Hibiscus Teach · Vids
Food and cafés: We Bare Bears
Practise ordering food and choosing what you like.
Created by Denis M., British English teacher.
Watch each clip, then try its activities.
Useful language
Order politely with I’d like + food + please. Can I have + food + please? is also natural. Ask What would you like? Use I like for a general preference: I like chocolate.
Say it now: Speak for 30 seconds. Order one food and one drink in a café.
Example answer
I’d like a chocolate cupcake and a tea, please.
Solo: change one detail. Tutor: ask one simple question about the answer.
We Bare Bears: ordering lunch
The bears arrive at a restaurant. Listen for tacos, salsa and chips. In this American scene, chips means tortilla chips.
Selected extract: 0:00 to 0:14. Press play after loading. Source: Cartoon Network.
Watch and check: 3 questions
Choose one answer for each question, then read the feedback. Replay the extract if you need to.
Answer key and explanations
- A. Vegetarian tacos He orders veggie tacos, which means vegetarian tacos.
- B. Salsa He asks for extra salsa, a sauce served with the tacos.
- C. Free chips Ice Bear asks for more free chips.
1–2 minGrammar in a minuteA2 · A choice made while ordering
“i'll have the veggie tacos please”
Clip 1, quotation excerpt
I’ll have makes the customer’s choice at the counter. Will takes the base verb have; it does not take to have.
Speaking: use the language
Speak for 30 to 45 seconds. Use the words above. A short, clear answer is enough.
Order lunch. Ask politely for one extra item.
Model answer
I’d like vegetarian tacos, please. Can I have extra salsa?
Your answer can be different.
Solo: answer as the server and ask about a drink. Tutor: What extra item do you usually ask for?
We Bare Bears: choosing cupcakes
Choosing a flavour is difficult for the customers. Listen for flavours and the number of cupcakes.
Selected extract: 0:00 to 0:58. Press play after loading. Source: Cartoon Network.
Watch and check: 3 questions
Choose one answer for each question, then read the feedback. Replay the extract if you need to.
Answer key and explanations
- A. Chocolate Chocolate is suggested first; vanilla is mentioned soon afterwards.
- B. Three The customer eventually asks for three cupcakes.
- C. Across four cards The customer asks to split the payment across four cards.
1–2 minGrammar in a minuteA2 · A polite request for another person’s action
“COULD YOU SPLIT IT BETWEEN FOUR CARDS?”
Clip 2, quotation excerpt
Could you + base verb asks the cashier to act. Could is polite here, rather than describing an ability the cashier had years ago.
Speaking: use the language
Speak for 30 to 45 seconds. Use the words above. A short, clear answer is enough.
Choose two flavours and order politely. Make your choice before you speak.
Model answer
I’d like two cupcakes, please: one chocolate and one vanilla. Can I pay by card?
Your answer can be different.
Solo: repeat as the server. Tutor: How can you help the next customer by being ready to order?
Listen, repeat and use
Listen once, then repeat. Replace a word or name to make each sentence true for you.
I’d like a cupcake, please.
Order politely.
Can I have extra salsa, please?
Ask for an extra item.
What would you like?
Ask for a customer’s choice.
Can I pay by card?
Ask about payment.
Check what you can use
Mastery quiz: 6 questions
Choose one answer for each question, then read the feedback. Replay the extract if you need to.
Answer key and explanations
- A. I’d like a taco, please. I’d like + food + please is a polite order.
- B. Can I pay by card? Use Can I + base verb; by card is the usual phrase.
- C. flavour Flavour means the particular taste of a food.
- A. no meat or fish Vegetarian food has no meat or fish.
- B. more salsa Extra means more than the normal amount.
- C. What would you like? A server can use this to ask what a customer wants.
Final speaking challenge
Return to one speaking task. Say your answer again without reading the model. Use two useful phrases from this lesson.
Solo: record 30 to 45 seconds, then listen for the phrases you used. Tutor: ask one follow-up question and help the learner say the answer again.
1–2 minGrammar masteryB1 · Reporting a decision
“i'll have the veggie tacos please”
Clip 1, quotation excerpt
In a past-time report, will normally becomes would. Change I to the person you are describing.