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Teacher Notes
Answers at a glance
1 He is in his car, stuck in traffic 2 They are going to a restaurant for dinner 3 Half past six (6:30) 4 B) Oliver needs time to get home and get changed first 5 About quarter past six (6:15) 6 Seven o'clock (7:00)
Lesson Overview
Level: A2 Elementary Topic: Making and changing plans Duration: 55-60 min Skill Focus: Listening for times and details Audio: a2-running-late.wav (1:37)
Pre-Listening ~8 min
  • Vocab: pre-teach "stuck in traffic", "pick up", "push back". Others are revision.
  • Prediction: use the SVG scene to discuss what students think the conversation is about.
Audio ~8 min
  • First listen: gist only. "Who is late? Why?"
  • Second listen: students answer comprehension questions. Third play if needed.
Comprehension ~12 min
  • Q1-Q3: short answer, details directly in audio.
  • Q4: MC, requires inference from context.
  • Q5-Q6: specific time details.
Time Matching ~10 min
  • Clock faces: students match times from the conversation to analogue clocks.
  • Accept digital format (5:30, 6:15, etc.) as well as words.
Language Practice ~10 min
  • Drag-and-drop: phrases from the conversation. 2 distractors.
  • Good bridge to speaking: students can role-play a similar phone call after.
Post-Listening ~12 min
  • Discussion: personal experiences of being late or changing plans.
  • Transcript: useful for noticing time expressions and phone language.
Notes open in separate window
A2 Listening Comprehension

Running Late

Listening Comprehension

Standalone lesson
Listening

Before You Listen

You are going to listen to a phone call between two friends, Oliver and Claire. Oliver is trying to get home but he has a problem.

Look at the picture. What do you think the problem is? What is Oliver doing?

Key Vocabulary
stuck in traffic (phrase)
unable to move because there are too many cars on the road
pick up (phrasal v.)
to collect someone or something from a place
push back (phrasal v.)
to change something to a later time
reservation (n.)
a booking at a restaurant, hotel, etc.
ring (v.)
to phone someone (British English for "call")
sort out (phrasal v.)
to organise or fix a problem
Listening

Listen

🎧 2 speakers · 1:37
Audio: a2-running-late.wav (2 speakers)
Practice

Comprehension Questions

1 Where is Oliver when he rings Claire?

He is in his car, stuck in traffic.

2 What are Oliver and Claire planning to do this evening?

They are going to a restaurant for dinner. (Accept: go out for dinner / eat at a restaurant.)

3 What time was the original restaurant reservation?

Half past six (6:30).

4 Why does Claire suggest pushing the reservation back?

B) Oliver needs time to get home and get changed first. Claire says he can have a quick shower and they can leave at quarter to seven.

5 What time does Oliver think he will get home?

About quarter past six (6:15).

6 What time is the new reservation?

Seven o'clock (7:00).

Practice

What Time Was It?

These clocks show important times from the conversation. Write what each time means in the story.

Example: If the clock shows 3:00, write three o'clock

Oliver finishes work

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
→

Oliver gets home

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
→

They leave the flat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
→

New reservation time

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
→
Practice

Complete the Phone Call

Drag the phrases into the gaps to complete a similar phone call between two friends.

stuck in traffic
push it back
sort it out
pick you up
get changed
on my way
running late

Amy: Hi, where are you? You're !

Tom: I know, sorry! I'm on the motorway. I'll be home in about twenty minutes.

Amy: Our table is booked for eight. Can we to half past?

Tom: Good idea. Can you ring the restaurant and ? I need to when I get home.

Amy: No problem. I'll call them now. Text me when you're and I'll be ready.

Listening

After Listening

11 Have you ever been late for something important? What happened? Tell your teacher or partner.

Discuss with your teacher.

12 Oliver rings the restaurant to change the reservation. What do you think he says? Practise the phone call with a partner.

Role-play with your teacher or partner.

Show Transcript

Oliver: Hey Claire, it's me. Listen, I'm still in the car.

Claire: Oh no. Where are you?

Oliver: I'm on the ring road. I left work at half past five, but I've been stuck in traffic for about twenty minutes now. There's some kind of problem ahead, I think.

Claire: Right. So what time do you think you'll get home?

Oliver: It's moving a bit now, so maybe quarter past six? Something like that.

Claire: OK. And our reservation is for half past six. That's not going to work, is it?

Oliver: No, not really. I need to get home, have a quick shower, get changed. There's no way I can be ready by half six.

Claire: Right. Well, shall I ring the restaurant and push it back a bit?

Oliver: Could you? That would be brilliant. What about seven? Is that too late?

Claire: No, seven's fine. That gives you time to get ready, and we can leave at quarter to.

Oliver: Perfect. And I can pick you up a bottle of wine on the way home, if you want. There's an off-licence near the flat.

Claire: Ooh, yes please. Red, if they've got anything nice.

Oliver: Done. Right, I'd better go. The traffic's moving again. I'll text you when I'm nearly there.

Claire: OK. I'll sort out the reservation. Drive safely!

Oliver: Will do. See you soon.

Claire: See you in a bit!