E7 G - English as a language for communication
aiMOOCE7 G - English as a language for communication
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E7 G - English as a language for communication
Look first. What can you see? Which languages can you spot? Why can English be useful in a place where many people meet?
Einleitung
English can connect people who have different first languages. At an airport, a station, a youth hostel or on a trip, you may use simple English to ask, answer, check and help.
In this aiMOOC you learn short useful chunks. You do not need perfect English. Your goal is: Understand → try → communicate → get feedback → improve → use again.
A lingua franca is a language people use to communicate when they do not share the same first language. English is an important international lingua franca. This course focuses on simple everyday communication, not on one “perfect” accent.
Mini-description: Discover through simple travel and meeting situations how English can connect people with different first languages.
Level: Klasse 7, G-Niveau, Englisch als erste Fremdsprache, Baden-Württemberg. Der Kurs orientiert sich an den Kompetenzbereichen Hör-/Hörsehverstehen, Lesen, Sprechen, Schreiben, Sprachmittlung, Wortschatz, Grammatik, Aussprache und Text-/Medienkompetenz.
I can ...
After this course, I can ...
- understand the main idea of a short travel conversation.
- ask for help and directions with simple chunks.
- ask someone to repeat or explain.
- read signs and short travel information.
- write a short message about a meeting point or route.
- help with a simple message between German and English.
- speak clearly enough to be understood.
Before you start
Try first. Say or write three English phrases you already know for meeting or travel.
Hint: Think of hello, help, place, ticket, train, bus, airport.
Deutsch, wenn nötig: Es reichen einzelne Wörter oder kurze Sätze. Du musst noch nichts perfekt können.
Notice: One place can use several languages. English can be one shared language, but other languages are important too.
Notice: English connects people
Meet two fictional travellers:
Mina: “Hi, I’m Mina. My first language is German.”
Deniz: “Hi, I’m Deniz. My first language is Turkish.”
They meet at an information desk. They use English because it is a language both have learned.
Mina: Excuse me, can you help me?
Deniz: Sure. What do you need?
Mina: I’m looking for platform 6.
Deniz: Go straight ahead and turn left.
Mina: Sorry, could you say that again, please?
Deniz: Of course. Go straight ahead. Then turn left.
Mina: Thanks!
Notice: The important thing is not perfect grammar or a special accent. The important thing is that both people understand enough to continue.
Useful chunks
| Situation | Useful English | Mini-help |
|---|---|---|
| start politely | Excuse me, can you help me? | höflich beginnen |
| ask for a place | Where is gate 12? | nach einem Ort fragen |
| say your goal | I’m looking for the station. | Ziel nennen |
| ask again | Could you say that again, please? | Wiederholung erbitten |
| check meaning | Do you mean the first floor? | Bedeutung prüfen |
| show a problem | Sorry, I don’t understand. | Problem klar sagen |
| finish | Thank you. / Thanks for your help. | Gespräch freundlich beenden |
Mini-transfer: Change only one word: “Where is the station?” → “Where is the gate?” → “Where is the bus stop?”
Listening and viewing
Rule: First listen. Then use help. Do not open a transcript before your first listening attempt.
Video 1: Meeting someone
First watch – no transcript: Who meets whom? Which greetings do you hear? Write down two words.
Second watch: Pause after a short line. Repeat it once.
Hint: Listen for “Hi”, “name” and a question.
German help if needed: Achte zuerst nur auf Begrüßung und Namen. Untertitel oder Transkript erst nach dem ersten Hörversuch nutzen.
Video 2: Where are you from?
First watch – no transcript: What two kinds of information do the speakers give?
Second watch: Find one question and one short answer.
Try: “I’m from ____. I live in ____.”
Privacy note: Use a fictional place if you do not want to share personal information.
Video 3: Asking for directions
First watch – no transcript: Where does a person want to go?
Second watch: Listen for direction words.
Word bank: left – right – straight ahead – next to – opposite
After listening: Now you may use subtitles or the transcript to check what you missed.
Reading: Find the key information
Travel card
Destination: Bristol
Train: 10:20
Platform: 4
Meeting point: Information desk
Message: “I’m near the information desk. The train leaves at 10:20. Please come to platform 4.”
Try: Answer in short English.
- Where is the meeting point?
- What time does the train leave?
- Which platform do you need?
Hint: You do not need to understand every word. Find place, time and number first.
Reading signs
Look at the picture. Find words or symbols that help travellers.
Strategy: Scan. Do not read everything from left to right. Look for the information you need.
Vocabulary in context
Use words in small groups, not as a long list.
| Place | People | Action |
|---|---|---|
| airport | traveller | ask |
| station | staff member | help |
| gate | passenger | wait |
| platform | visitor | find |
| information desk | friend | meet |
Useful pairs: buy a ticket – miss a train – find a gate – ask for help – meet a friend
Try: Make two short sentences: “I’m looking for …” and “Can you help me with …?”
Pronunciation: clear is the goal
You do not need to sound like a native speaker. Being understandable is more important than accent-free speech.
Try these chunks slowly, then at a natural speed:
Excuse me.
Can you help me?
Could you say that again, please?
Where is the station?
Tip 1: Stress the important word: “Where is the STATION?”
Tip 2: Make a small pause after “Excuse me”.
Tip 3: If a word is hard, slow down. Do not stop the whole conversation.
Private practice: You may record yourself only if you want to. Keep the recording private unless you choose to share it. No upload is needed.
Speaking: short conversations
Model
A: Excuse me, can you help me?
B: Sure.
A: Where is platform 3?
B: Go straight ahead. Then turn right.
A: Could you say that again, please?
B: Go straight ahead. Then turn right.
A: Thanks!
Your turn: Change the place and direction.
Word bank: gate 7 – bus stop – café – ticket office – left – right – straight ahead
Support 1: Read the model and change only two words.
Support 2: Use the word bank.
Support 3: If you get stuck, say: “Sorry, one moment.” or “Could you say that again?”
Feedback: Your partner checks only three things: Was the message clear? Was the request polite? Could the conversation continue?
Communication repair
Real communication can break down. Repair it with simple language:
I don’t understand.
Please speak more slowly.
Could you say that again?
Do you mean …?
Can you show me on the map?
These chunks are communication tools. Use them when you need them.
Writing: a short travel message
Task: Write 4–5 connected sentences.
Situation: You are meeting a friend at a station.
Writing frame:
Hi ____,
I’m at ____.
I’m near ____.
Our train/bus leaves at ____.
Please meet me at ____.
See you soon!
Word bank: station – entrance – platform – ticket office – at 3:30 – near – next to
Check: Is the place clear? Is the time clear? Is the message friendly?
Mediation: help between languages
Situation: A German-speaking classmate sees this notice:
“Meeting point: Gate 5. Please be there at 14:10.”
Your classmate asks: “Wo sollen wir hin und wann?”
Your job: Give the key information in German. Do not translate every word.
Possible answer: “Wir treffen uns an Gate 5 um 14:10 Uhr.”
Now the other way: Your classmate says: “Der Bus fährt um 16 Uhr vor dem Bahnhof ab.”
Say the key information in simple English.
Hint: “The bus leaves at … in front of …”
Functional grammar
Grammar helps communication.
Can / could for requests
Can you help me?
Could you say that again, please?
Imperatives for directions
Go straight ahead.
Turn left.
Wait here.
Prepositions for places
at the station – near the gate – next to the café – in front of the hotel
Present simple for facts and times
The train leaves at 10:20.
The bus stops here.
Try: Build one request, one direction and one sentence with a time.
Not now: Passive voice and reported speech are not needed for this course.
Small E-outlook: past perfect
This is only a controlled look ahead, not a main goal.
“Before the train arrived, Mina had checked the platform.”
The past perfect can show that one past action happened before another past action. For G-level here, it is enough to notice the form had + past participle.
Culture and communication
People who use English do not all speak in the same way. They may have different first languages, accents, experiences and communication styles.
Do not guess what a person is like because of a country, name or accent. Ask politely, listen and check meaning.
Mini-task: What does this sign try to do for many different travellers?
Safe media and AI use
Use fictional profiles in class tasks. Do not post private names, locations, contact details or social-media data.
Recordings are voluntary and can stay private. Do not upload someone else’s voice, face or text without permission.
If you use an AI tool, check its language level and feedback. Ask: Is the English simple enough? Is the feedback correct? Does it help me learn? Keep your own ideas and words. AI should not replace your own text.
Feedback loop
Notice: What do I understand?
Understand: What is the key message?
Try: I use one useful chunk.
Use: I speak or write in a situation.
Communicate: Can the other person understand?
Feedback: One clear strength, one small next step.
Improve: I change one thing.
Use again: I try the improved version in a new situation.
Quick feedback card
| Check | Yes / almost / not yet |
|---|---|
| My message is clear. | |
| I use a polite chunk. | |
| I ask again when I do not understand. | |
| I can find key travel information. | |
| I can improve one sentence after feedback. |
Interaktive Aufgaben
Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen
Why can English be useful between people with different first languages? (It can be a shared language for communication.) (!It always replaces every other language.) (!It makes all accents disappear.) (!It is only useful in English-speaking countries.)
Which phrase politely starts a request for help? (Excuse me, can you help me?) (!You help now.) (!Where you go?) (!Give help.)
What can you say when you did not understand? (Could you say that again, please?) (!I stop English.) (!You are wrong.) (!No speaking.)
Which phrase asks for a place? (Where is the station?) (!When is the station?) (!Who is the station?) (!Why is the station?)
Which direction matches the German word links? (Turn left.) (!Turn right.) (!Go upstairs.) (!Wait here.)
What is the best first step in a listening task in this course? (Listen once for the main idea.) (!Read a full translation first.) (!Copy every word first.) (!Skip the audio.)
Which sentence gives a time fact? (The train leaves at 10:20.) (!Could you repeat that?) (!Turn left.) (!Excuse me.)
What is important for pronunciation in this course? (Being understandable.) (!Having no accent.) (!Speaking as fast as possible.) (!Using difficult words.)
What should you do with private recordings? (Keep them private unless you choose to share them.) (!Upload them automatically.) (!Post them with full personal data.) (!Share other people’s recordings without asking.)
What is a good use of AI for English learning? (Check the feedback and keep your own ideas.) (!Let AI replace every text you write.) (!Trust every correction without checking.) (!Upload private data for every task.)
Memory
| information desk | place where travellers can ask for help |
| platform | place where you get on a train |
| gate | place where you wait before boarding |
| repeat | say something again |
| straight ahead | continue in the same direction |
| traveller | person who is on a journey |
Drag and Drop
| Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu. | Thema |
|---|---|
| Excuse me. | polite start |
| Where is the station? | ask for a place |
| Go straight ahead. | give a direction |
| Could you say that again? | ask for repetition |
| Thank you. | polite ending |
Kreuzworträtsel
| platform | Where do you often wait for a train? |
| airport | Where do many flights start and land? |
| ticket | What do you often need for a train or bus journey? |
| repeat | What verb means say something again? |
| traveller | What do you call a person who is on a journey? |
| English | Which language is the focus of this course? |
LearningApps
Lückentext
Offene Aufgaben
Leicht
- Chunk-Karte: Gestalte eine kleine Karte mit fünf nützlichen English chunks für eine Reise. Nutze Symbole oder einfache Bilder.
- Mini-Dialog: Schreibe einen Dialog mit sechs kurzen Sprechzeilen an einem Bahnhof. Verwende „Excuse me“, eine Ortsfrage und „Thank you“.
- Bild-Suche: Wähle eines der freien Commons-Bilder im Kurs und notiere fünf englische Wörter, die dazu passen.
- Listening-Notizen: Sieh ein eingebettetes Video zuerst ohne Transkript und notiere nur drei Wörter oder Chunks, die du sicher hörst.
Standard
- Rollenspiel Wegbeschreibung: Arbeitet zu zweit mit einer einfachen Karte. Eine Person fragt, eine gibt zwei Wegschritte. Tauscht danach die Rollen.
- Travel Message: Schreibe mit dem Writing Frame eine kurze Nachricht über Treffpunkt, Zeit und Abfahrt. Überarbeite sie nach einem Partnerhinweis.
- Sprachmittlung Reiseinfo: Übertrage die Kerninformation einer kurzen deutschen Reiseinfo ins Englische, ohne Wort für Wort zu übersetzen.
- Aussprache-Check: Sprich drei Chunks zweimal: erst langsam, dann natürlich. Eine Aufnahme ist freiwillig und bleibt privat.
Schwer
- Communication Repair: Entwickle einen Dialog, in dem ein Missverständnis entsteht und mit mindestens zwei repair phrases gelöst wird.
- Multilingual Signs: Vergleiche zwei mehrsprachige Schilder aus dem Kurs. Erkläre in einfachem Englisch, welche Informationen schnell verständlich sind.
- Mini-Guide: Erstelle einen kurzen „Travel English Guide“ mit Bild, sechs Chunks und einer Mini-Situation. Prüfe, ob alles auf G-Niveau verständlich bleibt.
- Feedback-Runde: Spiele einen Dialog zweimal. Nach Runde 1 gibt ein Partner genau einen Verbesserungstipp. Nutze ihn in Runde 2 und beschreibe kurz, was besser wurde.
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Lernkontrolle
- Transfer Bahnhof: Du stehst an einem unbekannten Bahnhof und verstehst eine Ansage nicht. Formuliere drei passende englische Sätze, mit denen du Hilfe bekommst.
- Informationsauswahl: Du erhältst eine Reiseinfo mit Ort, Uhrzeit, Werbung und Zusatzdetails. Markiere nur die Informationen, die du für ein Treffen wirklich brauchst, und begründe deine Auswahl.
- Dialog verbessern: Überarbeite einen unhöflichen oder unklaren Dialog so, dass die Kommunikation freundlich und verständlich weitergehen kann.
- Strategie vergleichen: Erkläre, warum „erst Hauptidee hören, dann Hilfen nutzen“ beim Lernen sinnvoller sein kann als sofort eine Vollübersetzung zu lesen.
- Sprachmittlung: Vermittle eine kurze deutsche Wegbeschreibung in einfachem Englisch. Entscheide selbst, welche Details wichtig sind.
- Feedback anwenden: Verbessere einen kurzen Travel Message nach zwei Hinweisen und erkläre, welche Änderung die Verständlichkeit erhöht.
Lernnachweis
Für einen Lernnachweis ist wichtig, dass Du zeigen kannst:
- Du verstehst die Hauptaussage eines kurzen Reise- oder Begegnungsgesprächs.
- Du findest wichtige Informationen wie Ort, Zeit und Richtung.
- Du nutzt einfache chunks für Fragen, Hilfe, Wiederholung und Wegbeschreibung.
- Du sprichst verständlich und kannst bei Problemen nachfragen.
- Du schreibst eine kurze zusammenhängende Nachricht mit Treffpunkt und Zeit.
- Du vermittelst Kerninformationen zwischen Deutsch und Englisch, ohne alles Wort für Wort zu übersetzen.
- Du nutzt Feedback, um eine zweite Version zu verbessern.
- Du arbeitest datensparsam und respektierst Privatsphäre bei Aufnahmen, Medien und KI.
Self-Check: Can do
| I can ... | yes | almost | not yet |
|---|---|---|---|
| ask for help politely | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| ask for repetition | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| understand key travel information | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| give a simple direction | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| write a short meeting message | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| improve my English after feedback | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
Next step: If many boxes are “almost” or “not yet”, repeat one short section, not the whole course.
Folgekurs: E7 G - Travel English: finding your way and asking for help
OERs zum Thema
Weitere freie bzw. öffentlich zugängliche Orientierung:
Medien im Kurs
Die Bilder stammen aus Wikimedia Commons und sind über ihre Dateiseiten mit Lizenzangaben dokumentiert. Die eingebetteten Lernvideos stammen von BBC Learning English auf YouTube. Nutze Medien aktiv: zuerst beobachten oder zuhören, dann Aufgaben bearbeiten und erst danach zusätzliche Hilfen verwenden.
Verknüpfte Lernbereiche