25-26 April
Travelling
Do you like travelling?
What is your favourite way to travel?
When was the last time you had a long journey?
Where did you go? Did you enjoy it?
Where would you like to travel next?
Tell us about the best journey you have ever had.
Do you prefer to travel alone or with others? Why?
What kind of places do you enjoy visiting the most—beaches, mountains, cities, or rural areas?
Have you ever experienced culture shock while travelling? If so, where?
What is the most important thing to pack when travelling?
Have you ever had a travel experience that didn’t go as planned? What happened?
Do you like trying new foods when you travel? What is the most interesting dish you’ve ever tried?
Have you ever met interesting people while travelling? Tell us about it.
What is one travel destination you think everyone should visit at least once?
How has technology changed the way people travel?
Do you think travelling makes people more open-minded? Why or why not?
Related Words: journey, destination, itinerary, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, exploration, adventure, tourism, backpacking, cultural experience, travel companions, solo travel, guided tour, reservation, visa, passport, luggage, packing essentials, travel insurance, delay, jet lag, local cuisine, landmarks, hospitality, navigation, travel apps, budget travel, luxury travel, memorable experience
Watch the video above and discuss what you learned from it during your Spoken Cafe session
The Surprising History of the Word “Girl”
The word “girl” has an interesting history that isn’t tied to a specific gender. Originally, it wasn’t used to describe females at all. In fact, as linguistics professor Sally McConnell-Ginet explained, the word “girl” was first used in the 13th century to refer to a young person in general, regardless of their gender.
Up until the 16th century, “girl” could be used to describe both young men and women. For example, “gay girls” referred to cheerful young women, and “knave girls” referred to young men. The word “gay” at the time meant “cheerful” or “joyful,” and “knave” meant “dishonest” or “a person who behaves poorly.”
It wasn’t until later in history that “girl” came to be associated specifically with young females, and its meaning has evolved over the centuries. So, the word we use today has a much richer and more complex history than we might realise!
READ/SPEAK
How does it change to raise kids in different cultures? What do you think are the best things to do to educate and grow kids?
What do you think are the bad and good approaches to growing kids in our country?
How do you think language changes over time?
Are there any words in your language that used to have a different meaning?
Have you ever heard an old-fashioned English word that people don’t use anymore?
It is very difficult to teach someone new skills or to change someone’s habits or character.
LEARN THE IDIOM AND SPEAK
Why do people never change? Do you think people may change, or have you ever seen a person who completely changed?