Dialogue at the Bus Station – English Standard Four

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, a pupil should be able to identify common words used at a bus station, use polite expressions when asking for travel information, ask and answer questions about bus destinations, departure times and fares, and participate in simple conversations at a bus station.

Common Vocabulary

English	Kiswahili
Bus station	Kituo cha mabasi
Bus	Basi
Passenger	Abiria
Bus driver	Dereva wa basi
Conductor	Kondakta
Ticket	Tiketi
Ticket office	Ofisi ya tiketi
Destination	Mahali pa kwenda
Journey	Safari
Departure	Kuondoka
Arrival	Kuwasili
Departure time	Muda wa kuondoka
Fare	Nauli
Seat	Kiti
Luggage	Mizigo
Platform	Jukwaa la kupandia basi
Bus stop	Kituo cha basi
Travel	Safiri
Board a bus	Panda basi
Get off	Shuka
Delay	Kuchelewa

Common Expressions

English Expression	Kiswahili Meaning
Excuse me, please.	Samahani, tafadhali.
Where is the bus station?	Kituo cha mabasi kiko wapi?
Where can I buy a ticket?	Ninaweza kununua tiketi wapi?
Where is the bus going?	Basi linaenda wapi?
I am going to Moshi.	Ninaenda Moshi.
What time does the bus leave?	Basi linaondoka saa ngapi?
How much is the fare?	Nauli ni kiasi gani?
Is this the bus to Arusha?	Hili ndilo basi la kwenda Arusha?
Where should I sit?	Nikae wapi?
Please help me with my luggage.	Tafadhali nisaidie mzigo wangu.
Thank you for your help.	Asante kwa msaada wako.
Have a safe journey.	Safari njema.

Sample Dialogue One: Asking for Travel Information

Situation: A passenger wants to travel from Arusha to Moshi.

Passenger: Excuse me, please.
Station Attendant: Yes. How can I help you?
Passenger: I want to travel to Moshi.
Station Attendant: You can get a bus to Moshi over there.
Passenger: What time does the bus leave?
Station Attendant: It leaves at nine o’clock.
Passenger: Where can I buy a ticket?
Station Attendant: You can buy it at the ticket office.
Passenger: Thank you very much.
Station Attendant: You are welcome. Have a safe journey.

Comprehension Questions

1. Where does the passenger want to go?
2. Who helps the passenger?
3. What time does the bus leave?
4. Where can the passenger buy a ticket?
5. What does the station attendant wish the passenger?

Sample Dialogue Two: Buying a Bus Ticket

Situation: A passenger is buying a ticket to Dar es Salaam.

Passenger: Good morning.
Ticket Seller: Good morning. How can I help you?
Passenger: I would like a ticket to Dar es Salaam.
Ticket Seller: How many tickets do you need?
Passenger: I need one ticket, please.
Ticket Seller: The fare is thirty thousand shillings.
Passenger: Here is the money.
Ticket Seller: Thank you. Here is your ticket.
Passenger: What time does the bus leave?
Ticket Seller: It leaves at eight o’clock in the morning.
Passenger: Thank you.
Ticket Seller: You are welcome.

Comprehension Questions

1. Where does the passenger want to travel?
2. How many tickets does the passenger need?
3. How much is the fare?
4. What time does the bus leave?
5. Who gives the passenger a ticket?

Practice Activities

Activity A: Match the Words with Their Meanings

Column A	Column B
1. Passenger	A. Money paid for travelling
2. Ticket	B. A person who drives a bus
3. Fare	C. A person travelling in a vehicle
4. Bus driver	D. A document that allows someone to travel
5. Bus station	E. A place where buses pick up and drop off passengers

Activity B: Fill in the Blanks

Use these words: ticket, passenger, fare, bus station, luggage.

1. A person travelling in a bus is called a __________.
2. We buy a __________ before travelling.
3. The money paid for travelling is called __________.
4. We get buses at the __________.
5. Bags carried during a journey are called __________.

Activity C: Complete the Dialogue

Use these words: ticket, much, Moshi, morning.

Passenger: Good __________.
Ticket Seller: Good morning. Where are you going?
Passenger: I am going to __________.
Ticket Seller: Do you need a __________?
Passenger: Yes, please. How __________ is it?

Answer Guide

Dialogue One

1. Moshi.
2. The station attendant.
3. At nine o’clock.
4. At the ticket office.
5. A safe journey.

Dialogue Two

1. Dar es Salaam.
2. One ticket.
3. Thirty thousand shillings.
4. At eight o’clock in the morning.
5. The ticket seller.

Activity A: 1–C, 2–D, 3–A, 4–B, 5–E.

Activity B: 1. passenger, 2. ticket, 3. fare, 4. bus station, 5. luggage.

Activity C: 1. morning, 2. Moshi, 3. ticket, 4. much.

Speaking Practice

Work in pairs. One pupil acts as a passenger and another acts as a ticket seller or station attendant. Practise conversations about:

• Asking for a bus to Dodoma.
• Buying a ticket to Mwanza.
• Asking about the departure time.
• Asking about the bus fare.
• Asking where to board the bus.

Remember to use polite expressions such as: Excuse me, please; Good morning; Thank you; You are welcome.

Support for Slow Learners

• Use pictures of buses, tickets and bus stations to introduce new vocabulary.
• Let pupils repeat words after the teacher.
• Practise short questions and answers before reading the dialogues.
• Pair slow learners with supportive classmates.
• Give pupils enough time to practise through role-play.

Learning Outcome

A pupil should be able to use common bus station vocabulary and polite expressions to ask and respond to simple questions about travelling by bus.