Lesson: Sharing Travel Adventures

A backpacker looking out over a stunning mountain landscape, representing travel adventures.

Activity I: Vocabulary

Itinerary – A planned route or journey.
Destination – The place to which someone or something is going or being sent.
Sightseeing – The activity of visiting places of interest in a particular location.
Souvenir – A thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event.
Breathtaking – Astonishing or awe-inspiring in quality, so as to take one's breath away.
Off the beaten path – In or into an isolated or unfamiliar location.
Immerse (oneself in) – To involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest.
Memorable – Worth remembering or easily remembered, especially because of being special or unusual.
Backpacking – Travelling or hiking with a backpack.

Activity II: Reading

Sharing travel adventures is a wonderful way to relive experiences, inspire others, and connect on a personal level. Travel broadens our horizons, exposes us to new cultures, and creates lasting memories. For intermediate English learners, narrating these experiences allows for the use of descriptive adjectives, past tenses, and sequencing words, significantly enhancing storytelling abilities. It’s a universally enjoyed topic that can lead to vibrant and engaging conversations, no matter where you or your conversation partner are from.

When recounting a trip, people often start by mentioning their destination and the purpose of their journey. Was it a relaxing beach holiday, an adventurous backpacking trip, or a cultural city break? Describing the itinerary, even briefly, helps set the scene. Details about transportation, accommodation, and the general atmosphere of the place can make the story more vivid. For instance, "We stayed in a charming little guesthouse just off the beaten path, which offered a truly authentic experience." Using sensory details – what you saw, heard, smelled, tasted, and felt – can truly bring your adventure to life for the listener.

Highlighting memorable moments is key to a good travel story. This could be breathtaking scenery, a fascinating historical site you visited during sightseeing, a delicious local dish you tried, or a friendly interaction with local people. Challenges encountered, like getting lost or experiencing unexpected weather, can also make for interesting anecdotes, especially if they led to a funny or insightful outcome. Using phrases like, "The most memorable part was when..." or "I'll never forget seeing..." helps to emphasize these key experiences. Don't forget to mention any interesting souvenirs you brought back as reminders of your trip.

To make your travel narrative more engaging, try to structure it logically, perhaps chronologically or thematically. Use connecting words and varied sentence structures. Asking your listener if they've visited similar places or have travel plans can also turn your monologue into a more interactive discussion. Sharing travel adventures is not just about listing places; it’s about conveying the emotions and an M learning experience, it allows you to immerse yourself in the language while sharing something you're passionate about.

Activity III: Role Play (Recounting a Recent Trip)

Instructions: Practice this dialogue with your teacher. One person is CHLOE (who just returned from a trip), and the other is LIAM.

Liam: Chloe, welcome back! I heard you were on holiday. Where did you go?

Chloe: Hi Liam! Yes, I just got back from a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia. It was incredible!

Liam: Wow, backpacking! That sounds like quite an adventure. What was your main destination?

Chloe: I spent most of my time in Vietnam and Thailand. My itinerary was quite flexible, which was nice.

Liam: That sounds amazing. Did you do a lot of sightseeing?

Chloe: Absolutely! The temples in Thailand were breathtaking, and the street food in Vietnam was unforgettable.

Liam: I can only imagine. Did you venture off the beaten path much?

Chloe: Yes, I tried to. I stayed in some smaller villages to really immerse myself in the local culture.

Liam: That's the best way to travel. What was the most memorable part of your trip?

Chloe: Probably a boat trip through Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. The scenery was just out of this world.

Liam: I've seen pictures; it looks stunning. Did you pick up any interesting souvenirs?

Chloe: A few small crafts and a lot of photos! The memories are the best souvenirs, though.

Liam: So true. Were there any challenges during your backpacking adventure?

Chloe: A few, like language barriers sometimes, but people were generally so helpful. It was all part of the experience.

Liam: It sounds like a life-changing trip. I'd love to do something like that one day.

Chloe: You definitely should! It was such a rewarding experience.

Activity IV: Let's Practice

Share a Travel Adventure with Your Teacher.

Think about a memorable trip you have taken (it could be to another country, another city, or even a special place nearby). Prepare to tell your teacher about this travel adventure. Describe your destination, your itinerary (if you had one), what you did (sightseeing, activities), and any particularly memorable moments (good or challenging). Try to use some of the new vocabulary like "breathtaking," "off the beaten path," or "immerse." Explain what made the trip special for you. Ask your teacher about a memorable trip they've had too.