Tag: Travel and Holiday

Venice to Charge Tourists for Entry

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The city of Venice is going to impose an entrance fee for tourists in order to prevent a massive influx of visitors arriving in the city for various reasons. This decision have been met with different reactions from locals and tourists.

Watch the video and know more about this measure.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this measure set by the Venice local government?
  2. What reasons do they have for imposing this measure?
  3. How can this affect businesses?
  4. Do you agree with the price they set simply for entering the city? Would this discourage tourists from going to Venice? Why or why not?
  5. Are there similar touristic sites in your country that have been degraded because of over-tourism? Talk about it/them.

Wellness Retreat for the Rich at a Swiss Alps Resort

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The pandemic has put most of us in some very challenging circumstances. It hasn’t been at all easy for any of us. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to be spending the government-mandated lockdowns in a luxurious suite that costs $46,000 per night while enjoying panoramic views of the Swiss Alps?

Read the article about Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland.

https://www.insider.com/swiss-alps-luxury-resort-burgenstock-ambanis-2020-12

Discussion Questions:

  1. How would you feel about staying at The Bürgenstock Resort?
  2. Any thoughts on how the rich lived through the pandemic?
  3. Where and how have you been spending the pandemic? 
  4. How/Where would you have liked to have spent the lockdown?
  5. Have you been to the Alps? Talk about your experience.

Roadside Assistance

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One of any driver’s worst nightmares is to be stuck in middle of nowhere because their car broke down. It’s a good thing there is roadside assistance to help you out in this situation. This service, however, isn’t free. In most cases, this service is covered by your car insurance package. If it isn’t, there are always companies willing to give you a hand for a price.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on roadside assistance.

Roadside Assistance

Discussion Questions:

  1. Who is the man calling and what is the reason for his call?
  2. What information did the operator ask from the caller?
  3. Have you ever needed roadside assistance before? Share your experience
  4. Do you have a specific hotline to call to for road assistance? How soon can they arrive after you called them?
  5. Do you have enough know-hows on basic car repair/troubleshooting? How important do you think it is to know about these things?

Holiday Traditions

B2 – Upper Intermediate

New Year and Christmas are the most celebrated holidays in the world. However, each country celebrates them differently. For example, Japan celebrates the New Year in silence while many other countries celebrate it by lighting fireworks and blowing horns. It’s the same with Christmas. In most parts of the world, we have Santa. He delivers gifts to children during Christmas. However, in Austria, an unusual figure called Krampus, comes during Christmas to punish naughty children.

Click the link and let’s listen to how every family celebrate their holidays differently.

Holiday Traditions

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do the children in the audio celebrate Christmas?
  2. Do you celebrate Christmas? If yes, how did you celebrate Christmas as a kid? How about now?
  3. What are the biggest holidays in your country? How do you celebrate them?
  4. Why are holidays important?
  5. Do you think holiday traditions will live on for the next hundreds of years to come? Why or why not?

Travel in 2021: What To Know About Flying

C1 – Advanced

Vaccination against the coronavirus is ramping up as year 2020 ends. As a result, many people in the U.S. feel optimistic about traveling again in the year 2021.

Watch the video to know how might the vaccines impact traveling and what people need to know to prepare for following our wanderlust again. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the video? Do you think it’s safe to travel this 2021? Why or why not? Would you consider traveling this year after having the vaccine? Why or why not?
  2. How often did you use to go on a trip before the pandemic? How important is traveling to you?
  3. What are your thoughts on this statement: “After nearly a year of lost travels, some say, it’s just the thought of a future escape that counts.”?
  4. “Plan a trip. Even if you don’t end up taking it, it’s good for your mental health to have something to look forward to.” Do you agree or disagree with this? What are you most looking forward to do soon?
  5. “Experts say that the return to travel would start with leisure travels. Unlikely that the business travel would pick up right away because people are finding that you can do business fine over Zoom.” Share your thoughts on this. Would you like to be sent on a business trip around and out of your country again as soon as possible? Why or why not?

Air Force One – A Special Plane for the American President

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is the most notable plane in the world and probably the most secure one too. It’s called the ‘Air Force One’. It is actually just a call sign for any Air Force where the president of the United States of America is aboard.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/technology/air-force-one/air-force-one-plane-american-president.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the ‘Air Force One’? What special features does it have?
  2. Does the leader of your country have something similar to this? Is there a special name for it? Who uses it? Is it strictly for the president or the head of the state?
  3. Is this kind of transport means necessary or merely a special privilege? Support your stand.
  4. Do you think country leaders should fly commercially too? Why/why not?

Luxury Hotel in Outer Space

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Everything that’s been happening around us recently is quite an evidence of advanced technology.

Just like the latest COVID-19 vaccine that has recently made record of the fastest vaccine created in human history. It’s all because of the technology we have at the present time.

Although, flying cars are still on the verge of becoming reality, it is real that we are all living in the modern world.

Now, Elon Musk, creator of SpaceX, has another advanced innovation that might be available for everyone that is capable of paying a hefty price for a trip and stay in his luxury hotel located in outer space.

Read the article below about a luxury hotel in outer space.

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/lifestyle/other/a-luxury-hotel-in-outer-space-could-open-by-2024/ar-BB1cIbf8?ocid=msedgdhp

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to mind when you think of luxury hotels?
  2. Do you ever imagine what type of experience you’d have especially if the hotel is located in outer space?
  3. Are you willing to pay a hefty price for a once in a lifetime experience in this outer space hotel? Why or why not?
  4. Is this considered absurd or a crazy concept not to be tagged a realistic one? Explain your point.
  5. Talk about the best type of holiday accommodation you’ve ever stayed in.

Natural Landscapes That Even Scientists Can’t Explain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Mysteries in this planet are everywhere. There are certain phenomena that even science cant’t explain.

These hard-to-explain phenomena led to myth-making. These are some of the wonders of our natural world. These natural landscapes roused some questions that remain unanswered.

Read this article to discover these natural landscapes that are unexplainable.

https://www.rd.com/list/natural-landscapes-scientists-cant-explain/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the article?
  2. Do you believe that there are mysteries happening on this planet?
  3. Among the featured landscapes in the article, which ones amaze you the most?
  4. Which ones do not astonish you?
  5. Is there a natural tourist attraction in your city or country that seems to be mysterious?

Social Distancing Through Wine Windows in Italy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this pandemic that we are facing, one of the crucial rules in keeping safe is social distancing. Everyone should get used to it that even companies around the world have shifted their ways of doing business.

In Italy, most of them are using “buchetta del vino” or wine windows. to serve their customers.

Let’s read more about it here:
https://www.rd.com/article/italy-wine-windows/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do people in your city follow the social distancing rule?
  2. How do you feel about social distancing when meeting your friends and family? Is it really necessary?
  3. How have businesses in your city adjusted to the new normal?
  4. What can you say about the “wine windows” in Italy?
  5. Do you have any suggestions to business owners on how they should operate in this time of pandemic?

Is It Safe to Travel This Summer?

C1 – Advanced

Travel has drastically changed around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. As borders reopened and barriers lifted, people feel the need to go on a getaway. While the pandemic still exists, there is so much uncertainty, leaving us with no clear-cut answer to our questions on traveling and safety.

Watch the video and be able to answer the discussion questions.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What things do you need to consider if you plan to travel these days?
  2. Do you think it is worthwhile to book a trip now or is it better to wait a little longer before doing so?
  3. Have you planned your summer vacation? If so, where and why have you picked out this travel destination?
  4. What are your safety precautionary measures when you travel in the midst of Covid-19?
  5. What kind of places do you think are safe to travel to nowadays?