Some ticket machines at train stations ask people to pay more than two times the money for tickets than if they buy the tickets on the internet. A group that helps people know about buying things found out that tickets you buy on the same day you travel can cost half more at the machines than online. They also found that the cheapest tickets are sometimes hard to find on the machines. People did not want the train stations to close the places where you can buy tickets, so they will stay open.
The group that did the study sent secret shoppers to look at prices at 15 train stations. They saw that some tickets from the machines cost more than two times the price than if you buy them online. The machines don't always show the cheaper tickets you can get before your trip or the special prices for traveling at times when the trains are not busy. The train companies know they need to make ticket prices easier to understand. The government said that some train ticket prices will go up a little bit in March, but not as much as the cost of other things is going up.
Original news source: Train ticket machines charging double online price (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write down vocabulary words related to the article on small slips of paper and put them in a hat. One student from each team will take turns picking a word and acting it out without using any words. The rest of the team has to guess what word they are acting out within a certain time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.
– News Summary
Instructions: Have the students take turns summarizing the main points of the article in their own words. Encourage them to use the vocabulary and phrases from the article. Then, as a class, discuss any questions or confusion they may have about the article.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of vocabulary words related to the article. One student from each pair will choose a word and draw a picture of it on the board, while their partner tries to guess what word it is. They can only use drawings, no words. The pair with the most correct guesses wins.
– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on the board, leaving out some letters. Have the students take turns guessing letters to try and complete the word. If they guess a correct letter, write it in the correct spot. If they guess a wrong letter, start drawing a hangman. The students have to guess the word before the hangman is completed.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of discussion questions related to the article. One student will have 1 minute to summarize the article to their partner, using the discussion questions as a guide. Then, they will switch roles and the other student will summarize. After both students have had a chance to summarize, they can discuss their thoughts and opinions about the article.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
The group found out that buying tickets at the train station can cost more than two times the money compared to buying them online.
People did not want the train stations to close the places where you can buy tickets because they still want the option to buy tickets in person.
The secret shoppers found out that some tickets at the train stations cost more than two times the price compared to buying them online.
The ticket machines don't always show the cheaper tickets you can get before your trip or the special prices for traveling at times when the trains are not busy.
The train companies realized they need to make ticket prices easier to understand.
The government said that some train ticket prices will go up a little bit in March, but not as much as the cost of other things is going up.
The group sent secret shoppers to look at prices at 15 train stations.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Some ticket machines at train stations ask people to pay more than two times the money for than if they buy the tickets on the internet. A group that helps people know about things found out that tickets you buy on the same day you travel can cost half more at the machines than online. They also found that the tickets are sometimes hard to find on the machines. People did not want the train stations to the places where you can buy tickets, so they will stay open. The group that did the study sent secret shoppers to at prices at 15 train stations. They saw that some tickets from the cost more than two times the price than if you buy them online. The machines don't always show the cheaper tickets you can get before your trip or the special prices for traveling at times when the trains are not busy. The train companies know they need to make ticket prices easier to understand. The government said that some train ticket prices will go up a little bit in March, but not as much as the of things is going up.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a ticket machine?
2. How would you feel if you had to pay more money for a ticket at a machine than if you bought it online?
3. Do you like buying things online? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it's fair that the machines sometimes don't show the cheaper tickets? Why or why not?
5. What is a secret shopper?
6. How do you think the train companies can make ticket prices easier to understand?
7. Do you think it's good that the government said train ticket prices will go up a little bit in March? Why or why not?
8. How do you usually buy your train tickets?
9. Do you think it's important to have places where you can buy tickets in person? Why or why not?
10. Have you ever had trouble finding a cheap ticket? What happened?
11. How do you feel about the train stations staying open? Why?
12. Do you think the train companies should lower their ticket prices? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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