UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2)

WHY EVERYONE
IS GOING TO
ICELAND
LATELY?
Warm up

Discuss the questions in pairs or small groups.

1. What is your favorite place that you’ve traveled to?

2. What is the #1 place that you want to travel to?
3. What travel destinations can you think of that have become extremely popular recently? Why?

Vocabulary
Part A: Match the vocab with their definitions below:
C. To stretch further
A. To be poised or have poise
D. To be the real deal
B. Meltdown
E. To push for (something)
F. To be stranded
G. Coverage

Definitions
1. Able to be used for a longer period or more extensively than before.
2. Left without the means to move from somewhere.
3. Balanced, grounded, and ready for action OR to have a relaxed composure.
4. To demand; be an advocate or promoter of something.
5. A disastrous collapse or breakdown OR emotionally collapse in a childlike manner.
6. Something or someone that is real or genuine; not a copy or imitation.
7. The attention given to something by a news agency or in popular culture.

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Part B: Complete the sentences with the missing words from Part A. You may need to change the form of the
word.

1. Wilson was Tom Hanks’ only friend when he was __________ on an island in Cast Away.
2. The economic __________ of the 1920’s lead to the death of extravagant designs and the rise of
simple styles in the 1930’s.
3. After the CEO stepped down, Janice was __________to take his place as the head of the
company.
4. Many people choose not to watch the news nowadays because the __________is usuallyfocused
on tragic or sad events.
5. Many people were forced to make their toilet paper ____________________in the great toiletpaper
shortage of March 2020.
6. He was ____________________changes in the company for a long time before they happened.
7. I was nervous that the restaurant was just over-hyped, but it was ____________________.

Part C: Discuss the following questions

1. Who is someone that has poise or is poised to do something?

2. What’s an example of a time you had a meltdown when you were a kid?

3. What is an example of a time that you had to make something stretch further?

4. What is an example of something that is the real deal?

5. What is something that someone pushed for in the past?

6. What is an example of a time that you were stranded somewhere?

7. What’s an example of a movie or something in pop culture that didn’t get much coverage when it was
initially released?

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Listening and Grammar

Adam and Jenny are going on a guided tour of Iceland with Jenny’s sister Helen and her husband Angus.
Listen to their conversation about the tour and complete the information with words from the Warm up.

Morning Evening

Day 1 (Monday) Arrive in Reykjavik Dinner with Angus

and Helen

4 ,
5 ,
6 ,

Choose the correct verb form to complete these sentences from the dialogue. Listen again to check.

1. It says here that the flight lands / is landing at two o’clock on Monday.
2. So, we’ve already agreed that we have / ’re having an early dinner with Helen and Angus thatevening.
3. The coach leaves / is leaving at 8 o’clock to take us to see a waterfall.
4. We sit / ’re sitting together on the coach so we can catch up on all the family news.
5. The coach arrives / is arriving at the next hotel at around 6 o’clock.
6. What time does the boat trip start / is the boat trip starting?
7. Angus and I have already decided: we go / ’re going on the boat trip.
8. Do you and Helen come / Are you and Helen coming with us?
9. Helen and I go / are going to the hot spring.
10. The coach to the hot spring doesn’t leave / isn’t leaving until after lunch.

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Vocabulary

Match the vocabulary with the definitions below

A. To be put on the map E. Props to (someone or something)

B. Bucket list F. Catastrophe
C. Offseason G. Public Service Announcement (PSA)
D. To have a boom

Definitions

1. A sudden and quick growth of something.

2. An event causing great and usually sudden damage or suffering; a disaster.
3. To make someone or something famous.
4. To give all due respect to someone or something.
5. A notice given by someone for the knowledge and benefit of the general public.
6. A number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplishduring their
lifetime.
7. A time of year when a particular activity, typically a sport, is not engaged in.

Part B: Complete the sentences with the missing words from Part A. Then answer the questions

1. What is a travel destination that has been _______________ recently?

2. What is something that is on your _______________?
3. What’s an example of a certain activity and its _______________?
4. What is a specific industry that has seen _______________in sales recently?
5. What is something that has been successful and who would _______________ for itssuccess?
6. What is an example of a time that you or someone else messed something up so bad itcould be
considered a _______________?
7. What’s an example of a _______________you might hear?

Part C: Discuss the following questions

1. What is something you try to keep up with on a daily/weekly/monthly basis?
2. What is a way you have shifted in your productivity/work style in the past year or so?
3. What is something you always burn through super quickly?
4. What is a habit that you are trying to quit but always end up slipping back into?
5. How do you approach your work when you have a tremendous workload?
6. What is an example of a time you drew a line in the sand with your work?

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7. To what end do you work?

8. What is something you would like to ease off of in the next year or so?

Video Comprehension Video

Video: Why Everyone is Going to Iceland Lately

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb32VopxmlA

Watch the video and answer the following questions

1. What has happened to the tourist numbers in Iceland in the past few years?
2. What happened to Iceland in 2008?
3. What happened to Iceland in 2010?
4. What did the eruption do for Iceland
5. Which movie was released in 2012 that also helped Iceland’s economy?
6. What did airlines start doing?
7. What’s the real reason Iceland is having a boom according to Johnny?

Video Discussion
1. Are you one of the people that have visited Iceland recently or have put it on your bucket list?
Why?
2. Since this video came out, some things have happened that have made Iceland less accessible such
as budget airline WOW Air shutting down. Do you believe that Iceland willbe able to maintain its
success as a travel destination?
3. What other areas do you think are poised to become the next big travel destination?

Idioms
Match the underlined idioms with the definitions below
1. I’ve got expensive tastes so I always live it up —— 5-star hotels, casinos and limousines.

2. It’s important for me to catch some rays when I’m on holiday. I like to come home with a nice suntan.
3. I don’t really like having everything planned out on holiday.
4. I prefer to see how the mood takes me and make decisions as I go.
5. We don’t like going to really touristy places so we always choose somewhere which is off the beaten track
6. Some places have been a bit of a culture shock.

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7. In others we really had to watch our backs, but we’re very adventurous.
8. We normally go backpacking or hitchhiking so we have to travel light.
9. We always travel on a shoestring; we normally stay in hostels or sleep on peoples’ sofas.
10. We’ve definitely got the travel bug; if we’re not travelling then we’re planning the next trip.
11. I’m a real culture vulture; I feel right at home in a museum, gallery or historical building.
12. When I go on holiday I like to get up at the crack of dawn and make the most of the time by going to as many places
as possible.

13. I always find time to savour the local delicacies or sit and watch the world go by in a fancy café with a good coffee
and a guide book.

1. Be addicted to travelling 6. Enjoy local food 12. Have a strict plan

2. Spend lots of money, travel 7. Relax, not do anything 13. Not spend much money
in luxury 8. Feel very comfortable while travelling
3. Sunbathe 9. Feel uncomfortable in a new 14. Make decisions depending
4. Travel without much stuff place on how you’re feeling
5. Early in the morning 10. Be careful 15. A place without many
11. Someone who likes museum, tourists
art galleries

Practice

1. My friends always ________________________ they hitchhike and couchsurf a. Get the travel
everywhere. bug

2. We had to get up _________________________ to catch the 4am sleeper train. b. Culture vulture

3. My parents are real ________________________ they love museums, ancient c. Catch some
ruins and art galleries. rays

4. I’ll meet up with you guys later. I’m gonna chill by the pool and d. Sit and watch
_________________________ for a bit. the world go

5. My uncle always ______________________ when he goes on holiday, 5-star by

hotels, private beaches, pool parties, you name it. e. See how the
6. The best and cheapest restaurants are ________________ away from the mood takes
touristy areas. me

7. You have to _________________________ when you’re travelling alone; there f. Travel on a

are a lot of dangerous people out there. shoe string

g. Live it up

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8. When I went to India it was a real _____________________ for the first few h. A culture
days, you get used to it after a while though. shock

9. I always try to _____________________, people always pack so much stuff i. Feel right at
they don’t need. home

10. I _________________________ in Stockholm, the people are so friendly and j. Watch your back
they all speak English!
k. Travel light
11. I don’t like planning my holidays meticulously, I’d rather just
l. At the crack of
_______________________.
dawn
12. I’ve definitely ________________________, I’ve only been home for a week
m. Off the beaten
and I’m already planning my next trip.
track
13. There’s nothing I like more than to sip a coffee in a nice Italian piazza and
n. Savour local
___________________________________.
delicacies
14. My parents have to _____________________________ when they go on
o. Have
holiday, they’re not very spontaneous.
everything
15. I’m a bit of a foodie so it’s important for me to _____________ planned out.
__________________________ when I go on holiday. You’ll find me in the local
restaurants trying everything!

Discussion
Discuss your ideal holiday with your partner, try to use as many expressions as you can.

1. Do you travel light? If so, how do you decide what to pack?

2. You have to watch your back when you’re travelling alone; there are a lot of dangerous people out there. Do you
agree?

3. Which place that you’ve visited was the biggest culture shock? Where did you feel right at home? Why?

4. Do you usually have to get up at the crack of dawn to catch a flight when you go on holiday? How does that make
you feel?

5. Do you normally travel on a shoestring or live it up? How can you save money while travelling? Would you
consider hitchhiking or couchsurfing?

6. Have you got the travel bug? Where do you want to visit next?

7. Do you like to have everything planned out or see how the mood takes you when you’re travelling?

8. What’s the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by for you?

9. How important is it for you to catch some rays when you’re on holiday?

10. How do you choose a holiday destination? Are you a culture vulture?

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