It is night. It is cold, and you are tired. Your last train leaves in twenty minutes. You have a heavy bag, and you are far from the station. You cannot walk — there is no time.
Then a taxi stops next to you. The window opens, and the driver says, "Where do you want to go?" This is good news! Now you need to say the place, be friendly, and pay at the end.
The driver knows the city very well. Tonight there is a football game, so the roads are busy. The driver may take a small road you do not know. That is OK — you can ask, in a nice way, "Is this the quick way?"
Warm up — talk for one minute
Do you take taxis? Do you like to talk to the driver, or do you like to be quiet? Why?
The driver takes a road you do not know. Do you say something, or do you wait and trust them?
Who's who
You
The Passenger 🧳
Tired and in a hurry. You want to get to the station fast — and you want to be friendly and polite.
The other person
The Taxi Driver 🚕
Kind and calm. They drive all day and know the city very well. They know the fast roads — trust them.
Next: learn the phrases you need in the next tab. Then see them in a real conversation. Look at the friendly words: please, thank you, can you. It is OK to speak slowly. You can also say "Sorry, again please?" if you do not understand.
Useful Phrases 🧰
Here are the phrases for this conversation. Read each one and say it out loud once. Choose the ones you like. Keep this page open when you practise.
The shape of this conversation
1 · Where to go2 · Small talk3 · The road4 · Pay and goodbye
It's a map, not a script. Real talk can skip steps or go back.
Cover it later, when you want to test yourself.
When you're the passenger
🚕 Where to go
"Can you take me to the station, please?"
"Can you be quick, please? I have a train."
💬 Small talk
"Is it busy tonight?"
"Oh yes, I see! It is very busy."
🛣 The road
"Is this the quick way?"
"OK, you know the city better than me."
💷 Pay and goodbye
"How much is it, please?"
"Thank you very much! Have a good night!"
When you're the taxi driver
"Where to?"
"It is a busy night."
"The road is closed, so I will go a different way."
"That is eleven pounds."
When something changes
"Can you stop here, please?"
"Can I pay by card?"
"Can I have a receipt?"
When you need help
"Sorry, can you say that again, please?"
"Can you speak more slowly, please?"
"Do you mean…?"
"How do you say … in English?"
Speed round 🎯
Draw a card. Say what you would say, out loud. Then look at one answer.
Press the button to start.
Try a few more rounds with the toolkit covered. When it feels easy, you are ready.
The Conversation 💬
Read it out loud, one person each, then change. Find the phrases from your toolkit. Listen for the friendly words.
DriverGood evening! Where do you want to go?
YouHello. Can you take me to the station, please? My train is soon.
DriverNo problem. Get in! I can take you there.
YouThank you! Is it busy tonight?
DriverYes, very busy — there is a big football game. I will take a small road, OK?
YouA different road? Is this the quick way to the station?
DriverThe big road is full of cars tonight. My road is longer, but it is faster. Trust me!
YouOK. You know the city better than me.
DriverLook — the big road is full. No cars are moving! My road is better, you see?
YouYou are right! Sorry, I was worried about my train.
DriverNo problem! Here is the station. You have ten minutes. Easy!
YouGreat, thank you! How much is it, please?
DriverIt is eleven pounds.
YouHere is twelve pounds. Keep the change! Thank you very much!
From memory — don't look up!
1. Why does the driver take a small road, and not the big road?
2. The passenger is not sure about the new road. How do they ask about it, in a nice way?
3. The taxi is eleven pounds. How much does the passenger give? Why do they give more?
1. The big road is full of cars because of the football game. The small road is longer, but tonight it is faster. 2. They ask a question, not an order: "Is this the quick way to the station?" A question is polite — it is not angry. 3. They give twelve pounds — one pound more. They say "Keep the change." The extra money is a small thank you, because the driver was fast and kind.
Your Turn 🎭
No script this time. You have a real talk with a real person. You have a goal.
1 · Warm up your voice 🎤
Say each sentence out loud. Use your own words in the gaps.
Where to go. Can you take me to ___, please?
Small talk. Is it ___ tonight?
The road. Is this the ___ way?
Pay and goodbye. How much is ___?
2 · The scene 🎬
Pick a situation. Your partner plays the other person.
Your card
Where
The situation
You have
You want
Your ruleStay polite even if you are in a hurry.
Who you're talking to
🏆 Get to the place and pay the right price.
⏱ 3:00
Twist deck
🎲 Something changes
Start the scene. After a minute, draw a card. What it says just happened.
Nothing has changed yet.
3 · Swap seats 🔁
Now you are the other person. Your partner takes your old part.
Your card
WhereIn the taxi
Your goalTake the passenger there and chat
Your partnerPlays the passenger now
Draw another twist if you like.
4 · Afterwards ✅
Tick what you did, in either seat.
Phrases I want to use next time
Go again
⚡ Same situation, one more time
Do it again. Draw a twist before you start. Try to do it faster this time.
The Echo 🕰️
Long ago, in the American West, there was no taxi and no train. To go far, people took a stagecoach — a big cart with horses. The driver knew every road, every river, and every safe place.
You got on, you said the town, and you trusted the driver — a stranger. You did not know the way, but they did. When you arrived safe, you said a big thank you.
Tonight's taxi is the same, but easier: a stranger, a hard road, and you, trusting the person at the wheel.