Getting Around the City
- Nov 27, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 23
ESL Lesson Plan Getting Around the City helps B1 students explore how people travel in different cities around the world. From Amsterdam, London, and Venice, learners discover various types of transport and compare how cities are organised.
📄B1 ⏱️60 min 📁19 slides
Skills and outcomes:
Comparing different types of transport using comparatives and as…as structures.
Discussing advantages, disadvantages, and personal preferences.
Vocabulary
affordable
convenient
efficient
crowded
dangerous
unique
practical
essential
noisy
comfortable
Lesson Plan
1. Lead-in
Students identify cities in images and describe transport options they can see (pages 2–4).Pairs discuss cities they have visited and how easy they were to get around.
2. Brainstorming: Types of Transport
Students categorise transport into ground, water, and air options (page 5).Class shares ideas and compares categories.
3. Vocabulary
Students match transport-related adjectives with their meanings (page 6).They take notes and create simple example sentences.
4. Reading:
Bikes in Amsterdam
Students read about cycling culture in Amsterdam (page 7).They highlight key vocabulary and discuss why the city is efficient for bikes.
The Tube in London
Students explore how the London Underground works (page 8).Pairs discuss rules, rush-hour behaviour, and why the Tube is symbolic.
Boats in Venice
Students learn why Venice relies on boats instead of cars (page 9).Discussion: What makes Venice’s transport unique?
5. Comprehension Questions
Students answer questions about each city’s transport system (page 10).Pairs compare answers and explain their reasoning.
6. Vocabulary Practice: Opposites
Students match adjectives with their opposites (page 11).They use new words to describe transport in their own country.
7. Grammar: Comparatives
Students review short and long adjective comparatives (page 12).Focus on:
Comparing two things
Using more/less
Expressing equal comparison (as…as)
8. Grammar Practice
Students look at images and write comparative sentences (pages 13–15).Teacher checks answers as a class.
10. Tube Map Activity
Students study part of the London Tube map (page 16).Tasks include identifying line colours, step-free stations, and interchange points.
11. Speaking Task
Students answer questions about their transport habits, favourite travel methods, and memorable journeys (page 17).Encourages fluency and personal expression.
12. Virtual Tour Extension
Students choose a city on virtualvacation.us (page 18).They observe transport, buildings, and people, then discuss what they noticed.