Speaking Boost · A2 · Lesson 31 of 50
Speaking Boost A2 · Block 7: Travel

Who organised the first group holiday?

In 1841, Thomas Cook organised a train trip for hundreds of people, and the modern group holiday began. Learn to talk about your holidays in the past, compare three holidays, and tell the story of your own.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Holidays

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Do you prefer holidays by the sea or in the mountains?
  2. Where did you go on your last holiday?
  3. Who did you go with?
  4. How do you usually travel?
  5. What do you always take with you?
  6. What was your worst holiday?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about your last holiday.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. We stayed at a near the lake.
  2. I forgot my at home!
  3. We the hotel two months ago.
  4. She bought a small for her mother.
  5. Our showed us the old town.
  6. I my suitcase last night.
  7. They often travel .
  8. The weather was . It rained every day.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. wonderful ↔
  2. to pack ↔ to
  3. A person who shows tourists a place is a
  4. You lie on the sand on the
  5. You put your clothes in a
  6. at home ↔
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about your holidays.

  • Where did you go?Куди ти їздив(ла)?Where did you go last summer?
  • How long did you stay?Як довго ти там був(ла)?We stayed for ten days.
  • Who did you go with?З ким ти їздив(ла)?I went with my family.
  • What was the weather like?Яка була погода?It was sunny and warm.
  • It was the best holiday ever!Це була найкраща відпустка!We swam every day. It was the best holiday ever!
  • We did a lot of sightseeing.Ми багато оглядали визначних місць.We did a lot of sightseeing in Prague.
  • I bought... as a souvenir.Я купив(ла)... на згадку.I bought a small plate as a souvenir.
  • I'd like to go back.Я хотів(ла) б повернутися.The sea was amazing. I'd like to go back.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The first group trip

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Who organised the first group holiday?

Today, millions of people go on holiday in a group. But who organised the first group trip?

A man from England, Thomas Cook, had an idea. In 1841, he organised a train trip for about 500 people from Leicester to a meeting in Loughborough.

The trip was a success, and Cook began to organise more tours. Later, he took groups to Scotland, to Europe and even around the world.

His company made travel easier. Travellers could buy the train ticket, the hotel and a guide in one place.

Today, we can book a whole holiday on the internet. How was your last holiday?

3.2

True or false?

  1. The first group trip was organised in England.
  2. Thomas Cook organised the first trip in 1941.
  3. About 500 people went on the first trip.
  4. Cook organised trips only in England.
  5. The text says we can book holidays on the internet today.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Do you prefer to travel in a group or alone? Why?
  2. What makes a holiday perfect for you?
  3. Do you plan everything or do you like surprises?
  4. Would you like to go on a tour with a guide?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Past Simple: holidays

Regular verbs take -ed. Irregular: go – went, eat – ate, see – saw, buy – bought, swim – swam.

We stayed in a small hotel. I went to Italy. She bought a hat.

Questions about a holiday

Where did you go? How long did you stay? Who did you go with? What was the weather like?

Where did you go? We went to Odesa. How was it? It was wonderful.

Block 7 preview

Grammar you will use in this block.

Past Simple, holidays (L31) · polite requests (L32) · there is / are, would like (L33) · because, so, should (L34) · would like to, going to, comparatives (L35)

Common mistakes: Past Simple when you talk about a holiday. ✗ Last summer I go to the sea → Last summer I went to the sea. ✗ We didn't went → We didn't go.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. Last summer I
    to the sea.
  2. We
    in a small hotel.
  3. Where
    last year?
  4. She
    a souvenir.
  5. We
    abroad.
  6. did you stay?
  7. They
    every day.
  8. The weather
    terrible.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. Last year I go to Italy. →
  2. We didn't went abroad. →
  3. She buyed a hat. →
  4. Where you went last year? →
  5. We swimmed in the sea. →
  6. How long you stayed there? →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use the Past Simple.

  1. Where did you go on your last holiday?
  2. Who did you go with?
  3. What did you do there?
  4. What was the weather like?
  5. What did you buy as a souvenir?
  6. Where would you like to go next?
5

Three holidays and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three holidays

Three people tell you about their holiday. Compare the holidays. Which holiday was the most relaxing? Which was the most expensive? Which would you choose?

Person 1

Anna

  • Went to the mountains
  • Stayed at a campsite
  • Walked every day
  • Spent little money
Person 2

Igor

  • Flew to Turkey
  • Stayed in a big hotel
  • Lay on the beach
  • Spent a lot of money
Person 3

Kate

  • Travelled in a group
  • Visited three cities
  • Did a lot of sightseeing
  • Lost her passport
5.2

Mini-talk: my best holiday

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: where you went and who you went with.
  3. Part 2: what you did and saw (use the Past Simple).
  4. Part 3: why it was your best holiday.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Do you like holidays by the sea or in the mountains?
  2. Where did you go last summer?
  3. How do you usually travel?
  4. Do you pack a lot?
  5. What do you always take with you?
  6. Do you book hotels online?
  7. What souvenir do you usually buy?
  8. What was your worst holiday?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Where did your parents go on holiday?
  2. Who do you travel with?
  3. Who in your family loves travelling?
  4. Where did your friends go last year?
  5. Who plans your holidays?
  6. Who took photos on your last trip?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is it better to travel alone or in a group?
  2. Is travelling abroad better than travelling in your own country?
  3. Are holidays important for health?
  4. Should people take long holidays?
  5. Is it better to plan everything or to be spontaneous?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Telling about a holiday

You

Traveller

A friend (your teacher) asks about your last holiday. Tell the story:
  • say where you went and who with
  • say where you stayed
  • say what you did every day
  • say what you liked most
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use the Past Simple.
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Where did you go?
  2. How long did you stay?
  3. What was the weather like?
  4. It sounds great!
7.2

Booking a group tour

You

Customer

You want to book a group tour (your teacher works at a travel agency). Ask questions:
  • ask where the tour goes
  • ask how many days it is
  • ask what is included in the price
  • say how many people want to go
You do most of the talking. Use: I'd like... · How much is...? · Is breakfast included?
Your teacher

Travel agent

Says things like:
  1. We have a tour of three cities.
  2. It's seven days.
  3. The price includes the hotel and a guide.
  4. How many people are in your group?
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

campsitepassportbookedsouvenirguidepackedabroadterrible
  1. We slept in a tent at a .
  2. Don't forget your at the airport.
  3. We the tickets last week.
  4. I'd like a small from Lviv.
  5. The told us about the castle.
  6. I my bag in five minutes.
  7. Do you often travel ?
  8. The food was . Nobody ate it.
H2

Choose the correct form

  1. Last year we to Italy.
  2. She the hotel.
  3. Where ?
  4. They some souvenirs.
  5. I my suitcase yesterday.
  6. The weather wonderful.
  7. We in the sea.
  8. did you stay there?
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. We went to Spain last year.
  2. She buyed a nice hat.
  3. Where did you go?
  4. We didn't went to the beach.
  5. I packed my suitcase last night.
  6. How long you stayed there?
  7. The weather was terrible.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. Where did you
  2. We stayed
  3. I went
  4. It was sunny
  5. We swam every day.
  6. We did a lot of
  7. I bought a small plate

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.