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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: the first day at a new job

    Linh's First Morning at the Airport Gate

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Linh arrived at the airport very early in the morning. It was her first day at her new job. She felt nervous and excited at the same time. She stood near the entrance of the departure lounge and looked around. There were many people sitting in chairs and waiting for their flights. The lounge was big and bright. There were large windows and she could see airplanes outside. Linh took a deep breath. She told herself, "You can do this." She checked her name badge. It said "Linh – Ground Staff." She put it on carefully. She wanted to look professional. She smiled at a passenger who walked past her. The passenger smiled back. Linh felt a little better. A woman walked over to Linh. Her name was Dana, and she was Linh's supervisor.

    "Good morning, Linh," Dana said. "Welcome to your first day." "Thank you," said Linh. "I am a little nervous." Dana smiled. "That is normal," she said. "Everyone feels that way on their first day." Dana showed Linh around the departure lounge. She pointed to the check-in desks. She showed Linh the information screens. She explained how to help passengers find their gates. She also showed Linh where to find the luggage carts. Linh listened carefully and tried to remember everything. She took out a small notebook and wrote down some notes. She did not want to forget anything important. Later, a passenger came to Linh for help. The man looked worried. "Excuse me," he said. "I cannot find my gate." Linh looked at the man's boarding pass.

    "Your gate is B7," she said. "Go straight ahead and turn left at the big screens." The man smiled. "Thank you so much," he said. Linh felt proud. It was her first time helping someone at the airport. She helped two more passengers before lunchtime. One woman needed help with her cart. Another passenger asked about the departure time of his flight. Linh answered each question as best as she could. At lunchtime, Dana came to find her. "You did a great job today, Linh," she said. Linh smiled. She felt tired but very happy. She was excited to come back the next day.

    Key vocabulary

    departure lounge (noun)the area in an airport where passengers wait before boarding their flight“Linh stood in the departure lounge and waited for her supervisor.”
    nervous (adjective)feeling worried or anxious about something“Linh felt nervous on her first day at work.”
    supervisor (noun)a person who is in charge of other workers and helps them do their job“Dana was Linh's supervisor at the airport.”
    boarding pass (noun)a document that allows a passenger to get on a plane“Linh looked at the man's boarding pass to find his gate number.”
    gate (noun)the place in an airport where passengers go to get on their plane“The passenger did not know where his gate was.”
    professional (adjective)behaving in a way that is suitable and correct for a job“Linh wanted to look professional on her first day.”
    luggage cart (noun)a small vehicle with wheels used to carry bags and suitcases in an airport“Dana showed Linh where to find the luggage carts.”
    badge (noun)a small sign worn on clothing that shows your name or job“Linh checked her name badge before starting work.”

    Useful phrases

    • take a deep breath — to breathe in slowly and deeply, often to feel calm“Linh took a deep breath before she started her first day at work.”
    • look around — to look at different parts of a place“Linh looked around the departure lounge when she arrived.”
    • show someone around — to take someone to different parts of a place and explain things to them“Dana showed Linh around the departure lounge.”
    • at the same time — together; both things happening together“Linh felt nervous and excited at the same time.”
    • as best as you can — trying as hard as possible to do something well“Linh answered every question as best as she could.”
    • go straight ahead — to continue moving forward without turning“"Go straight ahead and turn left," Linh told the passenger.”
    • write down — to record something on paper so you do not forget it“Linh wrote down notes so she would not forget anything important.”
    • feel proud — to feel happy and satisfied about something you have done well“Linh felt proud after she helped the passenger find his gate.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1BNUTSUPERVISORD
    2TFUESUOVRENLVEF
    3ZOBUFRDFPRUVPOI
    4CABOARDINGPASSX
    5BZSRKDQCGBREBIX
    6GGTUTKLAPTVFAGE
    7OBJKEVGMUZFADOM
    8YCWSUEBRVEDCALI
    9KUZSCIEPGZAGIUF
    10TVBAXLTDFPAHGRI
    11BBRMOHAPUTTETGD
    12STLUWBCREYFABHG
    13TPNPROFESSIONAL
    14TGPZURHXRVJCWBI
    15EAOTKQUHKNYZWRE

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What was Linh's job title on her name badge?

      • A) Flight Attendant
      • B) Information Officer
      • C) Ground Staff
      • D) Check-in Assistant
    2. Who was Dana?

      • A) A passenger at the airport
      • B) Linh's colleague at the desk
      • C) Linh's supervisor
      • D) A flight attendant
    3. What did Linh use to write her notes?

      • A) Her cell phone
      • B) A printed schedule
      • C) A small notebook
      • D) A tablet
    4. What was the passenger's gate number?

      • A) D7
      • B) C7
      • C) B7
      • D) A7
    5. What does 'departure lounge' mean?

      • A) A room where pilots wait before flying
      • B) The area where bags are collected after a flight
      • C) The area where passengers wait before boarding their flight
      • D) A restaurant inside an airport
    6. How did Linh feel at the end of her first day?

      • A) Worried and confused
      • B) Tired but very happy
      • C) Bored and disappointed
      • D) Angry and frustrated
    7. Linh helped only one passenger before lunchtime. True or False?

      • A) False
      • B) Not stated
      • C) True
      • D) Not mentioned
    8. What did Dana say to Linh at lunchtime?

      • A) "Please try harder tomorrow."
      • B) "You did a great job today."
      • C) "Come back at the same time tomorrow."
      • D) "You need more training."
    9. Which word means 'feeling worried or anxious about something'?

      • A) Nervous
      • B) Excited
      • C) Proud
      • D) Professional
    10. Linh could see airplanes through the windows of the departure lounge. True or False?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) False
      • C) True
      • D) Not mentioned

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    1. C 2. C 3. C 4. C 5. C 6. B 7. A 8. B 9. A 10. C

    Word search answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    badge: F12 ↗ · boarding pass: C4 → · departure lounge: O1 ↙ · gate: L9 ↙ · luggage cart: L2 ↙ · nervous: K2 ← · professional: D13 → · supervisor: E1 →

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: the first day at a new job

    Linh Finds Her Footing in the Departure Lounge

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Linh arrived at the airport well before her shift was scheduled to begin, determined to make a good impression on her first day as ground staff. The departure lounge was already busy with travelers wheeling their luggage carts toward the check-in desks, and the constant hum of announcements filled the air. She straightened her name badge, smoothed her uniform, and reminded herself to stay calm. Her supervisor, Dana, appeared from behind an information desk and greeted her with a warm handshake. "I'm glad you're here early," Dana said. "That already tells me a lot about you." Linh smiled gratefully, relieved that her nerves were not as obvious as they felt.

    Dana spent the next half hour walking Linh through the layout of the lounge, pointing out the flight information screens, the luggage cart stations, and the various boarding gates. She explained that the most important part of the job was making stressed passengers feel reassured and informed. "People are often anxious before a flight," Dana said, "so a calm, confident response from you can make a real difference." Linh listened closely and jotted down key points in a small notebook she had brought along, aware that no amount of preparation could replace hands-on experience. She was also quietly observing how Dana interacted with passengers, noting her tone, her posture, and the way she maintained eye contact. Linh's first real test came sooner than she expected. A man approached her with a worried expression, clutching his boarding pass and struggling to locate his gate on the departure board.

    Linh took a moment to check the information carefully before directing him clearly and confidently to gate B7. "Thank you," he said, visibly relieved. "I was starting to panic." Over the following hours, Linh helped several more passengers, each interaction building her confidence a little more. By lunchtime, Dana pulled her aside and told her she had handled every situation professionally. Linh felt a deep sense of satisfaction, not just because she had done her job well, but because she had genuinely helped people on what was, for many of them, a stressful day.

    Key vocabulary

    shift (noun)a scheduled period of work, especially one of several periods in a day“Linh arrived early so she would be ready before her shift began.”
    reassure (verb)to say or do something to make someone feel less worried or frightened“Dana told Linh that her job was to reassure passengers who felt anxious.”
    layout (noun)the way in which the parts of something are arranged“Dana walked Linh through the layout of the departure lounge.”
    hands-on (adjective)involving direct, practical experience rather than theory“Linh knew that hands-on experience would teach her more than any preparation.”
    posture (noun)the way a person holds and positions their body“Linh observed Dana's posture while she spoke with passengers.”
    clutch (verb)to hold something tightly, especially because you are nervous or worried“The passenger was clutching his boarding pass as he approached Linh.”
    satisfaction (noun)a feeling of pleasure and contentment from achieving something or doing something well“Linh felt a deep sense of satisfaction after her first day at work.”
    interaction (noun)a situation where two or more people communicate or work together“Each interaction with a passenger helped Linh feel more confident.”

    Useful phrases

    • make a good impression — to cause others to think well of you, especially when meeting them for the first time“Linh arrived early because she wanted to make a good impression on her first day.”
    • pull someone aside — to take someone away from a group to speak to them privately“Dana pulled Linh aside at lunchtime to give her some feedback.”
    • jot down — to write something quickly, especially to remember it later“Linh jotted down key points during Dana's tour of the lounge.”
    • hands-on experience — practical knowledge gained by doing something directly, not just reading or studying about it“Linh knew that hands-on experience would be more valuable than her notes.”
    • stay calm — to remain relaxed and in control, especially in a difficult or stressful situation“Linh reminded herself to stay calm before starting her shift.”
    • make a real difference — to have a noticeable and positive effect on a situation or person“Dana said a confident response from Linh could make a real difference to anxious passengers.”
    • sooner than expected — happening earlier than someone had thought it would“Linh's first real test came sooner than she expected.”
    • build confidence — to gradually develop a stronger belief in your own abilities“Each passenger Linh helped built her confidence a little more.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
    1MNIZROHNDKNJRT
    2JOCQVEYBTOVBSF
    3KIPQONLKSSVARI
    4PTYOMAADSITBIH
    5YCJEIANUQIRJFS
    6UAOLGAEMSKEEUY
    7ZRVLHRVFAWANLB
    8SEVWYPAOFUSYAX
    9KTMGJCOHPQSVYA
    10KNNITBLSCRUDOF
    11LICIVMSNTMRFUZ
    12RJOOXBQWPUEHTF
    13VNKSHCTULCRDBM
    14RXAKSXVFJAEEZX

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Linh arrive at the airport before her shift began?

      • A) She needed to practice her directions
      • B) Her supervisor had told her to arrive early
      • C) She wanted to make a good impression
      • D) She had forgotten her name badge at home
    2. What does Dana say is the most important part of the job?

      • A) Memorizing all the flight departure times
      • B) Learning the layout of the airport quickly
      • C) Making stressed passengers feel reassured and informed
      • D) Keeping the luggage carts organized
    3. What does the word 'clutch' mean as used in the story?

      • A) To drop something accidentally
      • B) To search for something quickly
      • C) To hold something tightly, especially out of nerves
      • D) To point at something in the distance
    4. What was the passenger struggling to do when he approached Linh?

      • A) Check in for his flight at the desk
      • B) Locate his gate on the departure board
      • C) Contact his supervisor by cell phone
      • D) Find a luggage cart near the entrance
    5. What did Linh observe while watching Dana interact with passengers?

      • A) Her schedule, her badge, and her uniform
      • B) Her tone, her posture, and her eye contact
      • C) Her handwriting, her notebook, and her pen
      • D) Her accent, her vocabulary, and her speed
    6. What does 'reassure' mean?

      • A) To say or do something to make someone feel less worried
      • B) To give someone directions to a gate
      • C) To check a passenger's boarding pass
      • D) To organize luggage at a check-in desk
    7. Dana gave Linh positive feedback before the end of the lunch break. True or False?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    8. Why did Linh feel satisfaction at the end of the day?

      • A) Because she had worked longer than any other staff member
      • B) Because she had done her job well and genuinely helped people
      • C) Because she had been offered a promotion by Dana
      • D) Because she had memorized the entire layout of the lounge
    9. Linh had worked at an airport before this job. True or False?

      • A) True
      • B) Not stated
      • C) False
      • D) Not mentioned
    10. Which phrase means 'to cause others to think well of you when meeting them for the first time'?

      • A) Stay calm
      • B) Make a real difference
      • C) Pull someone aside
      • D) Make a good impression

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    1. C 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. B 6. A 7. D 8. B 9. D 10. D

    Word search answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    clutch: J13 ← · hands-on: E7 ↗ · interaction: B11 ↑ · layout: M7 ↓ · posture: F8 ↘ · reassure: K5 ↓ · satisfaction: M2 ↙ · shift: N5 ↑

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/linhs-first-morning-at-the-airport-gate-2026-09-27