Teaching ESL students how to order food means helping them talk confidently in English at restaurants and cafes. Students should learn to place orders and express food preferences.
ESL students often struggle with speaking clearly, understanding menus, and interacting with staff when ordering food. This can make real-life situations challenging.
How can ESL teachers support students facing difficulties when ordering food in English-speaking places?
This post offers tailored conversations on ordering food for different proficiency levels. By practicing these dialogues, students can improve their ordering skills, enrich their food vocabulary, and enhance their overall English communication. Teachers can use these conversations to help students overcome common challenges and reinforce learning effectively.
Table of Contents
Informal Conversation on Deciding on Lunch at a Casual Café
Level: Low intermediate
Context: Two coworkers chatting during their lunch break
Emma: Hey, Jack. Feeling hungry?
Jack: Yeah, a bit. What do you think we should eat?
Emma: How about sandwiches?
Jack: Sounds good to me.
Emma: Let’s head over to that café down the street. They do great sandwiches.
Jack: Alright, I’m up for that.
Emma: What kind of sandwich are you in the mood for?
Jack: I fancy a chicken sandwich.
Emma: Cool, let’s go grab some.
Also Read: Practice Ordering Food with AI
Formal Conversation on Placing a Pizza Order over the Phone
Level: Low intermediate
Context: Roommates organizing dinner plans
Sarah: Good afternoon, Mario’s Pizza. How may I assist you?
Mike: Hi there, could we order a large pepperoni pizza for delivery, please?
Sarah: Certainly, may I have your address, please?
Mike: Yes, it’s 123 Oak Street.
Sarah: Thank you. Your order will be delivered in about 30 minutes.
Mike: Great, thank you.
Informal Conversation on Deciding on Chinese Takeout
Level: Low intermediate
Context: Friends planning dinner for a movie night
Jessica: Hey, David. Feeling hungry?
David: Yeah, I could eat. What are you thinking?
Jessica: How about some Chinese takeout for dinner?
David: Sounds good to me.
Jessica: Let’s order from Golden Dragon.
David: Okay, what do you fancy?
Jessica: Let’s go with fried rice and sweet and sour chicken.
David: Alright, sounds good.
Also Read: Conversation Questions on Talking About Food and Cooking
Formal Conversation on Choosing Breakfast at a Diner
Level: Low intermediate
Context: Family deciding on breakfast options
Emily: Good morning. Are you ready for breakfast?
Chris: Yeah, I could eat. Where do you want to go?
Emily: Let’s head to the diner nearby.
Chris: Okay, what are you thinking of ordering?
Emily: I’m thinking pancakes and eggs.
Chris: That sounds good to me.
Emily: Let’s get going.
Informal Conversation on Picking Ice Cream Flavors at a Dessert Shop
Level: Low intermediate
Context: Friends enjoying a summer outing
Sophie: Hey, Tom. Want to grab some ice cream?
Tom: Yeah, sounds good. Where do you want to go?
Sophie: Let’s check out Sweet Treats.
Tom: Alright, what flavor are you going to get?
Sophie: I’m going for chocolate chip cookie dough.
Tom: Sounds good, I’ll have the same.
Sophie: Let’s go then.
Informal Conversation on Ordering Dinner at a Restaurant
Level: High Intermediate
Context: Two coworkers, Sophie and Jake, are at a casual restaurant for dinner after work.
Sophie: Hey Jake, what are you thinking of getting?
Jake: Hey Sophie, I’m thinking about trying the steak. How about you?
Sophie: I’m torn between the pasta and the chicken dish. They both sound good.
Jake: Yeah, the pasta does sound tempting. But I’m in the mood for something hearty tonight.
Sophie: True, I might go with the chicken then. Thanks for helping me decide.
Jake: No problem! Let’s flag down the waiter and place our orders.
Sophie: Sounds good to me!
Formal Conversation on Ordering Lunch at a Café
Level: High Intermediate
Context: Two business associates, Mr. Lee and Ms. Patel, are meeting for lunch at a café to discuss a project.
Mr. Lee: Good afternoon, Ms. Patel. Have you decided what you’d like to order?
Ms. Patel: Good afternoon, Mr. Lee. Yes, I’ll have the grilled salmon salad, please.
Mr. Lee: Excellent choice. I’ll have the quinoa and avocado wrap with a side of soup.
Ms. Patel: Sounds healthy and delicious.
Mr. Lee: Indeed. Would you care for any drinks with your meal?
Ms. Patel: Just water for me, please.
Mr. Lee: And I’ll have a green tea, thank you. Let’s call the waiter over.
Ms. Patel: Agreed.
Informal Conversation on Ordering Takeout Over the Phone
Level: High Intermediate
Context: Emma and David are roommates deciding what to order for takeout on a lazy Saturday evening.
Emma: Hey David, should we order Chinese or pizza tonight?
David: Hmm, I could go for some Chinese food. How about you?
Emma: Yeah, Chinese sounds good. Let’s get some sweet and sour chicken and fried rice.
David: Sounds perfect. Should we add some spring rolls to the order?
Emma: Definitely, can’t forget the spring rolls! I’ll give the restaurant a call and place the order.
David: Great, thanks!
Formal Conversation on Ordering Brunch at a Trendy Café
Level: High Intermediate
Context: Olivia and Daniel are meeting for brunch at a trendy café in the city.
Olivia: Good morning, Daniel. Have you had a chance to look at the menu?
Daniel: Good morning, Olivia. Yes, I’m thinking of trying the avocado toast with poached eggs.
Olivia: That sounds delicious. I might go with the brunch bowl with quinoa and vegetables.
Daniel: Healthy choice! Would you like to split an appetizer?
Olivia: Sure, the fruit parfait looks refreshing. Let’s go for that.
Daniel: Agreed. Shall we signal the waiter to take our order?
Olivia: Yes, let’s do that.
Informal Conversation on Ordering Dessert at a Fine Dining Restaurant
Level: High Intermediate
Context: Sophia and Liam are on a date at a fancy restaurant and are deciding on dessert.
Sophia: Liam, are you thinking of getting dessert?
Liam: Definitely, I could go for something sweet. What about you?
Sophia: I’m eyeing the chocolate lava cake, but the crème brûlée also looks tempting.
Liam: Tough choice! How about we get one of each and share?
Sophia: Sounds like a plan to me. Let’s flag down the waiter and place our order.
Liam: Agreed. This is going to be a sweet ending to our meal.
Formal Conversation on Ordering at a Michelin-Starred Restaurant
Level: Advanced
Context: A business dinner at a prestigious restaurant
Mark: Good evening, welcome to L’Étoile Brillante. I’m Mark, your sommelier for this evening. May I assist you with our wine selection?
Julia: Good evening, Mark. Thank you. We would like your recommendation for a white wine to pair with our meal.
Mark: Certainly. Our sommelier’s choice tonight is a 2018 Chardonnay from Burgundy. It has a crisp acidity with notes of pear and a hint of oak.
Julia: That sounds perfect. We’ll go with the Chardonnay.
Mark: Excellent choice. Shall I bring you a bottle?
Julia: Yes, please.
Mark: Very well. I’ll have that brought to your table shortly. Enjoy your evening.
Julia: Thank you, Mark.
Informal Conversation on Ordering at a Hip Café with Unique Offerings
Level: Advanced
Context: Two friends catching up at a trendy café
Sophie: Hey there! Welcome to Urban Brew. I’m Sophie, your barista. What can I get for you guys today?
Alex: Hi, Sophie. We’re excited to try something new. What do you recommend?
Sophie: Well, our specialty is the avocado toast with poached eggs and chili flakes. It’s been quite popular lately.
Alex: That sounds delicious. We’ll have two orders of avocado toast, please.
Sophie: Great choice! And would you like any additional toppings or sides?
Alex: Let’s add some smoked salmon on top of one of the toasts, please.
Sophie: Sure thing. And for your drinks?
Alex: I’ll have a flat white, please.
Sophie: And for you?
Ella: I’ll have a matcha latte, please.
Formal Conversation on Ordering at a High-End Sushi Restaurant
Level: Advanced
Context: A couple celebrating a special occasion at an upscale sushi restaurant
David: Good evening, and welcome to Sushi Royale. I’m David, your waiter for tonight. May I start you off with some appetizers?
Sophia: Good evening, David. Thank you. We’ll start with an order of the miso soup and the seaweed salad, please.
David: Excellent choice. And may I recommend our chef’s special rolls for tonight?
Sophia: Please do.
David: Our chef has prepared a signature Royale Roll, which features toro, uni, and caviar.
Sophia: That sounds exquisite. We’ll have one Royale Roll, please.
David: Very well. And would you like any other sushi rolls or sashimi?
Sophia: Let’s also have an assortment of nigiri sushi, please.
David: Of course. Your appetizers and sushi will be out shortly.
Informal Conversation on Ordering Street Food at a Night Market
Level: Advanced
Context: Two friends exploring a night market
Hannah: Hey! Welcome to the Night Market Noodles. I’m Hannah. What can I get for you guys tonight?
Tom: Hi, Hannah. We’re excited to try your noodles. What’s your specialty?
Hannah: Our crowd favorite is the spicy garlic noodles with grilled chicken. It’s got a kick!
Tom: That sounds fantastic. We’ll have two orders of the spicy garlic noodles, please.
Hannah: Great choice! And would you like to add any extras, like extra veggies or protein?
Tom: Let’s add some extra veggies to both orders, please.
Hannah: Sure thing. And for drinks?
Tom: I’ll have a Thai iced tea, please.
Lucy: I’ll have a coconut water, please.
Formal Conversation on Ordering a Multi-Course Dinner at a French Bistro
Level: Advanced
Context: A couple dining out for a special occasion at a French bistro
Natalie: Good evening, welcome to Le Petit Bistro. I’m Natalie, your server for tonight. May I offer you aperitifs to start?
Chris: Good evening, Natalie. Thank you. We’ll start with a glass of champagne, please.
Natalie: Certainly. And have you had a chance to look at our menu?
Chris: Yes, we have. We’d like to start with the foie gras terrine for our appetizer. And for main courses I’ll have the beef bourguignon, and my wife will have the coq au vin.
Natalie: Very well. And would you like to pair those with a wine from our cellar?
Chris: Yes, please. Could you recommend a red wine that would complement both dishes?
Natalie: Certainly. I would suggest a Côtes du Rhône. It has a robust flavor that pairs well with both the beef and chicken.
Chris: Sounds perfect. We’ll go with the Côtes du Rhône.
Natalie: Excellent choice. Your champagne and appetizer will be out shortly, followed by your main courses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, practicing ordering food through these conversations is a valuable way for ESL students to improve their English skills. By gaining confidence in expressing food preferences and navigating restaurant interactions, students can become more proficient communicators in real-life situations.
With the help of these resources, both students and teachers can work together to overcome challenges and achieve success in English language learning.
Discover more from ESL Info
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
1 thought on “ESL Conversations About Ordering Food”
Comments are closed.