ESL Lesson on Tipping

An ESL Lesson on Tipping is a fun English lesson to learn vocabulary and expressions to talk about culture and tipping.

Learn English, cultural awareness, English vocabulary, idioms, and phrases to talk about tipping. Get the downloadable ESL printable worksheets on Tipping, ESL digital and printable flashcards, listening and reading exercises, and everything you need for the perfect digital and remote English lesson when you subscribe.

Discussion Warm Up

1. What kind of restaurants do you like eating at?
2. Do you ever give a server extra money when you eat in a restaurant?
3. Do you think working as a server in a restaurant is easy?
4. Are there times when you should give a person extra money for helping you?

ESL Video Lesson on Tipping

Watch the YouTube video and answer the questions:

ESL Questions on Tipping

Matching

Match the words on the left with words or expressions on the right that are closest in meaning.

Words in Context – Fill-in-the-blanks

Use the words from the vocabulary box to complete the following sentences. You may need to modify the tense or word form.

1. I __________ go to New York next spring if I have money to travel
2. If you want another cup of coffee you should ask the ________ to bring it to you.
3. When someone gives you a present you are _________ to say thank you.
4. We don’t have time to sit down and eat!  Let’s grab some sandwiches at that _________  restaurant and eat in the car.
5. My classes start at 7:00 in the morning this year. I am still not _________ getting up early in the morning.
6. If you want to drive a car you are __________ to have a drivers license.
7. He  _________ so much food!  I don’t think he can eat it all..
8. If you want to buy food in a fast food restaurant, you will need to go to the ____________  to get it!
9. The server was so nice! Let’s leave him a big _______.
10. That restaurant is very popular.  It is ___________ by many people to be the best place in town. 11. Excuse me, we are finished eating. Can you please bring us our ________?

ESL Lesson Activity on Tipping

Fill-in-the-blanks
Watch the video and complete the sentences.

JOHNNY:
In The United States and Canada, a person is expected to pay a little extra money for the food and drinks they order in a restaurant.  This is called ________ and it can get a little hard to get used to.

Tipping is not required in all restaurants.  You only need to tip in ‘sit down’ restaurants.  A sit down restaurant is a restaurant where you sit at a table and a waiter or waitress, sometimes called a ______, takes your food and drink order and bring food and drinks to you. 

A fast food restaurant is not considered a sit down restaurant because you have to go to a _______ to order your food, and you have to bring your food to your table by yourself. You do not tip in a fast food restaurant!

How much should you tip?  In America and Canada you should give the server about 15 to 20% more than the food and drink costs after you finish eating.  Sometimes people will give a bigger _____ if they liked the server, sometimes they will give a little less if they did not think the server did a good job.

For example, if you eat lunch in a _________  restaurant and the server was very nice.  Your bill for your food and drink is 20 dollars. You might give the server another five dollars or a 25% ‘tip’. If the server was not nice, you might give a two dollar, or only a 10% ‘tip’. Remember, it does not matter if the server did a good job or a bad job, tipping is still _________. How much you tip, is up to you!

ESL Conversation on Tipping

JOHNNY:
In The United States and Canada, a person is expected to pay a little extra money for the food and drinks they order in a restaurant.  This is called tipping and it can get a little hard to get used to.

Tipping is not required in all restaurants.  You only need to tip in ‘sit down’ restaurants.  A sit down restaurant is a restaurant where you sit at a table and a waiter or waitress, sometimes called a server, takes your food and drink order and bring food and drinks to you. 

A fast food restaurant is not considered a sit down restaurant because you have to go to a counter to order your food, and you have to bring your food to your table by yourself. You do not tip in a fast food restaurant!

How much should you tip?  In America and Canada you should give the server about 15 to 20% more than the food and drink costs after you finish eating.  Sometimes people will give a bigger tip if they liked the server, sometimes they will give a little less if they did not think the server did a good job.

For example, if you eat lunch in a sit down restaurant and the server was very nice.  Your bill for your food and drink is 20 dollars. You might give the server another five dollars or a 25% ‘tip’. If the server was not nice, you might give a two dollar, or only a 10% ‘tip’.

Remember, it does not matter if the server did a good job or a bad job, tipping is still expected. How much you tip, is up to you!

To tip or not to tip?

What would you do in the following situations? Would you tip? How much?
(Remember, tipping is usually required but the amount you tip is a personal choice.)

1. You go to McDonald’s for lunch.  You wait in line at the counter. You order your food and after a short time the worker hands you your food.
TIP? (Yes or No)                               How much?(%)                               Reason

2. You eat dinner at a family restaurant the food isn’t very good but the server is friendly.
TIP? (Yes or No)                               How much?(%)                               Reason

3. You take your friend to a very expensive restaurant for his birthday.  The server is not very friendly and makes several mistakes with your food order. You notice that the restaurant is very busy and there are a lot of customers waiting for a table.
TIP? (Yes or No)                               How much?(%)                               Reason

4. (BONUS!)
You go to your local coffee shop for a cup of coffee.  You go to the counter and order a regular coffee with cream.  The employee hands your coffee and smiles. After you pay you notice a large glass jar on the counter.  The label on the jar reads ‘TIPS’.
TIP? (Yes or No)                               How much?(%)                               Reason

Natural English

order can be a noun
order can be a verb

(N)The server gave the customer’s order to the cook.
(V)The customer ordered another hamburger. 

Tip can be a noun
Tip can be a verb

(N)He gave the server a small tip.
(N)Tipping is expected at sit-down restaurants in America and Canada.
(V) He tipped the server one-hundred dollars!

Tip can also mean a suggestion or advice.(among other things)
My teacher gave me some tips on how to improve my score.

(V)Consider= to think about
(V)Considered= thought about, believed to be
(ADJ) Considerate=to be kind, to not bother or hurt others
“He always helps the younger students carry their heavy school bags to school.  He is a very considerate person.”

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Reference: WC2