Holidays and Entertainment

Maturita topic 12, general part, at Cambridge B2 First level. The specific part of this topic is London and Places of Interest in the UK.

What to talk about

• types of holidays – beach, city break, active, camping, staying at home
• how Czechs and you usually spend holidays
• planning a holiday – package holiday vs. travelling independently
• entertainment – cinema, concerts, theatre, festivals, nightlife, theme parks
• a holiday or an event you remember

Model answer

For most people, holidays are the best part of the year – a chance to get away from everyday life, relax and recharge their batteries. People spend them in very different ways. Some prefer a beach holiday by the sea, where they can sunbathe and swim; others go on a city break to see sights and museums, and many people enjoy active holidays – hiking in the mountains, cycling or canoeing.

Czechs are known as a nation of travellers. In summer many families drive to Croatia or Italy, or fly to Greece or Egypt on a package holiday, where flights, accommodation and meals are all included. But many people also spend their holidays at home – they go to their cottage in the country, go camping or canoe down the Vltava, which is a typical Czech summer experience.

My family usually spends a week by the sea in summer and a few days in the mountains in winter. This year, though, I want to try something different – I’d like to go to a music festival with my friends and then travel around Britain. I’d love to see London, Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands. When we plan a trip ourselves, we compare prices online, book a cheap flight and accommodation in advance and plan what we want to see, but we always leave some time for spontaneous ideas.

As for entertainment, there’s something for everyone. I like going to the cinema and to concerts, and in summer I enjoy open-air festivals, where you can listen to music for several days, camp and meet new people. Some people prefer the theatre, musicals or stand-up comedy, others go clubbing, and families with children like theme parks and zoos. More and more entertainment happens at home, though – people stream films, play video games or watch concerts online.

The holiday I remember best was a trip to Scotland two years ago. The weather was terrible most of the time, but the landscape was breathtaking and the people were incredibly friendly. It taught me that a holiday doesn’t have to be perfect to be unforgettable.

Vocabulary

Grammar worth showing

• going to vs. will vs. present continuous for plans: I’m going to visit London. We’re flying on Monday.
• second conditional: If I could go anywhere, I’d go to Scotland.
• I wish / if only: I wish I had more time for travelling.

Useful phrases

• My ideal holiday would be…
• I’m really looking forward to…
• The best thing about… was…
• It didn’t turn out as I expected, but…
• I’d highly recommend…

Speaking practice

Part 1 – about you

Part 3 / 4 – discussion