🎬 Interactive video — script & questions
SPEAKER 1: Hi Sophie! I've been looking forward to talking to you about our summer plans. Have you thought about where you'd like to go?
SPEAKER 2: Yes, I have! I've always wanted to visit Portugal. I've heard the beaches there are absolutely beautiful, and the weather in July is perfect.
SPEAKER 1: That sounds nice. If we go to Portugal, we should book our flights early to get better prices. I've already checked some websites.
SPEAKER 2: Good idea. If I had more time off work, I would stay for three weeks, but I can only take two weeks in August. Where exactly would you recommend?
SPEAKER 1: The Algarve is very popular. I've been there once before, and it was amazing. The locals are friendly, and the food is delicious. We could rent a car and explore different towns.
SPEAKER 2: That's perfect! I've never driven abroad before, but I'm willing to try. How much have you spent on holidays like this in the past?
SPEAKER 1: Usually between two and three thousand pounds. But we could stay in budget hotels or apartments to save money. I've already found some cheap accommodation options online.
SPEAKER 2: Excellent! When should we start booking? I don't want to miss the best deals.
SPEAKER 1: We should book within the next two weeks. I'll send you the links I've found. Once we've decided on the dates, everything else will be easier to arrange.
SPEAKER 2: Perfect! I'm so excited. This holiday is going to be wonderful!
- Which country does Sophie want to visit?
- a) Spain
- b) Portugal
- c) Greece
- d) Italy
- How long can Sophie take off work in August?
- a) One week
- b) Two weeks
- c) Three weeks
- d) Four weeks
- Has Speaker 1 ever been to the Algarve before?
- a) Yes, he has been there once
- b) No, he has never been there
- c) Yes, he has been there many times
- d) He is not sure
- According to Speaker 1, how much money has he typically spent on similar holidays?
- a) Between one and two thousand pounds
- b) Between two and three thousand pounds
- c) Between three and four thousand pounds
- d) More than four thousand pounds
- What does Speaker 1 suggest they should do within the next two weeks?
- a) Find a car rental company
- b) Book their flights and accommodation
- c) Learn to drive abroad
- d) Research restaurants in the Algarve
📖 Reading
Last summer, my sister Ana and I decided to try something different for our holiday. Instead of flying to a beach resort, we booked a small wooden cabin in the mountains of northern Portugal. Neither of us had ever stayed somewhere so quiet before, and we weren't sure what to expect.
The cabin belonged to an elderly farmer named Joaquim, who has lived in the same village his whole life. When we arrived, he was waiting outside with a basket of fresh cheese and bread. 'If you get hungry later,' he said, 'just walk down to the village. There's a small shop that sells everything you need.' His kindness made us feel welcome immediately.
During the day, we went hiking along old paths that connected the mountain villages. Some of these paths have been used by farmers for hundreds of years to move their sheep between fields. In the evenings, we sat outside the cabin, looked at the stars, and talked about how different this trip was from our usual holidays. Ana admitted that she had expected to be bored without a swimming pool or restaurants nearby, but she was surprised by how relaxed she felt.
On our last day, Joaquim invited us to help him pick apples from his orchard. It was hard work, but we laughed a lot and learned some Portuguese words for fruit and farm tools. By the time we left, we had decided that our next holiday would also involve nature rather than crowded beaches. Sometimes the best trips are the ones you don't plan too carefully.
🗣️ Speaking — discussion
Context
- Many famous travel destinations—from Venice to Barcelona to Thailand—are experiencing record numbers of visitors, sometimes millions per year.
- Local residents report overcrowding, rising costs of living, environmental damage, and loss of cultural authenticity.
- Some cities and countries are introducing new policies: visitor taxes, time-slot booking systems, and limits on tour groups.
- Travellers are increasingly divided: some want authentic cultural experiences, while others seek convenience and popular landmarks.
- The debate raises questions about how to balance tourism's economic benefits with quality of life for locals.
Themes
- Authenticity vs. Commercialization — When tourism becomes the main industry in a place, cultural traditions may be modified or performed for visitors rather than for locals. This tension between preserving genuine culture and creating profitable tourist experiences is central to modern travel.
- Environmental Impact of Travel — Mass tourism creates pressure on fragile environments—from coral reefs to mountain ecosystems to historic city centres. Travellers must consider the ecological cost of their journeys and how sustainable tourism practices can help.
- Local Community and Rights — Residents of popular destinations often have little say in how their home is transformed. Issues include displacement, housing unaffordability, and loss of traditional livelihoods as areas become geared entirely toward visitors.
- Personal Responsibility as a Traveller — Individual choices—where to go, how to travel, what to buy—add up. Thoughtful travellers can support local economies, respect cultural boundaries, and minimize environmental harm.
Personal Response
- What is the most crowded tourist destination you have visited, and how did it make you feel?
- Do you prefer visiting popular landmarks or discovering hidden, less-known places? Why?
- Have you ever felt guilty about tourism or its impact? Can you describe the situation?
Themes & Ideas
- Is it possible to have authentic cultural experiences as a tourist, or does visiting a place as a tourist always change it?
- Should popular destinations limit the number of visitors each year, or would that be unfair to travellers?
- What responsibility do large hotel chains and tour companies have to local communities?
Critical Thinking
- Some cities charge tourists more than locals for the same attraction. Is this fair or discriminatory?
- If tourism brings money to poor areas, should communities accept negative environmental effects, or should they prioritize conservation?
- How would you design a system that allows people to travel while protecting local cultures and environments?
Cultural & Social Topics
- In your country, are there places that have been changed by mass tourism? How do locals feel about it?
- Do you think wealthy tourists have a different impact on destinations than budget travellers?
- How can tourists show respect for a place they are visiting for a short time?
🎭 Classroom activity
Divide the class into groups representing different perspectives: local residents, hotel owners, environmental activists, and budget travellers. Each group debates a proposal to limit visitors to a famous destination, arguing from their perspective. Rotate perspectives to encourage empathy and critical thinking.
✏️ Questions
- By the time we arrived at the hotel, the sun ___ already (set).
- If the weather ___ (be) nice tomorrow, we will go sightseeing around the old town.
- The tour guide told us that the museum ___ (close) at six o'clock.
- This is the beach ___ we spent our honeymoon last year.
- Our flight ___ (delay) by two hours because of the storm yesterday.
- My grandmother ___ (travel) to more than twenty countries so far in her life.
- Where did the writer and her sister stay during their holiday?
- a) In a hotel by the beach
- b) In a wooden cabin in the mountains
- c) In a farmhouse near the coast
- d) In an apartment in a city
- What did Joaquim give the sisters when they arrived?
- a) A map of the village
- b) Some cheese and bread
- c) A basket of apples
- d) A bottle of wine
- Why was Ana surprised during the holiday?
- a) She didn't expect the food to be so good
- b) She thought the paths would be too difficult to walk
- c) She felt relaxed even without a pool or restaurants nearby
- d) She was surprised that Joaquim spoke English
- What can we infer about the mountain paths mentioned in the text?
- a) They were built recently for tourists
- b) They have a long history connected to farming
- c) They are only used by hikers from other countries
- d) They were closed during the sisters' visit
- What does the word 'admitted' mean in the third paragraph?
- a) Refused to say something
- b) Agreed to let someone enter
- c) Said something that was true, often something a little embarrassing
- d) Shouted something angrily
- What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
- a) The sisters regretted their holiday choice
- b) Unplanned, nature-based trips can be very rewarding
- c) Picking apples is the best part of any holiday
- d) Joaquim wants to sell his farm to tourists