Places In The City ESL lesson thumbnail
Book 7 · Unit 13Intermediate · Ages 12–14

Places In The City

This places in town ESL lesson teaches community locations, there is or there are and asking for directions. Students play clue-based bingo, explain what people can do in each place and survey facilities near their homes. They write a description of their town and roleplay a tourist asking a local how to reach a shop.

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Lesson format

2 × 45 minutes

Level

Intermediate

Age group

Ages 12–14

Main focus

Speaking first

What students will learn

• Identify and describe places around town
• Use functional vocabulary related to locations, services, and civic institutions
• Ask and answer 'Where is...?', 'What can you do at...?', and 'Have you ever...?'
• Roleplay common city scenarios like a post office visit or asking for help
• Describe their town using image-based prompts
• Write 5-7 sentences about their town

Lesson flow

Students play City Places Bingo matching clues to locations, learn place vocabulary asking 'What is it? It is a pharmacy. What can you do there?', and survey classmates on places near their homes. The second lesson guesses places from mystery sounds, watches a Places in My Town video, writes 'In My Town' with 5-7 sentences using there is/there are, and roleplays a tourist asking a local for directions to a shop.

Target language

  • • 'Where is...?' / 'What can you do at...?'
  • • 'Have you ever...?'
  • • There is / there are
  • • City and community places vocabulary

Key vocabulary

  • library
  • post office
  • hospital
  • supermarket
  • pharmacy
  • museum
  • station
  • town hall
  • park
  • community

Speaking questions students answer

  • • Where is the nearest pharmacy?
  • • Have you ever visited a police station?
  • • What can you do at a library?
  • • Is there a park near your house?
  • • Where do you go shopping?

Recommended teaching contexts

• Intermediate ESL and EFL classes• Ages 12–14• Primary school classrooms• Language schools• Private and small-group lessons• Teaching places vocabulary• Pair and whole-class speaking• Interactive whiteboards and online teaching

Why this lesson works

The lesson follows a clear progression: Play City Places Bingo naming locations, ask 'Have you ever visited...?' about local places, write about their town and roleplay a tourist-and-local scene. Teachers can open the materials and start immediately, while students move from supported vocabulary practice to purposeful spoken English.

This lesson includes

• Interactive lesson slides
• Teacher guide
• Printable worksheets
• Speaking practice: "Where is the nearest pharmacy?"
• Classroom games
• Videos
• Vocabulary practice
• Pair work
• Extension activities

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