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Lesson 19
Unit 4 · Experiences
B1-

TravelBucket List

Speaking with Present Perfect

60 min Travel

CEFR Pathway · You are here

  1. A0/A1Beginner
  2. A1/A2Elementary
  3. A2/B1Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+Intermediate
  5. B2Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1Advanced
  7. C2Proficiency

Warm-up · Section 1

5 min

Get talking

reflection
Map check

Name 3 countries you've been to and 3 you haven't but want to visit.

discussion
Top 3 cities

Rank the 3 best cities you've ever visited. Partner asks one question per city.

activity
Dream trip

Describe your dream trip in 30 seconds. Use 'I've always wanted to…'

Grammar focus · Section 2

8–10 min

Travel-talk with Present Perfect (recap + recommend)

Quick rule

Travel English combines TWO Present Perfect uses: experience ('I've been to…' / 'I've never tried…') AND recommendation ('You should totally go — I've been twice').

  • → I've been to Italy three times. I went last summer for two weeks.

  • → Have you ever tried street food in Bangkok? — No, never! Is it good?

  • → You should totally visit Lisbon — I've been twice and I'd go back tomorrow.

  • → I've never been to Asia, but it's at the top of my list.

More detail

Plus the classic switch: 'I've been to Rome' (experience) → 'I went there in 2022' (details). Pair PP with adverbs of degree: I've been there ONCE / TWICE / a couple of times / loads of times.

Question 1.I ____ ____ to Japan twice.

Question 2.Have you ____ ____ on a cruise?

Question 3.We ____ Paris last spring — it was magical.

Question 4.I ____ ____ tried Vietnamese food, but I'd love to.

Question 5.She ____ ____ to Bali three times and she ____ again next month.

Answer all items, then check.
Conversation Builder
Say it naturally

Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.

1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

Vocabulary · Section 3

5–7 min

Words & phrases to own

Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.

1

to backpack around

to travel cheaply with a backpack

"I backpacked around South America in my twenties."

Would you backpack around or prefer hotels? Why?

2

a hidden gem

an amazing but little-known place

"There's a hidden gem of a bakery near my flat."

Name a hidden gem in your city.

3

to soak up the atmosphere

to enjoy and absorb a place's vibe

"We just sat in the square soaking up the atmosphere."

Where do you go to soak up the atmosphere?

4

off-season

outside busy tourist months

"It's much cheaper off-season."

Do you travel off-season? Pros and cons?

5

a stopover

a short stop between flights

"I had a 6-hour stopover in Doha."

Best or worst stopover you've had?

6

to wing it

to travel with no plan

"We had no plan — we just winged it."

Are you a planner or do you wing it? Give an example.

7

jet-lagged

tired after a long flight across time zones

"I was jet-lagged for 4 days after Tokyo."

How do you deal with being jet-lagged?

8

to splash out on

to spend a lot of money on

"We splashed out on a nice hotel for one night."

Last trip you splashed out on something — what?

Activate the language
Talk about your real travel style using today's expressions.

Discuss with a partner

  • →Are you a planner or do you wing it? Defend your style.
  • →Recommend a hidden gem to your partner.

Finish the sentence about you

  • I'd love to backpack around …
  • A hidden gem near me is …
  • I'd splash out on …

Rank & justify

Rank what you'd splash out on while travelling.

  • a great hotel
  • amazing food
  • tours and activities
  • business class flights

60-second write

Write a 60-word description of your perfect trip using ≥4 of today's words.

Categorise
Sort the travel vocabulary by what it describes.
Answer all items, then check.

Pronunciation · Section 4

3–4 min

Sentence stress in recommendations

  • • You should TOtally go to LISbon.
  • • It's an absolute HIDden GEM.
  • • I've been THREE times — I'd go BACK tomorrow.
  • • It was UNbelievable — you'd LOVE it.
How to say it

When you recommend a place, the place name and the positive adjective carry the strongest stress. Compare: 'You should TOTALLY go to LISbon — it's AMazing.' Native speakers exaggerate the stress to sound enthusiastic. Flat delivery = sounds unconvincing.

Reading · Section 5

8–10 min

Liam's bucket list

Liam, 24, calls himself a 'serial traveller'. He's been to 41 countries already, but his bucket list is longer than ever. Top of the list: Japan in cherry blossom season. 'I've always wanted to go,' he says. 'I've been to Asia three times but never Japan — it feels like the missing piece.' He's also dreaming of an Iceland road trip in the off-season ('fewer tourists, more drama') and a long stopover in Cape Town. 'I'll wing most of it,' he laughs. 'I've learned that the best travel days are the ones you didn't plan.'

Question 1.How many countries has Liam visited?

Question 2.Where does he most want to go?

Question 3.Why Iceland off-season?

Answer all items, then check.
True / False / Not Given
Decide if each statement is True or False

Q1.Liam has been to Japan once.

Q2.He prefers a planned itinerary.

Q3.He has visited Asia before.

Answer all items, then check.

Listening · Section 6

8–10 min

Travel recommendations

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Show transcript

Nia:So, we're thinking somewhere warm for October — have you ever been to Portugal?

Sam:I've been twice, actually. You should totally go. Lisbon is amazing, but the hidden gem is the Algarve in October — off-season, half the price.

Nia:Oh nice. Did you stay in Lisbon or move around?

Sam:We backpacked around the coast last time. We winged it completely — just trains and small guesthouses.

Nia:And the food?

Sam:Splash out on one proper seafood dinner at least. Trust me. I've eaten at fancy places all over Europe and that was up there with the best.

Question 1.How many times has Sam been to Portugal?

Question 2.What does he recommend in October?

Question 3.How did Sam travel last time?

Answer all items, then check.
Tick what you hear
Tick every travel / Present-Perfect phrase you actually hear.
Answer all items, then check.

Exam skills · Section 7

5 min

Cambridge PET — Speaking Part 2 (collaborative task)

Task

Plan a 3-day trip together. Recommend, agree, disagree politely, decide.

Strategy

Examiners want INTERACTION, not monologues. After every suggestion, INVITE your partner: 'I've been to Rome — what do you think?' Use 'have you ever…?' to involve them. Build the trip together, don't dictate it. Aim for 4 polite agreements/disagreements per minute.

Example

'I've always wanted to go to Barcelona. Have you ever been?' — 'Yes, twice! You should totally go. Shall we look at Barcelona for day one?'

Practice · Section 8

8–10 min

Fill in the blank

Question 1.I've ____ wanted to see the Northern Lights.

Question 2.Lisbon is a real hidden ____ — go off-season.

Question 3.Have you ever ____ to Thailand?

Question 4.We ____ ____ Italy last summer — it was incredible.

Question 5.I'm so ____ — I only landed three hours ago.

Answer all items, then check.
Sentence transformation
Type a short answer (1–3 words)

Q1.Recommend strongly: 'Barcelona is good.' → enthusiastic version

Q2.Ask about experience: 'You / ever / try / sushi?'

Q3.Add a detail: 'I've been to Greece.' (year?)

Answer all items, then check.

Writing · Section 9

5 min

Put it in writing

Your task

Write a 100-word travel-blog intro post. Include: 1 place you've been to (Present Perfect → Past Simple details), 2 places on your bucket list, 1 recommendation for the reader.

Show model answer

Hi, I'm Tara — and I'm slightly travel-obsessed. I've visited 18 countries so far, and my all-time favourite was Vietnam, where I backpacked around for three weeks in 2022. Pure magic. Top of my bucket list right now: Patagonia in summer and a long stopover in Iceland on the way home. I've never been to South America at all, so it feels overdue. If you've never tried solo travel, my one piece of advice is simple: just book the flight. You'll figure the rest out. Stick around — I post every Sunday.

Speaking · Section 10

10–15 min

Make it a real conversation

TRAVEL BUREAU · One of you is a travel agent, one is a customer. Customer says: 'I've already been to ____ and ____ — but I've never been to ____. Recommend somewhere.' Agent recommends 2 destinations using Present Perfect ('I've been three times — you'd love it'). Customer asks 3 follow-up questions (best time? food? cost?). Agree on one. Swap roles.

Useful phrases

  • • I've already been to…
  • • I've never been to…
  • • You should totally visit…
  • • It's a real hidden gem.
  • • Go off-season.
  • • I've been ____ times.
Dialogue completion
Complete the conversation naturally.
  • AWe're thinking of going somewhere warm in October. Any ideas?
  • B_______________
  • AOh, never been! Where did you stay?
  • B_______________
Answer all items, then check.

Optional · Teacher-led

Teacher Activities

Today is fluency day — minimise teacher talk, maximise authentic exchanges. ~35 min total

Homework · Section 11

Take-home

Take it home

writing

Write a 10-item travel bucket list. For each item, add 1 sentence saying why.

speaking

Record a 2-min voice note 'recommending a city you've been to' for a friend.

listening

Watch a 3-min English travel vlog; note every Present Perfect you hear.

Recap · Section 12

2–3 min

What you've learned

  • Use Present Perfect for travel experience: 'I've been to…' / 'I've never been to…'.
  • Add Past Simple details: 'I went there in 2022.'
  • Use 'You should totally…' for strong recommendations.
  • Quantify experience: once / twice / loads of times.
  • Use travel idioms (hidden gem, off-season, wing it) to sound natural.
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