B2 – Upper Intermediate
Holidays are often seen as special times meant for relaxation, adventure, and enjoyment. Yet, not every trip turns out the way we hope. Sometimes plans go wrong, expectations aren’t met, or the experience simply isn’t enjoyable. Still, many people find it hard to admit when a holiday has been disappointing.
Let’s read the article and know more about why people often feel pressure to present their holidays as enjoyable, even when the reality is unpleasant.
https://theconversation.com/why-cant-we-admit-to-not-enjoying-a-bad-holiday-267978
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does the verb “decompress” mean here?”Holidays present a chance to unwind, relax and decompress from life’s day-to-day struggles”. Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
- Define the verb “pervade“. “Echoes of that aristocratic impulse still pervade the way we talk about holidays to this day.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
- What is the meaning of “conspicuous consumption“? “The American economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen described this over a century ago: the affluent signal status through what he called “conspicuous consumption”.” Use it in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- Can you describe a holiday that didn’t meet your expectations, and what made it disappointing?
- In what ways does the idea of the “tourist gaze” shape how we talk about our travel experiences?
- Do you think people curate their holiday experiences more for themselves or for their audience? Why?
- Why might admitting to a bad holiday feel like a personal failure rather than just an unfortunate experience?