Hibiscus Teach

Everyday English · Travel

Would You Land on This Beach?

An airport runway that disappears under the sea. Watch a remarkable arrival on Barra, then explain the journey and ask the questions that matter.

B1+–B215–20 minutes2 short clipsAnswers and models

Created by Denis M., British English teacher.

A short extension to Would You Sleep on This Train? You can also do this lesson on its own.

Try the activities, then check your answers.

You can arrive on an island by ferry or by a small plane landing on sand. Which would you choose, and why? Speak for 20 seconds.

The video has English subtitles built into the picture. These excerpts show the airport as filmed in 2021. The role-play later in this lesson is fictional. Press play in each player to begin its selected section.

An arrival to remember

Watch for the unusual feature and the way pilots find the runway.

Selected section 0:00–1:32 · 1:32Watch on YouTube ↗

On YouTube, stop at 1:32.

Check your listening · 3 questions

Answer key and explanations

The aircraft lands on a beach. The sand itself serves as the runway.
The sea covers it. Tom explains that the runway disappears under water as the tide rises.
Marker posts. The airport worker points out the marker posts. Listen again around 0:38 if you missed this detail.

Keep talking · 30 seconds

Explain this arrival to a friend in 30 seconds. Include two facts from the clip and your own reaction.

What makes it unusual is… / I’d feel… because…

See a model response

What makes it unusual is that the plane lands on sand and the sea covers the runway twice a day. I’d feel curious, but I’d want to know how the timing works.

Solo: record your answer, then check that you gave facts and an opinion. Tutor: What would you want to ask before booking?

A beach with two jobs

Notice who uses the beach and what staff check before an aircraft uses it.

Selected section 2:33–3:24 · 0:51Watch on YouTube ↗

On YouTube, stop at 3:24.

Check your listening · 3 questions

Answer key and explanations

Members of the public, including dog walkers. The speaker describes tourists and people walking their dogs on the beach.
They observe it from the tower. Tom describes people in the tower watching the beach directly.
Objects can wash in from the sea. The worker gives examples of material washed onto the beach. Such objects need to be spotted and removed.

Keep talking · 30 seconds

Your friend says, “It’s a public beach, so it must be completely unorganised.” Respond in 30 seconds using one detail from the clip.

I can see why you think that. However,…

See a model response

I can see why you think that. However, staff watch the beach from a tower and inspect it for objects washed in by the sea. It is a shared space with an organised airport operation.

Solo: add a question you would still like answered. Tutor: Which detail supports your explanation best?

Check the detail, then make a plan

A polite question helps you get useful information. If plans might change, use if + present simple, followed by will or can.

Check a detailCould you tell me what time we need to arrive?

Suggest a backupIf our flight is delayed, we can contact the hotel.

After “Could you tell me…”, use statement word order: what time we need to arrive. “What time do we need to arrive?” works as a direct question.

Speak now: Say one polite question about a journey in 20 seconds. Then give a possible backup plan.

Solo: say it aloud twice, improving one detail. Tutor: ask the learner to explain their choice.

Your flight has been delayed

Fictional role-play: you and a friend have a hotel booking tonight. Your flight is delayed and there is no confirmed departure time yet.

Your speaking challenge · 60 seconds

Take 60 seconds: ask the airline one clear question, tell your friend what you know, and suggest your next step. Do not invent a confirmed departure time.

Could you tell me when…? / At the moment,… / If…, we can…

See a model response

Could you tell me when the next update will be? At the moment, our flight is delayed and we don’t know when it will leave. If the delay continues, we can contact the hotel and explain the situation.

Solo: record both the traveller and friend. Tutor: play the friend and ask, “Should we change the booking now?”

Mastery check · 3 questions

Choose one answer for each question. Check your answers to see an explanation.

1. Choose the natural indirect question.Could you tell me what time does the flight leave?Could you tell me what time the flight leaves?Could you tell me what time the flight leave?

2. Complete the plan: “If our flight is delayed, …”we can contact the hotel.we contacted the hotel yesterday.we would have contacting the hotel.

3. Which update is most useful when the departure time is unknown?We will definitely arrive at six.Nothing can be done.There is no confirmed time yet. Let’s ask when the next update will be.

Answer key and explanations

Could you tell me what time the flight leaves? After “Could you tell me”, use statement word order. The singular subject “the flight” takes “leaves”.
we can contact the hotel. “If + present simple” can introduce a real future possibility. “We can…” gives an available response.
There is no confirmed time yet. Let’s ask when the next update will be. Separate confirmed information from uncertainty, then suggest a practical next step.

After the mastery check, repeat your opening answer. Use one expression more precisely this time.

Take these words on your next trip

Practise 15 useful expressions from our Japan, Iceland, Barra and Asia lessons. Study the whole set, or focus on the words you need.

Open Essential Travel Vocabulary →