any English conversation in the wild.”
Years ago, a student told me she could read English well, but she froze when she walked into a London cafe. I gave her three short scripts. She memorised them. The next week she walked into a cafe and ordered coffee, asked for the toilet, and made small talk with the barista. She was glowing when she told me.
These three scripts are the foundation of survival English. Memorise them. Practise them. Use them.
Waiter: Hi, what can I get you?
You: Hello! Could I have a coffee, please? With milk and no sugar.
Waiter: Sure. Anything else?
You: Yes, a slice of cake too, please. Which one would you recommend?
Waiter: The chocolate one is very popular.
You: That sounds good. I'll have that one.
Waiter: Great. To eat in or take away?
You: To eat in, please.
Waiter: That will be £6.50.
You: Here you go. Thank you.
You: Excuse me, could you help me?
Stranger: Sure, what do you need?
You: I'm looking for the train station. How do I get there?
Stranger: Go straight down this road. Take the second right. The station is on your left, opposite the post office.
You: Straight, then second right, on the left. Got it. Is it far?
Stranger: About 10 minutes on foot.
You: Perfect. Thank you so much for your help!
Stranger: You're welcome.
Person: Beautiful day, isn't it?
You: Yes, it really is. I love this kind of weather.
Person: Me too. Are you from around here?
You: No, I'm from India. I moved here two years ago. How about you?
Person: I'm from this town, born and raised. What brings you to the UK?
You: Work, mainly. I'm an engineer. I came for a job in London.
Person: That's great. How are you finding it?
You: It's been wonderful. The people are friendly, and I'm learning a lot. Anyway, nice talking to you!
Person: You too. Have a great day!
Polite openers: 'Excuse me', 'Could I have...', 'Could you help me?'
Polite confirmers: 'Sure', 'Of course', 'No problem', 'You're welcome'.
Endings: 'Thank you', 'Thanks so much', 'Have a great day', 'Nice talking to you'.
Small talk topics: weather, work, where you are from, how long you have been there.
Click “Translate” below if you need any word in your own language.
Polite way to order or request.
Could I have a coffee, please?
Polite way to start a request to a stranger.
Excuse me, where is the toilet?
Polite request for help.
Could you help me find the station?
Asking for directions.
How do I get to the airport?
Asking about distance.
Is the shop far from here?
Reply to 'thank you'.
You're welcome. Have a great day!
Polite ending of a conversation.
Anyway, nice talking to you!
These scripts work in any English-speaking country with small adjustments. In the US: 'restroom' instead of 'toilet'. In Australia and the UK: 'toilet' is fine. 'You're welcome' is universal. So is 'thank you'.
Try these on paper or out loud. Mr. Gee's rule: practice today, do not save it for tomorrow.
You finished Intermediate. You can order food. You can ask directions. You can do small talk. You can talk about your past and your plans. The 8 lessons you just completed cover roughly 70% of everyday English. The next level (Advanced) is about polish.
Read aloud every day. Even if it sounds funny. Your tongue needs practice.
Free, instant translation. Powered by Google Translate. Opens in a new tab.