Do you love to see new places and experience other cultures? What are the best (and worst) parts of traveling? In this conversation lesson, we’ll practice talking about travel, transportation, and culture.
Introduction
Watch the following YouTube video about a man who is walking across the world:
Intro Discussion Questions
- Why is this man walking across the world?
- What is the farthest distance you’ve ever walked?
New Words in Context:
I had a great time on my recent trip to Japan. I booked a flight with a late-night departure, because after I transfer in L.A., I slept all night before my arrival the next day. I booked a reservation at a hotel in downtown Tokyo, and after a few days seeing the city, I took another flight to Hokkaido. I planed to just rent a car and drive around—I wanted to get off the beaten path and see parts of Japan without a lot of other American tourists. Unfortunately, I had a breakdown on a country road. I travel light, so it wasn’t hard to take my backpack and walk to the next village where I could get some help. I was late checking in to my hotel, but they didn’t mind. The next day, I went canoeing and horseback riding, and ate at a great sushi restaurant my guide book recommended.
Departure (n) – the act of leaving, often to start a journey
Arrival (n) – the act of arriving somewhere
Transfer (v) – change to another place, route, or means of transportation during a journey.
Reservation (n) – an arrangement whereby something, especially a seat or room, is booked or reserved for a particular person
Breakdown (n) – a mechanical failure
Travel Light (adj. phrase) – to travel without taking much baggage with you.
Check in (phrasal verb) – arrive and register at an airport, station, or hotel
Guide book (noun) – a book for tourists full of information about a place
Off the beaten path (idiom) – a place where few tourists go
Discussion Questions
- What first comes to mind when you hear the word “travel?”
- Do you like to travel?
- How often do you travel?
- Describe the best trip you’ve ever taken.
- Where do you most want to go?
- Do you prefer a relaxing vacation, or an exciting vacation?
- Do you prefer the mountains, or the beach?
- Do you prefer going to a beautiful, natural place, or an interesting, cultural place?
- If you had a million dollars and a year to travel, where would you go?
- How do you feel about coming home after a trip?
- What can travel teach a person?
- Do you think travel is more educational than school?
- Do you like to travel by car, plane, train, bus, or another way?
- Have you ever traveled alone? If not, would you want to?
- Have you ever gotten lost while traveling?
- Have you ever hitchhiked? Do you think it is safe?
- Do you play travel games when you have long flights or drives?
- Do you think tourism helps or hurts the countries where tourists go?
- What advice would you have for tourists coming to your home country?
- Do you like airports? Is there any particularly interesting airport you’ve been to?
- What do you think of the idea of space tourism? Do you think tourists will ever go to the moon?