This month’s Teacher’s Corner explores travel and tourism. This week’s activity asks students to think about their own cities or countries by designing a six-day trip for a visiting tourist.

LEVEL
Intermediate to Advanced

FOCUS
Reading, writing (primary focus)
Speaking, listening (secondary focus)

GOALS
During this activity students will

• Practice speaking skills while creating a travel plan for their country or city
• Practice presentations skills while delivering their travel plans to the class

MATERIALS

• Teacher: whiteboard or chalkboard, markers or chalk, poster paper (optional)
• Students: pencils or pens, notebooks or writing paper

PREPARATION

In this activity, students will prepare a travel plan for someone visiting their country or city for the first time. This activity can take place during one class period or across two classes depending on how much time your students need to prepare their travel plans.

1. Read through all the materials carefully.
2. Print out copies of Appendix 1 Travel Plans. Print enough copies so that each group of two to three students has one to complete.

ACTIVITY PART ONE: HOMEWORK – TRAVEL PLANNING

1. Begin this activity by having the students form groups of two to three students.
2. Give each group a copy of the Travel Plan from Appendix
3. Have the students work together to brainstorm a six-day travel plan to their country.
   a. If your students are from a large city, they could plan the entire six-day trip just in their city. If your students are from a smaller city or more rural area, they can plan a regional or nation-wide trip.
4. As the groups work, walk around the room asking groups for details about their trip. Encourage them to be as specific as possible. For example: if they write “stay in a hotel,” instruct them to be more specific: What hotel? Where in the city? What makes that hotel or area of the city interesting?
5. Optional: Depending on time and student levels, this activity can also be a homework assignment. After the groups have finished their travel plans, the homework can challenge the students to use the travel plans to create a poster, a flyer, or even a video where students can show off their six-day travel plans.

ACTIVITY PART TWO: TRAVEL SHOWCASE

1. After the groups have finished their travel plans, give them time to prepare a speaking presentation to the class.
   a. Instruct the students that for the presentation each student in the group must speak. For example, in a group of three students, each student can present on two days of the trip.
   b. Note: Depending on students’ level and ability, this presentation part of the activity can be done on a separate day to give the students more time to prepare.
2. Next, have each group come to the front of the class and describe the travel plan they made to the rest of the class.
   a. For additional speaking practice, encourage the rest of the class to ask questions about the trip.
3. After each group has presented their travel plan, have the class vote on the presentations. Which travel plan was the best? Which was the most adventurous? Which was the most historic?

APPENDIX 1: TRAVEL PLANS

Directions: Plan a six-day trip to your country for a person who has never visited before. Choose a city, region, or the entire country. Include everything, such as what to visit, where to stay, and what to eat!