At the Security Checkpoint: English Phrases for Travelers
Learn English for understanding airport security instructions and responding politely to an officer. This free A1 lesson for adult beginners introduces security vocabulary, action verbs, simple questions, and airport locations. Its 16 interactive slides include a conversation video, vocabulary audio, quizzes, phrase-sorting tasks, a sample airport notice, listening practice, and a short writing activity.
What you will learn
- Name common items and equipment in a security conversation.
- Understand the instructions used in the lesson video.
- Respond politely to a security officer.
- Ask simple questions and practice a security conversation.
- Recognize airport locations and describe an example travel bag.
Reviewing airport questions and instructions
The warm-up connects check-in, security, and phrases heard on a plane. Complete the missing words in questions such as May I see your passport, please? and Could you open your bag, please? Listen to the difference between a question and an instruction.
Discuss the prompts What do you take out of your bag at security? and What do security officers ask you to do? Use the lesson pictures and conversation to practice naming an item and describing an action.
Airport security vocabulary in English
Look at each vocabulary picture, listen to the audio, and repeat the word or phrase.
| Word or phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Security officer | The person giving instructions in the lesson conversation. |
| Boarding pass | A paper or digital document used when boarding a flight. |
| The line | The queue of people waiting. |
| Tray | A container used to hold items in the video. |
| Belt | An item worn around the waist. |
| Laptop | A portable computer. |
| Liquids | Substances such as water or perfume. |
| Scanner | A machine used to examine something. |
The activities also use item names such as coins, watches, keys, a cell phone, and scissors. Practice putting a word into a sentence: I have a laptop. or Here is my boarding pass.
Action verbs for security instructions
Practice the meanings of these phrases from the lesson:
- Take out: remove something from a bag or pocket.
- Take off: remove something you are wearing.
- Step forward: move ahead.
- Raise your arms: lift your arms.
- Empty your pockets: take the items out of your pockets.
- Collect your items: get your things back.
Notice that take off has different meanings in the warm-up. Take off your shoes means remove your shoes, while the plane takes off describes the plane leaving the ground. Use the surrounding words to understand the meaning.
Grammar: giving instructions in English
Use the base verb to give an instruction. Add please to make it polite. The language cards practice these examples:
- Please keep your boarding pass ready.
- Please place your bag in the tray.
- Step forward when the light turns green.
- Please raise your arms.
For a negative instruction, use do not + base verb. The lesson example is Do not leave your bag unattended. Here, unattended means without someone watching it. Practice recognizing the action verb in each sentence.
Polite questions and replies
The traveler begins the video with Excuse me. Is this the line for security? Use Excuse me before asking for information.
Practice the questions Do I need to take off my shoes?, Should I remove my laptop?, and Where do I get my things back? These questions ask for an explanation or clarification in the lesson conversations.
Short replies include Okay, one moment., Sure., No problem., Got it., and Thank you. Got it means you understand. When you need to hear a sentence again, practice Could you repeat that, please?
A short security checkpoint role-play
Traveler: Excuse me. Is this the line for security?
Security officer: Yes, it is. Boarding pass, please.
Traveler: Here is my boarding pass.
Security officer: Please place your bag in the tray.
Traveler: Okay, one moment.
Security officer: Step forward, please.
Traveler: Sure.
Security officer: You can collect your items.
Traveler: Thank you.
This classroom model practices a question, instructions, and polite replies. Switch roles with a partner and use the vocabulary cards to make another version. Listen for the closing phrases You're all set. and Have a good flight.
Video practice and who-says-it sorting
Watch the video once to understand the conversation. Watch again in quiz mode and choose answers based on the instructions given by the officer in that video. Replay short sections and repeat the action phrases.
In the phrase-sorting task, decide whether a sentence belongs to the security officer or the passenger. Look for instructions, questions, and responses. Practice matching an officer's instruction with a short passenger reply.
Reading a sample hand-luggage notice
Read the classroom notice titled What can I take on the plane as hand luggage? Find the bag descriptions, weight figures, and conditions stated in that text. Answer the reading questions using the information in the sample notice.
Practice the words hand luggage, weight, hold, and fee. In the next picture-sorting activity, use the lesson's categories In the tray and Forbidden items to review item names. Forbidden means not allowed in the context described.
Airport locations and asking where to go
The airport location cards introduce the restroom, the bookstore, the shuttle bus stop, the departure gate, the arrivals area, the souvenir shop, the newsstand, and the baggage-claim area.
Listen to the airport-location audio and choose where each speaker needs to go. The questions involve buying magazines, collecting suitcases, meeting an arriving passenger, changing money, and reaching another terminal.
Practice Can you tell me where I can pick up my suitcases? and How do I get to the International Terminal? Change the place name to make your own question with Where is ...? or How do I get to ...?
Writing practice: describing an example travel bag
Write five or six simple sentences. Include the number of bags, what is inside, the total weight, one liquid item, and one electronic device. Use the sentence starters in the slide to organize your answer.
Model answer for English practice: I will take one bag. My suitcase weighs eight kilograms. In my bag, I have clothes and a book. I will take a phone. I have a small bottle of shampoo. I will buy water after security.
The model uses invented details for the writing task. Teachers can model an instruction and reply before learners role-play in pairs. For self-study, repeat the audio, complete the interactive tasks, and read your sentences aloud. Finish by sharing one new word or phrase.
Review airport check-in questions in Lesson 22, or explore more free A1 English teaching materials.