Travel Talk – Exploring the World
Through Language
Lesson Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:
- Use 10 new travel-related words and expressions
accurately in conversation
- Talk about past and future travel experiences
- Express preferences, opinions, and stories related to travel
- Respond fluently in a semi-structured speaking task
Warm-up
Task: Travel Brainstorm
Ask:
- "Have you travelled recently?"
- "What do you like or dislike about travelling?"
- "What’s your dream destination?"
On a board or screen, build a word web with categories:
Transport – Places – Activities – People – Problems –
Emotions
Prompt the student to give at least 2–3 items in each. Write
them up to assess their current vocabulary.
Vocabulary in Context
Introduce 10 Key Travel Words/Phrases
Word/Phrase Definition Example Sentence
Itinerary A planned route or journey My itinerary includes Rome,
Paris, and Madrid.
Off the beaten path Unusual or less touristy I love going off the beaten
places path when I travel.
Jet lag Tiredness from time zone I had terrible jet lag after
changes flying to Japan.
Sightseeing Visiting tourist attractions We spent the whole day
sightseeing in London.
Budget traveler A person who travels cheaply As a student, I’m more of a
budget traveler.
Travel light To pack very little I always travel light—just a
backpack.
Accommodation A place to stay I booked my accommodation
through Airbnb.
Get away To go on a short vacation I need to get away this
weekend.
Culture shock Confusion in a new culture Culture shock hit me hard in
India.
Scenic route A beautiful way to travel We took the scenic route
through the mountains.
Activity:
- For each word, ask: “Have you ever experienced this?”
and “Can you think of an example?”
- Write their examples on the board to reinforce context.
Controlled Speaking Practice
Task: Travel Interview
Give the student roles. First, they are a travel blogger.
Then, they’re being interviewed.
Prompts:
- What was your most memorable trip?
- Have you ever taken the scenic route?
- Do you prefer sightseeing or relaxing on holiday?
- What’s your ideal itinerary for a 1-week vacation?
Follow-up: Correct and expand their answers. Encourage
full sentences with new vocabulary.
Guided Speaking + Game
Game: “Pack Your Bags” – Speaking Challenge (1-on-1
Friendly)
How to play:
- Pretend to travel to different places together.
- Each round, draw a random location (real or imaginary),
and the student must describe:
- How they’ll get there
- What’s in their itinerary
- What kind of accommodation they’ll book
- What they’ll do for sightseeing
- One thing that might go wrong (jet lag, culture shock,
etc.)
Example locations:
- A tropical island
- The Swiss Alps
- A desert road trip
- A hidden village in Vietnam
- Mars (just for fun!)
Rules: Must use at least 3 vocabulary words in each round.
Freer Speaking Task
Task: Travel Story Swap
Prompt: “Tell me about a trip you’ll never forget. What
happened? Where did you go? Who did you travel with?
Did anything go wrong?”
If they struggle, ask guiding questions using the
vocabulary.
Wrap-Up
- Review the 10 travel words. Can the student use each in a
sentence?
- Ask: “What did you learn today?”
- Suggest Homework: “Write a short paragraph using 5 of
the new words about a future dream trip.”
Grammar Focus: Zero and First Conditionals
In this section, the student will review and practice using
the Zero and First Conditional in the context of traveling.
Zero Conditional
We use the Zero Conditional to talk about things that are
always true or facts.
Structure: If + present simple, present simple
Examples:
- If you miss your flight, you pay extra to reschedule.
- If people travel without a passport, they can’t cross the
border.
First Conditional
We use the First Conditional to talk about real and possible
future situations.
Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb
Examples:
- If I go to Italy this summer, I’ll visit Rome and Venice.
- If she books early, she’ll get a cheaper flight.
Grammar Practice Activity
Ask the student to complete these conditional sentences:
1. If I travel to Japan, I __________ (try) sushi.
2. If you __________ (not take) sunscreen, you’ll get
sunburnt.
3. If tourists break the rules, they __________ (get) fined.
4. If it rains tomorrow, we __________ (stay) at the hotel.
5. If people don’t book ahead, they __________ (not find) a
room.
6. If you take the scenic route, you __________ (see)
beautiful views.
Follow-up: Check answers and ask the student to create
their own examples using both conditionals.
