Ordering at a Café
Original English Drills activities. Listening uses a teacher-read script. Print the student lesson on two A4 landscape sides; choose short-edge duplex printing.
1. Warmer
Look at the illustration. What can you see? Where are the people?
Tell a partner two things you already know about this situation.
Goal: I’d like / Can I have — use English in an everyday situation.
2. Vocabulary
Match the words to their meanings.
1. menu · 2. server · 3. counter · 4. small · 5. takeaway
A. a place where you order or pay
B. food or drink to take away
C. a list of food and drinks
D. not large
E. a person who brings food
1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___
3. Reading
Tom meets his friend Hana at a café after class. Tom reads the menu. He wants a cheese sandwich and a small tea. Hana wants vegetable soup and water. The server asks, “Would you like anything else?” Tom says, “No, thank you.” They choose a table by the window. The server brings their food and drinks. Tom’s sandwich is warm, and Hana likes her soup. They talk about their English lesson. Before they leave, they thank the server and pay at the counter.
4. Comprehension
Answer using the reading.
- Who does Tom meet?
- What food does Tom order?
- What does Hana drink?
- Where do they pay?
5. Grammar focus
I’d like means I would like. Use it to order politely: I’d like a tea, please.
Can I have is another polite request: Can I have some water, please?
A/an: a sandwich, an apple. Some: some soup, some water.
Answer Anything else? with Yes, … please or No, thank you.
6. Guided practice
Complete or choose the correct word.
- I ___ like a sandwich, please. (would / am)
- Can I ___ some water? (have / has)
- I’d like ___ apple. (a / an)
- Can I have ___ soup? (some / a)
- ___ I have a tea, please? (Can / Do)
- Anything else? No, ___ you. (thank / thanks)
Ordering at a Café — continued
7. Listening
Your teacher will read a short script twice. Complete the notes.
- Sandwich filling: ___
- Juice size: ___
- Eating here or taking away? ___
- Friend’s food: ___
- Table location: ___
8. Speaking
Use this menu: cheese sandwich $7; vegetable soup $8; tea $4; orange juice $5. Customer: order one food and one drink. Server: ask “Anything else?” and “Eat here or takeaway?” Swap roles.
9. Fun practice
Grammar detective: Correct one mistake in each sentence.
- I like would a tea, please.
- Can I has some water?
- I’d like a apple.
- Can I have a soup?
10. Writing and reflection
Write a café conversation of six lines. Include one food, one drink, a polite request and thanks.
Exit check: Can I ___ some water? I’d like ___ apple.
□ I can use today’s language. □ I can take part in this situation.
Ordering at a Café — Teacher Answers
A1 · I’d like / Can I have · 50–60 minutes
1. Warmer
Accept relevant descriptions. Elicit useful words before reading. The AI illustration is a discussion prompt; it need not show every detail in the text.
2. Vocabulary
1–C; 2–E; 3–A; 4–D; 5–B.
3–4. Reading and comprehension
Hana; a cheese sandwich; water; at the counter.
5–6. Grammar and practice
would; have; an; some; Can; thank.
7. Teacher-read listening script
Read twice clearly, with a short pause between readings. Ask learners to compare answers before checking.
Hello. I would like a vegetable sandwich and a large orange juice, please. I am eating here. My friend would like a bowl of soup and some water. We would like a table outside. Thank you.
Answers: Vegetable; large; eating here; a bowl of soup; outside.
8. Speaking
Answers vary. Model one exchange, then let pairs practise and swap roles. Monitor clarity and the target language.
9. Grammar detective
I would like a tea, please. Can I have some water? I’d like an apple. Can I have some soup? Accept “a bowl of soup” for the last correction.
10. Writing and reflection
Check request forms and a/an/some. Exit check: have; an.
Suggested timing and support
Warmer and vocabulary: 8 minutes; reading and comprehension: 10; grammar and practice: 12; listening: 7; speaking and game: 10; writing: 8. For support, give a sentence starter. For extension, add a follow-up question or extra detail.