Lesson 7: My Dream Vacation

Plan an imaginary vacation to an English-speaking country. Describe where you would go and what you would do.

• Materials: Paper, internet for research
• Focus: Future tense with “will” and “going to”
• Example: “Next summer, I am going to visit London. I will see Big Ben and ride on the London Eye…”
• Extension: Create a simple travel brochure with pictures and captions

Lesson 7: My Dream Vacation

Overview

This imaginative lesson helps you develop your English writing and planning skills by creating a detailed description of your dream vacation to an English-speaking country. By planning this imaginary trip, you’ll practice using future tenses, travel vocabulary, and researching real destinations while expressing your personal interests.

Learning Objectives

• Use future tenses correctly (“will” and “going to”)
• Build travel-related vocabulary
• Practice researching information in English
• Develop descriptive writing skills
• Learn about English-speaking countries and cultures
• Express preferences and give reasons for choices

Materials Needed

• Computer or tablet with internet access
• Paper or notebook
• Pen or pencil
• Colored pencils or markers (optional)
• Travel magazines or brochures (optional)
• Dictionary or online translation tool
• Optional: World map or globe

Preparation (15 minutes)

1. Think about English-speaking countries you might like to visit:
   • United States
   • United Kingdom
   • Canada
   • Australia
   • New Zealand
   • Ireland
   • South Africa
   • Other countries where English is widely spoken
2. Create a vocabulary reference page with these categories:
   • Travel verbs: visit, explore, discover, experience, stay, travel, fly, book, pack, plan
   • Accommodation: hotel, hostel, resort, cabin, campsite, apartment, bed and breakfast
   • Transportation: plane, train, bus, subway, taxi, car rental, ferry, bicycle
   • Attractions: museum, beach, park, monument, castle, restaurant, concert, festival
   • Future time expressions: next summer, in two years, during the holidays, for two weeks

Dream Vacation Planning Activity (45 minutes)

Part 1: Research and Decision (15 minutes)

1. Choose one English-speaking country as your dream destination
2. Research basic information about this country:
   • Location and major cities
   • Famous landmarks and attractions
   • Typical weather/best time to visit
   • Interesting cultural aspects
   • Typical foods
3. Select 3-5 specific places or attractions you would like to visit
4. Find 2-3 interesting facts about each place

Part 2: Writing Your Vacation Plan (20 minutes)

1. Create your dream vacation plan with these sections:
   • Introduction: Where you will go and when (use “going to”)
   • Transportation: How you will travel there and get around
   • Accommodation: Where you will stay
   • Activities: What you will do and see (use “will”)
   • Food: What you want to eat
   • Souvenirs: What you plan to bring back
   • Conclusion: Why this will be your dream vacation
2. Focus on using:
   • Future tense with “going to” for plans (I am going to visit London)
   • Future tense with “will” for predictions or spontaneous decisions (I will take lots of photos)
   • Descriptive adjectives (beautiful, exciting, delicious)
   • Specific details from your research

Part 3: Creative Extension (10 minutes)

1. Choose one of these creative activities to complement your writing:
   • Draw a simple map of your trip with your route marked
   • Create a daily itinerary for one day of your trip
   • Design a souvenir postcard from your destination
   • Make a packing list for your trip
   • Calculate an estimated budget for your vacation

Example Dream Vacation Plan

Extension Activities

1. Travel Brochure: Create a simple illustrated brochure for your chosen destination.
2. Dialogue Writing: Write a conversation between yourself and a local person at your destination.
3. Video Presentation: Record a short video presenting your dream vacation plans.
4. Cost Research: Find real prices for flights, hotels, and attractions to create a realistic budget.
5. Language Differences: Research any specific English words or expressions unique to your chosen country.

Future Tense Review

Remember the difference between these future forms:

• “Going to” is used for:
  • Plans and intentions decided before speaking: “I am going to visit the museum on Tuesday.”
  • Predictions based on present evidence: “Look at those clouds. It’s going to rain.”
• “Will” is used for:
  • Predictions about the future: “I think the weather will be nice tomorrow.”
  • Spontaneous decisions made at the moment of speaking: “That bag looks heavy. I’ll help you carry it.”
  • Promises: “I will bring you a souvenir from my trip.”

Self-Assessment Checklist

After completing your dream vacation plan, review your work using this checklist:

• Did I use “going to” correctly for pre-made plans?
• Did I use “will” correctly for predictions and spontaneous decisions?
• Did I include specific details about real places?
• Did I organize my writing into clear sections?
• Did I use varied and interesting travel vocabulary?
• Did I explain why this would be my dream vacation?

Travel Language Tips

• Use specific place names rather than general terms (Big Ben instead of “a clock tower”)
• Include sensory details (what you will see, hear, taste, smell, and feel)
• Vary your verbs (instead of just “visit,” use explore, discover, experience, etc.)
• Learn the correct prepositions for places (in London, at the beach, on the island)
• Use sequencing words to organize your itinerary (first, next, later, finally)

Real-World Applications

This skill is useful for:

• Planning actual future travel
• Writing emails to tour operators or accommodations
• Creating travel itineraries
• Discussing travel plans with English-speaking friends
• Preparing for travel-related situations like booking hotels or tours

Remember that planning a dream vacation combines practical language skills with creativity and personal interests. Even if you can’t travel to these places right now, researching and writing about them improves your English while allowing you to explore the world from home!