Lesson Description:
In this lesson, learners listen to a natural conversation set in an airport waiting area before boarding. The speakers introduce themselves, talk about their jobs, daily life, and reasons for traveling. One speaker is traveling for business, while the other is traveling for pleasure. The lesson helps learners practice the present simple tense, asking and answering questions, and making small talk in real-life situations.
Listen to the audio and answer the questions in the quiz below.
Airport Small Talk
Mike: Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?
Sarah: No, it’s free. Go ahead.
Mike: Thanks. Airports are always crowded, especially near the boarding gates.
Sarah: Yeah, the waiting area is packed today. Are you waiting to board too?
Mike: Yes, my flight boards in about twenty minutes. I’m Mike, by the way.
Sarah: Nice to meet you, Mike. I’m Sarah.
Mike: Nice to meet you too. Are you traveling for work or for fun?
Sarah: For fun, actually. I’m going on a short vacation. I really need a break. What about you?
Mike: Business trip. I travel a lot for work, so airports feel like a second home to me.
Sarah: That sounds tiring. Do you enjoy traveling for business?
Mike: Sometimes. I like my job, but I don’t have much free time when I travel. It’s mostly meetings and hotels.
Sarah: I understand. I travel for pleasure whenever I can. I like exploring new places and trying local food.
Mike: That sounds much better than my trips. What do you do when you’re not traveling?
Sarah: I work as a marketing assistant. My days are busy, but I enjoy them. How about you?
Mike: I’m a graphic designer. I work from home most of the time.
Sarah: You seem calm for someone on a business trip.
Mike: I’m usually quiet at first, but I relax once I start talking.
Sarah: Same here. I’m a little shy, but traveling helps me open up.
Mike: Maybe airports are good places to meet new people.
Sarah: Maybe they are. It makes waiting for boarding more interesting.
✅ Vocabulary:
Boarding – The process of getting on a plane
Business trip – Traveling for work purposes
Pleasure trip / vacation – Traveling for enjoyment
Crowded – Full of people; busy
Packed – Completely full
Introduce oneself – To say your name and basic information when meeting someone
Quiet at first – Being shy or reserved initially
Relax / open up – To become comfortable and start talking
Second home – A place you feel very familiar with
Small talk – Casual conversation about ordinary topics
✅ Useful Sentences from the Conversation:
Introducing yourself / first meeting
- “Hi, I’m Mike. Nice to meet you.”
- “Are you traveling for work or for fun?”
- “Do you come here often?”
Talking about travel / reasons
- “I’m traveling for business.”
- “I’m going on a short vacation.”
- “Airports feel like a second home to me.”
Describing personality / habits
- “I’m usually quiet at first, but I relax once I start talking.”
- “I’m a little shy, but traveling helps me open up.”
- “You seem calm for someone on a business trip.”
Small talk / casual conversation
- “Airports are always crowded, especially near the boarding gates.”
- “It makes waiting for boarding more interesting.”
- “What do you usually do when you’re not traveling?”