Travel English: tips and activities for EFL and ESL teachers when presenting essential vocabulary and phrases for travelling purpose

The volume of material to study is extensive. Whether it's travelling by train, car, or plane, each case has its own vocabulary. Topics like hotel check-in and check-out, purchasing tickets, and registering to obtain a boarding pass should be addressed as Travel English. Other situations to cover include going camping, sightseeing, visiting nightclubs, or museums.

Every TEFL and TESOL-certified teacher should prepare well-organized lessons that focus on the topic of travelling. Role-playing activities must be included, as it is only through practising language in realistic conditions that students will feel confident when they actually use English to achieve their desired goals, such as securing a better room in a hotel or requesting headphones from a flight attendant.

Students may have a question regarding the correct spelling of the word "Traveling" and whether it contains one or two letter 'l's. It is important to clarify that "Traveling" is the US spelling of the word, while "Travelling" is the preferred spelling in British and Canadian English.

So, where should you start? Begin with a discussion about travelling, countries, and cultures. Instead of asking students how many countries they have visited, which may make some feel uncomfortable comparing themselves to others, it would be perfect to ask each student to share more about their homeland if you have a multinational class. If your students are from the same country, there's no problem; you can ask them to prepare interesting facts about countries, places, or cities they would like to visit one day.

Developing this task into a project and creating a board is an excellent idea. As an English teacher, it's also important for you to prepare some interesting information about different cultures. Here are a few examples:

• In some Asian countries, slurping loudly is a sign that the food is delicious.
• Kissing both cheeks is a common way of greeting someone in Spain. 
• In Japan, there is a strict no-tipping policy, and instead of signatures, people have personalized stamps that serve as their official signature, which involves a whole registration process.
• Nordic people often leave small children outside to nap, even during winter.
• In Sikhism, the turban is a symbol of complete equality.
• In Switzerland, there are specific rules for dog owners. Dogs are allowed practically everywhere, including restaurants and shops, but they are subject to taxation based on their size and weight in some cantons. Additionally, dogs must have regular exercise, daily contact with humans, and be microchipped by a vet.
• In Egypt, asking for salt during a meal is considered rude and disrespectful to the host and the food.
• People in Iceland do not have surnames or family names. Instead, they follow the traditional practice of using the father's or mother's Christian name and referring to themselves as their son or daughter.
• In South Korea, it is believed that writing a person's name in red ink brings bad luck or even death. The number four is also considered unlucky, leading many elevators to skip the fourth floor or use the letter "F" instead.
• In Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages, there are no gendered pronouns. Instead, there are three types of genders: male, female, and māhū, which encompasses aspects of both genders.

Students thoroughly enjoy discussing and sharing their opinions on cultural facts, as they highlight the diversity and beauty of our world. 

Having a world map displayed in the classroom is beneficial, as it provides students with a visual representation of the locations being discussed.

CLT games to present Travel English

Furthermore, there are numerous board games specifically designed for travel-inquiry purposes. If you have some spare time and a relatively small student group, it is always a great idea to engage in these games. Playing board games not only allows students to learn unconsciously but also provides a natural opportunity to practice Travel English.

Here's an example of how the game works:

Students take turns rolling the dice and advancing their game pieces on the board. Each number rolled corresponds to a question that a student must answer.

Here are some examples of the questions:

1. Describe your most memorable trip.
2. What is your preferred mode of travel?
3. How much luggage do you usually take with you?
4. What is the most beautiful place you have visited?
5. Have you ever been camping?
6. Describe your worst travel experience.
7. How do you pass the time while traveling?
8. Have you ever hitchhiked?
9. Do you prefer vacationing abroad or in your own country?
10. If you had $10,000, where and how would you choose to travel?
11. Which do you prefer: a summer or winter vacation?
12. Are there any countries you would never visit? Why?
13. If you were to travel to Europe, which countries would you like to visit?
14. If you were to travel to South America, which countries would you like to visit?
15. What are some essential items you always take with you on a trip?
16. Do you believe tourism has a negative impact on the world?

You have the flexibility to diversify the questions. If your students are already familiar with the conditional form "would," you can create questions that provide practice using it.

Of course, every EFL and ESL teacher understands the importance of expanding students' vocabulary before engaging in any communicative exercises. 

Travel-related vocabulary, phrases, and expressions to introduce and reinforce:

• aisle seat
• announced
• ATM
• baggage claim area
• boarding pass
• booked up
• carry-on baggage
• checked baggage
• check-in
• check-in counter
• check-out
• complimentary
• connecting flight
• conveyor belt
• delayed
• departure lounge
• destination
• directly
• disclaimer
• disembark
• double rooms
• elevator
• ensuite
• escalators
• exchange rate
• exit
• final boarding call
• firearms
• flammable materials
• gate
• hand luggage
• ID
• keycard
• label
• lockers
• luggage
• non-refundable
• onboard
• overhead compartment
• pay upfront
• perishable food items
• priority boarding
• purpose of your trip
• receipt
• reserve
• reservation under the name
• return ticket
• scanner
• seatbelt
• security
• shuttle bus
• souvenirs
• tag
• take-off
• taxi rank
• tray
• tray table
• turbulence
• unattended
• valid
• valuables
• window seat

It goes without saying that it is essential to present all the phrases within relevant contexts. Demonstrate to your students examples of when and how to use this vocabulary appropriately. Videos of Travel English can be particularly helpful for this purpose.

Another engaging activity for English-speaking practice is the game 'Talk for 1 Minute'. In this game, the teacher provides a student with a card containing a specific topic and sets a timer for 1 minute.

Conclusion

All TEFL and TESOL-certified teachers understand the importance of incorporating role-play games into their lessons. It is not sufficient for students to solely listen, read, or watch. They must actively engage in living out various situations, building confidence in using specific words and phrases of Travel English through repetition. 

Therefore, when teaching a class centred around the topic of travelling, it is crucial to include scenes such as an airport, a train station, a hotel, customer check-in, passing through security, visiting a museum, or any other location requested by the students. 

Conducting a need analysis by consulting students about their preferences is beneficial for adapting lessons to their specific needs, resulting in more effective teaching. 

To explore further techniques and gain additional knowledge, you can enrol in the online TEFL & TESOL course 

Best of luck and take care!