Tag: travel

Japan Opens to Foreign Tourists

B1 – Intermediate

Japan is one of the world’s most visited country. It is well-known for it’s pop culture and advance technologies.

However, like most countries, they had to close their borders due to the pandemic. After almost two years, they are finally opening their borders up to foreign tourists again.

Let’s read the article below to know more about Japan’s reopening for tourism.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2205/220530-japan-tourism-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is it better to travel domestically rather than internationally at the moment? Explain.
  2. What are the benefits of international tourism? Explain.
  3. Was Japan right to close to tourists for two years? Why or why not?
  4. Is it time for countries to reopen and relax travel restrictions now? Explain.
  5. Is it better to travel as part of a package tour or as a solo traveler? Explain.
  6. How was your country during the Covid pandemic?
  7. What places in Japan would you really like to visit and why?
  8. Why should foreign tourists visit your country?

Seven Wonders of the World

B1 – Intermediate

Some places in the world are just inexplicably amazing. Some of them are known as the Wonders of the World. If you were asked to name all the Wonders of the World, would you be able to? That’s going to be hard to do. But we can try.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the Seven Wonders of the World.

https://listenaminute.com/s/seven_wonders_of_the_world.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about the Seven Wonders of the World? 
  2. Which ones have you visited? Talk about it in full details.
  3. Which ones would you like to see/visit? Why?
  4. What place/places in your country do you think is/are also a wonder?
  5. Maybe future wonders will be in space. What is your opinion on this?

Sightseeing

B1 – Intermediate

Sightseeing is one of the most interesting and exciting things to do when traveling. You go around a city or a country to see their most important places or landmarks. It’s very interesting to learn and discover something new about a place every time.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about sightseeing.

https://listenaminute.com/s/sightseeing.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do people like sightseeing so much? Why do some people don’t like it?
  2. Do you like sightseeing? Why or why not?
  3. What is a place you learned about at school and visited? How was your experience in that moment?
  4. What is the best time of the day to go sightseeing and why? Which do you prefer and why?
  5. Which place do you want to see and why?

Traveling

B1 – Intermediate

There is a saying that goes, “Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer”. There are just too many places to visit, too little time.

Traveling gives us a lot of experiences and memories.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about traveling.

https://listenaminute.com/t/travelling.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the reasons you travel?
  2. Why do you think some people don’t enjoy traveling?
  3. Talk about your most memorable trip.
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of planning your trips in advance?
  5. Have you ever gone to a trip without any plans at all? Why or why not?
  6. Who is the most interesting person you’ve met while traveling? What makes this person interesting?
  7. Do you visit places that are off the beaten track? Why or why not?
  8. How do you feel about being somewhere with thousands of other tourists?

Holidays

B1 – Intermediate

We can see how vacations are crucial in keeping a healthy balance in everyone’s life, whether they are students or working professionals. Everyone yearns for holidays to revitalize and enhance their quality of life by taking a break from the grind. We must take pleasure in our vacations and spend them efficiently to avoid time loss and disappointments.

Let’s read the transcript and listen to the audio about holidays. https://listenaminute.com/h/holidays.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why are holidays important?
  2. What holidays do you really look forward to?
  3. How can one spend their holidays?
  4. Is it better to stay at home on holidays or go somewhere?
  5. What is it like moving around your country during holiday time?
  6. What are the pros and cons of spending holidays with your family, with your friends, or alone?

Colosseum Opens Again

B1 – Intermediate

Traveling is something that everybody misses doing. Most of us have not been able to travel for nearly a year because of the pandemic.

Here’s a good news to all travel enthusiasts: The Colosseum in Rome has reopened after things got a little better in Italy.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about the Colosseum and its reopening.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/colosseum-opens-again-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does this news make you feel? 
  2. Have you ever visited The Colosseum or Rome? What can you say about it?
  3. Do you think it is fine to open important tourist spots again now? Why or why not?
  4. Would you like to travel again soon? Why or why not? Where would you want to go?
  5. Talk about one important touristic place in your city/country. How was it affected by the pandemic?

Paris’ Champs-Elysees To Be an Extraordinary Garden

B1 – Intermediate

The Champs-Elysees is right in the center of Paris. It is well-known for its elegance and long line of luxury shops and restaurants.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to take a walk along this street. In the future, we would probably be able to enjoy this avenue more as the city is planning to improve it.

Read more about plans to redo the Champs-Elysees.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210116-champs-elysees-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you been to Champs-Elysees? What can you say about it?
  2. What do you think of the plans to improve this famous avenue?
  3. Do you think it is worth it to spend $305 million for this? Why/why not?
  4. Which place in your country do you think needs to be improved? What improvements can be done with it?
  5. What is the most beautiful place in your city/country? Be very detailed in describing it.

Maldives Resort Offers $30K ‘All-You-Can-Stay’ Holiday

B1 – Intermediate

A visit to Maldives would be a dream come true for anyone. Imagine waking up on a private island with its dreamy white beaches covered in palm trees, turquoise lagoons, and breathtaking views. Maldives is one of the best places to go snorkeling and scuba diving.

What if a hotel company in the Maldives is offering guests a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, would you be interested?

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2011/201115-maldives-resort-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Where is paradise for you?
  2. Do you think the Maldives holiday package is good value? Why/Why not?
  3. What is on your travel bucket list?
  4. What is your perfect holiday? Describe.
  5. Where do you go for seclusion and privacy?
  6. What once-in-a-lifetime experience would you like?

Doing This at an Airport Will Land You in Prison

C1 – Advanced

Airports are known to have tight security measures. This is a major nuisance for passengers because they need to arrive hours earlier before their flights in order to breeze through airport security.

To avoid any delays or inconveniences, it pays to be aware of airport security rules.

Let’s watch the video and find out about these airport rules some countries impose.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like traveling by plane? How often do you do so?
  2. Which of these airport rules were you not aware of?
  3. Which rules did you find to be unreasonable?
  4. Do you have unique airport rules in your country?
  5. Share an airport mishap you’ve experienced.

Be Safe Around Trains

B1 – Intermediate

Trains are very convenient way to travel from one place to another. However, without proper caution, train stations could be a dangerous place too.

British Transport Police and Network Rail started a campaign on safety at train or railway stations.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio from the link below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/be-safe-around-trains-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some of the examples of safety campaigns around trains mentioned on the audio?
  2. What safety campaigns around train stations do you know of?
  3. What rules should you follow at a train station?
  4. How safe are train stations in your country? Give details.
  5. Talk about an accident that has happened at a train station.