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Ordering Food in a Restaurant

Ordering food in a restaurant is one of the most basic - and daunting to some beginners - task that beginners need to learn. This lesson uses some of the beginners materials you can find at esl.about.com including some basic dialogues and a challenging listening comprehension.

Aim: Ordering food in a restaurant using basic vocabulary

Activity: Simple dialogues and more a more challenging listening comprehension for passive understanding skills

Level: Beginner

Outline:

  • Ask students to name different types of food they can find in a restaurant. Write the vocabulary on the board and make sure students also take note.
  • Give students the dialogue and menu, and ask them to read through it carefully. Point out the use of "would like" for asking for and making request. You may also want to make sure they notice the use of "here you are" instead of "please" when handing someone something (a rather common mistake beginners make).
  • Pair students up and ask them to use the menu (or a more interesting menu you may have lying around) to role play through ordering a meal. Both students should switch roles a number of times.
  • If you have access to a computer in the classroom improve passive understanding by doing the listening comprehension which can be found at http://esl.about.com/library/listening/blrestorder.htm
  • Ask students which other types of formulas were used in the listening comprehension.
Ordering Food in a Restaurant

Read this dialogue

Waiter: Hello, Can I help you?
Kim: Yes, I'd like to have some lunch.
Waiter: Would you like a starter?
Kim: Yes, I'd like a bowl of chicken soup, please.
Waiter: And what would you like for a main course?
Kim: I'd like a grilled cheese sandwich.
Waiter: Would you like anything to drink?
Kim: Yes, I'd like a glass of Coke, please.
Waiter... After Kim has her lunch.: Can I bring you anything else?
Kim: No thank you. Just the bill.
Waiter: Certainly.
Kim:I don't have my glasses. How much is the lunch?
Waiter: That's $6.75.
Kim: Here you are. Thank you very much.
Waiter: You're welcome. Have a good day.
Kim: Thank you, the same to you.

Use this menu to practice ordering food in a restaurant.

Starters
Chicken Soup $2.50
Salad $3.25
Sandwiches - Main Course
Ham and cheese $3.50
Tuna $3.00
Vegetarian $4.00
Grilled Cheese $2.50
Piece of Pizza $2.50
Cheeseburger $4.50
Hamburger deluxe $5.00
Spaghetti $5.50
Drinks
Coffee $1.25
Tea $1.25
Soft Drinks - Coke, Sprite, Root Beer, etc. $1.75

Dialogue and Menu Printing Page

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