Adult ESL Lessons: The Post Office and the Bank (Beginner)

This is Lesson 21, “The Post Office and the Bank,” from our beginner-level book of adult ESL lessons, “ESL Pathways: Foundations”. The lesson starts with a short story about “Anita” going to the post office and the bank, followed by dialogues between Anita and a both a post office clerk and a bank teller, and comprehension questions. Students then complete an activity in which they fill in charts with relevant information, answer discussion questions, and complete a grammar review. This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many other adult ESL lessons like this one in our book ESL Pathways: Foundations.

ADULT ESL LESSONS: The Post Office and The Bank (Text-Only Version)

On Thursday Anita went to the post office and to the bank.

The post office is usually a very busy place.  There are usually many people waiting in line.  They all want to do different things.  Some people want to buy stamps.  Some people want to send packages.  

Anita needed to buy some stamps and to send a package.  At the post office she talks to the clerk.  The clerk was very helpful.  It is her Mother’s birthday soon. She bought some stamps for her mother’s birthday card.  She bought her mother a present and sent it in a package.  She bought her Mom a cookbook.  Anita hopes her Mom likes the card and present.      

The bank is usually a busy place, too.  People have to take a number and then wait.  When your number is called you go to the teller’s desk.  Tellers can help you do many things.  They can help you deposit money into your account.  They can help you withdraw money from your account.  They can help you transfer money from one account to another. They can help to handle checks.  Tellers are very helpful people.

Anita needed to deposit some money into her bank account.  She took a number and waited.  When her number was called she went to the teller’s desk.  The teller helped Anita deposit money into her bank account.  

Dialogue 1:  Anita is at the post office.  She is talking to the clerk.

Clerk:  May I help you?

Anita:  Yes, please.  I need some stamps for this card.

Clerk:  Let me weigh it for you.  That is one dollar and fifty cents.

Anita:  Okay.  Thank you.

Clerk:  Do you need anything else?

Anita:  Yes, please.  I also need to send this package.

Clerk:  Let me weigh it for you.  That is three dollars and ten cents.

Anita:  Here you are.  That is four dollars and sixty cents.

Clerk:  Thank you.  Is that all?

Anita:  Yes it is.  Thanks for all your help.    

Dialogue 2:  Anita is at the bank.  She is talking to the teller.

Teller:  May I help you?

Anita:  Yes, please.  I want to deposit this money into my account.

Teller:  Is that a savings account or a checking account?

Anita:  I want to deposit it into my savings account.

Teller:  Just fill out this deposit slip.  

Anita:  OK, thank you.  Here you are.

Teller: Don’t forget your account number.

Anita:  Oh, thanks.  I almost forgot.

Teller:  Is that all?  Do you need anything else?

Anita:  No, thank you.  That is all.  Thanks for all your help.

Questions:

1. Why is the post office usually a busy place?
2. What do people want to do there?
3. Where did Anita go first?
4. Why did she go there?
5. How much did the stamps for the card cost?
6. How much did it cost to send the package?
7. How much money did everything cost?
8. What was in the package?

9. What do you have to do at the bank?
10. What can bank tellers help you do?
11. What can bank tellers handle?
12. Where did Anita go after she went to the post office?
13. What did she want to do?
14. What did she have to fill out?
15. What did the teller remind her to do?
16. Did Anita need anything else at the bank?

Activity:  At the Post Office

Anita bought her mother a cookbook for her birthday.  She also sent her a birthday card.  Think of some suitable presents for some of your friends and family members.  Think about what they like or what they need.  

Activity:  The Lottery

Imagine that tomorrow you will win the lottery.  The jackpot is US$10,000,000 (ten million US dollars).  What you would like to do with all that money?  How much will you spend?  What will you buy?  How much will you save?

Discussion Questions:

1. Which post office do you usually go to?  Why do you go to this one?
2. What do you usually do at the post office?
3. When did you last go to the post office?
4. What did you do there?
5. Was it crowded?  How long did you have to wait in line?
6. Some people like to collect stamps.  Did you ever like to collect stamps?
7. What other things do you like to collect?

8. How many bank accounts do you have?  Which banks do you use?
9. Which bank do you usually go to?  Why do you go to this one?
10. What do you usually do at the bank?
11. When did you last go to the bank?
12. What did you do there?
13. Was it crowded?  How long did you have to wait in line?
14. Which bank is nearest to where you live?  Do you often go there?
15. Do you often use an ATM?  What do you use it for?

16. Have you ever played the lottery?
17. Which lottery numbers would you choose?  Why?

Grammar Focus:  Fill in the blanks.

The post office ___ usually a very busy place.  There _____ usually many people

waiting in line.  They all want to _____ different things.  Some people want to

_____ stamps.  Some people want to ________ packages.  

The bank ______ usually a busy place, too.  People ________ to _______ a

number and then _________.  When your number is __________ you go to the

teller desk.  Tellers can _________ you _______ many things.  They can help

you _____________ money into your account.  They can help you ___________ 

money from your account.  They can help you ____________ money from one

account to another. They can help to _________checks.  Tellers ________ very

helpful people.