Discussing Vacations

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Part 1 Preparation

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Learning Objectives

In this lesson you will:

Practice answering questions based on Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test.
Learn and practice some different ways to talk about travel, language for expressing your personal preferences and phrases you can use to correct yourself.
Practice pronouncing /dʒ/ as in “Jess” and /j/ as in “yes.”

Exercise 1

Warm-Up: Pronunciation Practice

Listen and Repeat

Listen and repeat after your tutor.

A) Jess

B) yes

A) jello

B) yellow

A) jam

B) yam

A) joke

B) yolk

A) gel

B) yell

Quiz

Your tutor will choose 5 words and say them aloud. After each word, say whether it is from Group A or Group B.

Quiz Your Tutor

Choose 5 words and say them aloud. After each word, your tutor will say whether it is from Group A or Group B.

Tongue Twisters

Practice saying these tongue twisters with your tutor. First say them slowly, then try to speed up.

Youthful John and youthful Jill jumping jacks joyfully.
Yellow jello, yam jam, yellow jello, yam jam.

Exercise 2

Helpful Vocabulary

Listen and repeat these phrases with your tutor.

Useful Phrases for Travel

to travel independently
to travel as part of a group
to go on a package tour
to take a cruise
to go backpacking
to choose your own itinerary
to travel at peak times
to go camping

Tell your tutor which of these you like and which you dislike.

For example:

"I like to travel independently."

"I don't like to travel as part of a group."

Listen and repeat these phrases with your tutor.

Phrasal Verbs for Travel

to miss out
to mix it up
to chill out
to hang out

Tell your tutor:
- Which two phrasal verbs mean to spend time with friends.
- Which phrasal verb means to try something different.
- Which phrasal verb means to not be able to do something.

For example:

"To chill out means to spend time with friends."

Exercise 3

Speaking Test Part 1 Dialogue

Read the dialogue based on Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test with your tutor. You will be the examiner. At the end, you will need to answer 3 questions.

	Examiner What do you usually do on your vacations?
	Alicia Well, during summer vacation, my husband and I usually find somewhere nice to go camping. We set up a tent on a beach and just chill out by the seaside. In the winter, we usually go snowboarding. Both of us love the snow, so we like to go to the mountains for a week.
	Examiner Who do you usually spend your vacations with?
	Alicia Usually, it's just me and my husband on our summer vacation. But for our winter vacation, at least for the last few years, we've gone and hung out in the mountains with a group of friends.
	Examiner Do you prefer to travel independently or as part of a group? Why?
	Alicia I loathe the idea of traveling as part of a tour group with people that you don't know. It's not my thing at all. I'd much rather choose my own itinerary, and I like to be in charge of making all the decisions. That said, I sometimes like to go places with a group of friends.
	Examiner When do you like to take your vacations?
	Alicia I'm not a fan of crowds so we try to avoid peak season and go a week or two before or after that if we can.

Questions

Who does Alicia spend her vacations with?

Does Alicia enjoy traveling in groups?

When does Alicia like to take her vacations?

Exercise 4

Fill in the Blanks

Read the dialogue based on Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test with your tutor and fill in the blanks. Your tutor will be the examiner.

	Examiner What do you usually do for your vacations?
	Phuong Well, for our vacations we like mixing it (1) a bit, so we do lots of different things. We'll often go and visit family up in the mountains in Vietnam, in Sapa. Sometimes, during the summer, we'll go to Ha Long Bay and (2) a cruise.
	Examiner Who do you usually spend your vacations with?
	Phuong I always spend my (3) with my husband and children. I've got a pretty large extended family, so we (4) to see everyone at least once a year.
	Examiner Do you prefer to travel independently or as part of a group? Why?
	Phuong I like having a travel schedule, so I'm (5) of (6) tours. I'm not so (7) on being part of a tour group, though. I'd much rather go to a resort or take a cruise. Walking around or sightseeing in a big bus isn't my (8).
	Examiner When do you like to take your vacations?
	Phuong Because we have kids, we usually take vacations during the school holidays. I don't want the kids to (9) out on school.