Travel & Tourism: What to do next?

In this week's Premier Skills English Podcast, Jack, Rich and Rowan are doing some sight-seeing and decide to visit a football museum and a castle. The language focus is on making suggestions and phrases we use when things fail to meet our expectations and when they exceed our expectations. In this week's task, we want you to tell us about a place you've visited that was better than you expected and a place you've visited that wasn't as good as you thought it would be. Don't forget to listen to the end of the podcast because we have a new football phrase for you to guess.

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If the listening was a bit difficult, you can listen again and read the transcript at the same time.

Read and listen at the same time.

How much did you understand?

Here is the vocabulary you saw at the top of this page and how Rowan, Rich and Jack used it in the roleplay. Do you know the words in bold?

Why don’t we just hang around the hotel? Let’s stay here and have a lazy day by the pool.

An absolute must-see for all football fans.

I thought the leaflet said there’d be a replica of the World Cup.

It wasn’t really him but the photo looked really realistic.

How bad was I with those bow and arrows?

It was hilarious! When they sat you on the horse - you should have seen your face!

Listen to the roleplays again to hear how Rich, Rowan and Jack used these words and phrases in context.

Jack expected to see a replica of the World Cup at the football museum.

Jack expected to see a replica of the World Cup at the football museum.

Making Suggestions

In the first part of the roleplay, Jack, Rich and Rowan were deciding what to do on their day off. They all made some suggestions. Listen to this section of the roleplay again. Do you understand the phrases in bold which can be used to make suggestions?

Jack: So, what are we going to do tomorrow? A free day at last.

Rich: Why don’t we just hang around the hotel? Let’s stay here and have a lazy day by the pool.

Rowan: Yeah, I’m a bit frazzled after all these meetings this week. What about going down to the beach?

Rowan suggested going to the beach.

Rowan suggested going to the beach.

Reporting what something says

In the first part of the roleplay, Jack was also talking about what he read in a leaflet. Listen to this part of the roleplay again and look at the words in bold. Do you understand how they are used to report what something says? 

Jack: Listen to what it says: journey back in time to the middle ages and watch brave knights prove their honour in combat in medieval jousting. That’s at the castle at the top of the hill. Unmissable according to this.

Activity 2: Look at some of the words we used in this part of the roleplay and choose the correct one to complete each sentence.

Jack wanted to watch some medieval jousting at the castle and ended up getting more than he bargained for!

Jack wanted to watch some medieval jousting at the castle and ended up getting more than he bargained for!

Not meeting expectations

In the second part of the roleplay, Rowan, Rich and Jack visited a football museum. They didn't enjoy it. It wasn't as good as they thought it would be. It didn't meet or live up to their expectations. Listen to these sections of the roleplay again and then have a go at the activity. Do you understand the phrases in bold?

Jack: I thought the leaflet said there’d be a replica of the World Cup so no, it wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be.

Rich: Yeah, it didn’t really live up to the hype of that leaflet, did it? What did it say: The world’s biggest and best football museum! It was nowhere near as good as the football museum I’ve been to in Manchester. I don’t know what all the fuss was about.

Many football clubs have museums that you can visit.

Many football clubs have museums that you can visit.

Saying how bad something is

In the second part of the roleplay, Jack, Rowan and Rich complained about the football museum. They used some language that can be helpful if you need to say something is really bad. Listen to this part of the roleplay again and read at the same time. Do you understand the words in bold?

Jack: But when that guy gave you a medal for winning; that was excruciating!

Rich: Yes, it was pretty embarrassing and the medal is utter rubbish. What do you think it’s made of?

Rowan: Cardboard probably. Ah well, you live and learn - off to the castle then? It’s a pretty low bar but I’m sure it’ll be better than here.

Activity 3: Look at some of the phrases we used in this part of the roleplay and choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

Rich won a penalty shootout game at the museum.

Rich won a penalty shootout game at the museum.

Exceeding Expectations

In the second part of the roleplay, Rowan, Rich and Jack visited a castle. They had a really good time and Rich and Rowan said it was much better than they thought it would be - it exceeded their expectations. Listen to these sections of the roleplay again and then have a go at the activity. Do you understand the phrases in bold?

Rich: I have to say, Jack. That was really enjoyable. It was so much better than I thought it would be.

Rowan: I agree - it was much better than I expected. What a lovely place and well worth that walk up the hill. The views from up here just blow me away.

Jack: I did tell you it’d be good but I thought they went the extra mile today. There were loads of extra activities.

Rowan: It wasn’t just middle-aged men on horses, was it? They really went for it. I thought someone was going to get hurt. Those lances they have are massive.

Rich: Yeah, but never in my wildest dreams did I think they’d call up Jack to have a go! Above and beyond the call of duty that Jack.

Rowan: It was hilarious! When they sat you on the horse - you should have seen your face!

Activity 4: Look at some of the words we used in this part of the roleplay and choose the correct one to complete each sentence.

Who's the guy on the right visiting Newcastle Castle?

Who's the guy on the right visiting Newcastle Castle?

Meeting Expectations

Have you ever visited a castle?

Have you ever visited a castle?

This week's task is to tell us about two different places you’ve visited.

  1. Tell us about a place you visited that wasn’t as interesting as you thought it would be. A place that didn’t live up to our expectations.
  2. Tell us about a place you visited that was more interesting than you thought it would be. A place that exceeded your expectations.

Try to use some of the language we have introduced in this week’s podcast when writing your answers and don't forget to have a guess at this week's football phrase.

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