Open World p 35. Holidays. Extra Speaking

SPEAKING TEST                      HOLIDAYS                         

A Have a conversation as natural as possible with a partner about the topic. Use the pictures above and the questions below to help you.

1. Will you go away this summer? If so, for how long? Where will you go? Have you ever been in two minds about travelling somewhere? Are you able to travel out of season? What are the benefits?
   
2.  What is easily the best holiday you have ever had? Were you at home? Abroad? Why was it special? Was it enlightening? Have you ever booked a holiday on impulse? In all honesty, did it turn out to be one of your best holidays?
   
3. What do you look for when you are on holiday? Would you rather stay in a bustling city than visit a remote village in the back of beyond? What are the advantages of travelling off the beaten track?
4. Think about places you have been to. What were they like? In retrospect, what would you have done differently? What places are not great at the best of times and they were even worse when you went there?
   
5. To what extent does modern-day tourism provide opportunities for people to enrich themselves culturally?
6. What benefits can tourism bring?
   
7. What is the future of tourism in our country? How will people be spending their holiday in fifteen years from now?
8. Where is without a doubt the eeriest place you have ever been to? Would you be in favour of going on an adventure trip? Do you try to be on the lookout for dangerous situations?
9. Do you find it challenging to travel in accordance with the local rules and regulations? Have you ever been put off travelling on account of a plethora of regulations?
   

B MONOLOGUE

Student A

1. Have you ever been on holiday on your own? What is it like to travel single-handedly? What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling solo?
2. Do you and your family usually go on package holidays, or do you prefer to organize your own? Give reasons. Have you ever been given anything for free by way of apology for any inconvenience caused to you?
   
3. Think of a "snapshot" moment of a special holiday. Think about where you were, what kind of holiday it was, how you felt at the time and why the memory is important to you.

Student B

1. Tell us about a thriving city you have been to. Were the historical sights in the vicinity of the place where you were staying?
   
2. How do you keep up to speed on the home news when you are away?
   
3. Where do you go when you need to unwind? In what ways does this help you to recharge your batteries? Do you look for unbeatable views?
   

Useful vocabulary
enrich: to improve the quality of something, often by adding something to it. E.g. enrich something The study of science has enriched all our lives. Enrich something with something Most breakfast cereals are enriched with vitamins. Travelling abroad enriches your life.

enlighten: to give somebody information so that they understand something better. E.g. She didn't enlighten him about her background. Travelling enlightens the mind.
enlightening  (adj) Travelling is enlightening. 

skyscraper:  a very tall building in a city.

skyline: the outline of buildings, trees, hills, etc. seen against the sky. E.g. the New York skyline. Ugly tower blocks dominate the skyline.

eye-opener: an event, experience, etc. that is surprising and shows you something that you did not already know. E.g. Travelling around India was a real eye-opener for me.

get/have itchy feet

(informal) to want to travel or move to a different place; to want to do something different. E.g. After a few years in one place, I get itchy feet. 

 

out of season = not during the popular time; 

on impulse = suddenly, without planning; 

in the vicinity of = close to, in the closely surrounding area; 

in retrospect = thinking about something in the past; 

in favour of = wanting to; 

in all honesty = being completely honest; 

by way of apology for = to say sorry for; 

at the best of times = in its better moments. If something is not very good, pleasant etc at the best of times, it is usually even worse than this. Sp. en las mejores circunstancias, en el mejor de los casos. E.g.  It’s crowded at the best of times, but today it was unbearable.