Going to a Museum

Everyday Dialogues

Dialogue Reading
Read the dialogue with your partner a few times. Take turns being each character.
Practice your intonation and pronunciation. Write down any new words or phrases.

Tourist: Hi. Is there an admission fee for this museum?

Attendant: Hello. Admission is by donation.

Tourist: Okay. Here’s 20 dollars.

Attendant: Thank you kindly. Have you been to the fossils museum before?

Tourist: No. Do you have a brochure that we could take?

Attendant: Yes, there is a map in the brochure. We also have tour guides if you are interested.

Tourist: That’s okay. We’ll use the map. Can you tell me where to find the Darwin exhibit?

Yes, the Darwin exhibit is on the third floor. One of the exhibitors is giving a talk there
Attendant:
today at 2:00 p.m.

Tourist: Great. I guess we’ll just wander around until then.

The gift shop is located at the exit. If you need a snack, there’s a cafeteria on the
Attendant:
second floor.

Tourist: We actually have sandwiches in our bag. Can we bring them in with us?

Attendant: I’m afraid no outside food or drinks are permitted inside the museum.

Tourist: Okay. We’ll eat our lunch outside before we come in then. Are cameras permitted?

Attendant: Yes. But please do not use flash photography during the lecture.

Tourist: Okay. Thanks for your help.

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 Going to a Museum
Everyday Dialogues

Practice
Work with your partner. Role-play the dialogue, substituting the different expressions
below. Then reverse roles.

Is there an admission fee? We’ll just wander around.

What’s the cost of admission? We’ll just look around.
How much is it to get in? We’ll just walk around.
What’s the entrance fee? We’ll just browse.

Thank you kindly. Can we bring them in with us?

Thank you very much. Are these permitted inside?
Thank you for your generosity. Are these allowed inside?
That’s very generous. Thank you. Do we have to leave these outside?

No outside food or drinks are permitted.

That’s okay.
No food or drinks are allowed.
Thanks anyway.
You can’t bring any food or drinks in.
That won’t be necessary.
You may not bring in any food or drinks.
No, thank you.

Can you tell me where to find...?

Can you point me to...?
Where would I find...?
Where is...?

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 Going to a Museum
Everyday Dialogues

Vocabulary
Match the words or expressions on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

a. a display of something such as art or work that people come

1 ___ admission fee to see

2 ___ donation b. a person who is displaying something at a museum or special

event

3 ___ fossil
c. an unset amount of money that you can volunteer to pay

4 ___ brochure
d. to allow

5 ___ exhibit
e. a light that goes off on a camera

6 ___ exhibitor
f. a store that sells souvenirs or gifts

7 ___ wander g. the set cost to enter a building or special event

8 ___ gift shop h. printed material that provides details about a special event,
attraction, or business

9 ___ permit
i. to walk around casually without a set destination

10 ___ flash
j. remains of something from long ago that is found inside rock

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 Going to a Museum
Everyday Dialogues

Dialogue Building
Complete the dialogue below with appropriate expressions.

Tourist:! ! Hello. What is the _____________ for this museum?

Attendant:! Admission is by ______________. Pay one dollar or twenty! It’s up to you.

Tourist:! ! Great. I have a ten dollar bill.

Attendant:! We appreciate it. Have you been to the art museum before? Please take a ____________.

Tourist:! ! Thanks. This is my first time here. Is there a map in the brochure?

Attendant:! Yes. And we also offer tours. Do you need a tour _______?

Tourist:! ! No, that’s okay. I’ll just __________ around and look at the exhibits.

Attendant:! Okay. If you get hungry, there is a cafeteria on the ground _________.

Tourist:! ! Thanks. I need a coffee.

Attendant:! Great. And just to let you know, no food or drinks are __________ around the exhibits.

Tourist:! ! Right. Can I take pictures of the art?

Attendant:! Yes, but please don’t use ___________ photography during a presentation.

Tourist:! ! That’s understandable. Thanks for your help.

Attendant:! Enjoy the museum.

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 Going to a Museum
Everyday Dialogues

Types of Museums – Pair Activity

Work with a partner. Discuss what types of exhibits you might see in each museum. More
than one column may be used for an exhibit.

Natural Art Historic Children’s

Write Your Own Dialogue

Write a dialogue with a partner using phrases from page 2. Practice and present the dialogue
to your class. One speaker is the exhibitor or museum attendant, and the other is the tourist.

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 Going to a Museum
Everyday Dialogues

Answer Key
Lesson Description:

A tourist wants to visit a

Vocabulary museum. The tourist talks to
an attendant about admission,
1. g! 2. c! 3. j! 4. h! 5. a! rules, and navigation. Useful
6. b! 7. i! 8. f! 9. d! 10. e expressions are included and
practiced.

Dialogue Building
These are suggestions. Your students may choose other words that fit.

Tourist: Hello. What is the admission fee for this museum?

Attendant: Admission is by donation. Pay one dollar or twenty! It’s up to you.

Tourist: Great. I have a ten dollar bill.

Attendant: We appreciate it. Have you been to the art museum before? Please take a brochure.

Tourist: Thanks. This is my first time here. Is there a map in the brochure?

Attendant: Yes. And we also offer tours. Do you need a tour guide?

Tourist: No, that’s okay. I’ll just wander around and look at the exhibits.

Attendant: Okay. If you get hungry, there is a cafeteria on the ground floor.

Tourist: Thanks. I need a coffee.

Attendant: Great. And just to let you know, no food or drinks are permitted around the exhibits.

Tourist: Right. Can I take pictures of the art?

Attendant: Yes, but please don’t use flash photography during a presentation.

Tourist: That’s understandable. Thanks for your help.

Attendant: Enjoy the museum.

Grammar Review
Have you practiced “if” clauses with your students before? Use the examples from the dialogue to have students
practice moving the if clause to the beginning and end of the sentence.
“If you need a snack, there’s a cafeteria on the second floor.” (There’s a cafeteria on the second floor if you need a snack.)
“We also have tour guides if you are interested.” (If you are interested, we also have tour guides.)
Here is a helpful blog post: http://www.esl-library.com/blog/2013/03/14/an-easy-way-to-teach-conditionals/

Copyright 2013, Red River Press Inc. For use and photocopying by members of ESL-library.com only, in accordance with membership terms. 6
Copyright 2013, Red River Press Inc. For use and photocopying by members of ESL-library.com only, in accordance with membership terms. 7