New here? This is lesson 127 of a free 240-lesson English course.
In an emergency in English
Wednesday evening at the library. Ana's English class practices what to say in an emergency.
You will learn how to call 911. That is nine-one-one, the US number for help.
You'll say this is an emergency, ask for help, and name a fire or an injury.
Keep it short. The person on the phone needs the problem first, not a long story.
By the end of this lesson
Call 911 in an emergency and say the problem in a short, clear way.
- Call 911.Phone the US number for police, fire, or an ambulance.
- This is an emergency.This is very serious and cannot wait.
- I need help right now.Please help me immediately.
- Someone is hurt.A person here has an injury.
- There is a fire.Something is burning.
- I can't breathe.I am not able to take in air.
Scene — wednesday class
Wednesday evening at the library branch near Larch Street. Ana sits at a table with a notebook. The teacher holds a phone for a role play.
The class will practice a 911 call. There is no real emergency. The jukebox at the diner is far away and quiet tonight.
Learn — call for help
Six short lines help you call for help in an emergency.
You'll say Call 911, name the problem, and ask for help right now.
Call 911.
Phone the US number for police, fire, or an ambulance.
When to use it: Use this when someone needs police, fire, or an ambulance.
Say Call 911 as nine-one-one, never nine-eleven.
Say it: Say nine, then one, then one.
This is an emergency.
This is very serious and cannot wait.
When to use it: Say this first so they know the call is serious.
Use this as one short piece at the start.
Say it: The stress is on the second part.
I need help right now.
Please help me immediately.
When to use it: Say this when you need help at this moment.
Right now means you cannot wait at all.
Someone is hurt.
A person here has an injury.
When to use it: Say this when a person nearby has an injury.
Keep it short and skip a long health report.
There is a fire.
Something is burning.
When to use it: Say this when something nearby is burning.
Say the problem in this place, right now.
I can't breathe.
I am not able to take in air.
When to use it: Say this when you cannot take in air.
Can't is cannot, said as one piece.
Say it: Can't has a strong a sound, not a weak can.
Story — too many details
Watch Ana's class practice a 911 call. She starts with too many details.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- The teacher holds a phone. The class is quiet.
- TeacherOkay. You see a problem. Call 911.She tells Ana to phone the US help number.
AnaHello. Can I ask a question? I have a headache.She greets, then starts a long health report.- TeacherNo. Say, "This is an emergency."She wants the short emergency line, not extra details.
- AnaThis is an emergency.This is very serious and cannot wait.
- TeacherGood. Now ask for help.She tells Ana to ask for help next.
- AnaWell, I need help right now. My feet hurt too.She asks for help, then adds extra details again.
- TeacherJust say, "Someone is hurt."She wants a short line about an injury.
- AnaSomeone is hurt.A person here has an injury.
- The teacher nods. She changes the practice card.
- TeacherSo, now there is a fire.She sets the next problem: something is burning.
- AnaThere is a fire.Something is burning.
- TeacherAre you okay?I want to know if you are all right.
- AnaI can't breathe.I am not able to take in air.
- TeacherThat's the line. Short and clear.She likes the short answer.
Practice — short and clear
Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay short, so you can move fast.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
This is an emergency.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You call 911. A person on the sidewalk has an injury.
Build the line
Build the line
Please help me immediately.
.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Something is burning.
There is a ____.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You cannot take in air. Finish the line for 911.
I can't ____.
Match the pairs
English
This is an emergency.Drop the Simple English hereI need help right now.Drop the Simple English hereSomeone is hurt.Drop the Simple English hereThere is a fire.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
Pick the reply
Teacher says:
Pick the reply
Any questions before the role play?
The teacher asks if you want to ask something.
And you reply with:
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
True or false?
True or false?
You say this first when you call 911.
Say it — say it on the line
Now you're Ana in English class. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- TeacherOkay. You need help. What do you do?She asks Ana what to do first.
- Ana (you)Tell someone nearby to phone the US help number.
Tell someone nearby to phone the US help number.
Call 911.
Phone the US number for police, fire, or an ambulance.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Call 911. | Phone the US number for police, fire, or an ambulance. | |
| This is an emergency. | This is very serious and cannot wait. | |
| I need help right now. | Please help me immediately. | |
| Someone is hurt. | A person here has an injury. | |
| There is a fire. | Something is burning. | |
| I can't breathe. | I am not able to take in air. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want these emergency lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your 911 lines ready.
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