English Lesson 47

Walking and dream trips

Walking, a place you would like to visit in the future, and tourism.

How to practise
  1. Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
  2. Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
  3. Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
  4. Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
  5. Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Speed

Part 1 · Interview

Walking

Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.

Do you like walking? Why?

Yes, I really enjoy walking. It's a simple way to stay healthy, and it doesn't cost anything. It also helps me think. When I have a problem, I go for a walk, and I usually come back with an answer.

  • a simple way to stay healthyan easy way to keep fit
  • it doesn't cost anythingit's free
  • It also helps me thinkit helps my mind
  • I usually come back with an answerI find a solution

Where do you prefer to walk, in the countryside or in the city? Why?

I prefer the countryside. The air is cleaner, it's quiet, and the views are beautiful. In the city, there's too much traffic and noise. But on weekdays, I don't have time to leave the city, so I walk in a park near my house.

  • the countrysideareas outside cities, with nature
  • the views are beautifulwhat you see is beautiful
  • too much traffic and noisetoo many cars and sounds

Would you like to walk more in the future?

Yes, definitely. At the moment, I walk about thirty minutes a day, but I'd like to walk an hour. I'm thinking about walking to work instead of taking the bus, at least on days when the weather is nice.

  • Yes, definitely.a strong yes
  • At the moment, …now
  • I'm thinking about…I'm considering
  • instead of taking the busin place of the bus

What do you like or dislike about your hometown?

I like that it's green and has a lot of parks. People are also friendly. What I dislike is the traffic. In the evening, it can take forty minutes to drive just a few kilometres. I wish we had a better metro system.

  • What I dislike is…say what you don't like
  • it can take forty minutes to…say how long it takes
  • I wish we had…a wish about the present

Part 2 · Cue card

A place you would like to visit in the future

You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Follow the four points on the card in order.

Candidate task card

Describe a place where you would like to visit in the future.

You should say:

  • where you would go
  • what you would do there
  • whether you are going there soon
  • and explain why you want to visit this place
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about Iceland. It's been on my travel list for years.

Where it is

Iceland is a small island country in the far north of the Atlantic Ocean, between Europe and North America. It's famous for its wild nature.

What you would do

I'd love to see the northern lights, which are green and purple lights that dance in the night sky. I'd also like to visit the waterfalls and the hot springs, and maybe walk on a glacier with a guide.

Are you going soon

Not very soon, unfortunately. It's very expensive, and the flights from my country are long. I'm saving money, and I hope I can go in about two or three years.

Why you want to go

I want to go because Iceland looks like another planet. I've seen so many photos of it, with black beaches, volcanoes and ice. I love nature, and I think standing under the northern lights would be one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

  • It's been on my travel list for yearsI've wanted to go for a long time
  • the northern lightscolourful lights in the sky near the North Pole
  • hot springsnatural pools of hot water
  • a glaciera huge, slow-moving river of ice
  • Not very soon, unfortunately.unfortunately = sadly
  • looks like another planetlooks very strange and special

Part 3 · Discussion

Travel and tourism

Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.

Why do people like to visit new places?

People like new places because they want a break from their daily routine. New places are exciting. You see new things, eat new food and meet different people. It also helps you understand the world, and sometimes, yourself.

  • a break from their daily routinea rest from what they do every day
  • New places are excitinga simple reason
  • sometimes, yourselfa deep, short ending

Why is travelling important for learning?

When you travel, you learn by seeing and doing, not just by reading. For example, you can read about the Pyramids, but standing in front of them is different. Travelling also teaches you to be independent, solve problems and respect other cultures.

  • learn by seeing and doinglearn from real experience
  • standing in front of them is differentseeing it in real life
  • respect other culturesaccept other ways of life

What kinds of places are popular with foreign tourists in your country?

Historic cities, like Isfahan, Shiraz and Yazd, are the most popular. Tourists love the old mosques, gardens and bazaars. Some tourists also like the desert, where they can stay in old caravanserais and see the stars at night.

  • are the most popularmost tourists like them
  • caravanseraisold roadside hotels for travellers and their animals
  • see the stars at nightwatch the night sky

How has tourism changed over the years in your country?

There are more local tourists now, because more families have cars and money for holidays. Tourists also book hotels online and find information on social media. Foreign tourism goes up and down a lot, depending on the political situation.

  • local touriststourists from your own country
  • book hotels onlinereserve on the internet
  • goes up and downchanges a lot
  • depending on…changing with

Has cheap air travel had a positive effect on tourism? How?

Yes, in many ways. Cheap flights let more people travel, not just rich people. This helps businesses like hotels and restaurants. But there are negative effects too. More flights mean more pollution, and some popular cities get too crowded.

  • Yes, in many ways.mostly yes
  • not just rich peoplenot only rich people
  • negative effectsbad results
  • too crowdedwith too many people

What kinds of places should students visit? Why?

Students should visit museums and historic places, because they bring school lessons to life. Natural places, like forests and national parks, are great too, because they teach students about the environment. And visiting factories or companies can help them think about their future jobs.

  • bring school lessons to lifemake lessons real and interesting
  • national parkslarge protected nature areas
  • think about their future jobsconsider what work to do later

Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.