Has your plan for Easter been frustrated due to the lockdown? Are you looking forward to your next chance to travel?
Travelling is essential to broaden our mind. It enables us to learn about new cultures, get first hand experiences of new places, try out foreign cusine and get away from our daily routine. As English learners, we are always willing to have the opportunity to practise the language but sometimes our plans are conditioned by our purchasing level.
The aim of this post is to give you several ideas of how to travel differently and get the most out of it. Are you ready? Then, let’s go!
HOME SWAP
Home exchange, also known as house swapping, is a form of lodging in which two parties agree to offer each other homestays for a set period of time. Since no monetary exchange takes place, it is a form of barter, collaborative consumption, and sharing.
Listening B1 level
Listen to the following audio and say whether the statements below are true or false. Then, check your answers.
1. Jackie isn’t interested in swapping her house with a stranger
2. According to Jackie, staying in a hotel can be impersonal
3. There is only a company where you can register to home swap
4. The woman who speaks in favour of home swapping says that the only interesting thing is that it is free
5. Home swapping is an opportunity to get to know other cultures
6. Usually, there are costs included when doing home swapping
7. Home swappers never include a car
8. Being able to unpack is one of the benefits according to a speaker
9. Speaker 2 says you feel like a local when you home swap
Answers
1.F/2.T/3. F/4. F/5. T/6. T/7. F/8. T/9. T
COUCHSURFING
This is not exactly home swapping since the person who hosts you usually wants to spend some time with you. Therefore, there are benefits for both parties. As a traveler, you can meet locals and learn more about a destination in a way others won’t. As a host, you can learn about other cultures while staying in your home and showing new friends around town.
Listening B2 level
Watch the following BBC report and answer the questions below
- Give a thorough definition of couchsurfing.
- How does couchsurfing work?
- How many people sign up every week?
- Brian from California states some of the advantages of couchsurfing. Jot down at least 2 of them.
- How much can a night in a Tokyo hotel cost you?
- How old is Shotaro?
- What does he do for a living?
- Where does Howard have to sleep?
- What is the presenter going to do with the money he has saved by couchsurfing?
Answers
1. It’s an online network that link you up with someone in a far away place willing to let you stay in their home for free.
2.You post your details, people would then request to stay in your house
3. 10,000 people
4. Save money, get a local taste of the culture, get a better feeling of the city.
5. An average of 150 pounds.
6. 21 years old
7. He is a student
8. On a traditional straw mat in his living room
9. Explore the fascinating countryThis is the link to the websit
WORKING ABROAD
Another way of saving money when travelling is working in exchange of accommodation. There are different platforms that allow you to get in contact with people who need an extra support at their home and consider the idea of hosting someone at home in exchange of their help
Workaway is a platform that allows members to arrange homestays and cultural exchange. Volunteers or «Workawayers», are expected to contribute a pre-agreed amount of time per day in exchange for lodging and food, which is provided by their host.
WWOOFing stands for ‘World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.’ The volunteer or ‘WWOOFer,’ gets the opportunity to spend time in an organic farm, learn what it’s like, how it works and what sustainable agriculture is all about. During your stay in the farm, you don’t have to pay for board or lodging. It is not a monetary exchange program.
Listening C1 level
Watch the video and answers the questions. You can find the answers below.
1. What are the opportunities she mentions in…
Italy?
Africa?
Nepal?
2. What was her experience in Bozeman?
3. What did she receive in exchange of her work?
4. What does she recommend us when she talks about making a profile?
5. Apart from travelling in an affordable way, why does she think it is a good idea?
Answers
1. Wine making/ working in a wild life refuge/ Teaching English
2. She went there for a month but she liked it so much that it turned into two months
3. She lived in the hostel, she was given a week stipend for groceries and breakfast was provided everyday.
4. Making sure you are interested in creating a profile because it costs money.
5. You can also use it if you are planning to move to a new place and you want to acclimate.
Listening B1 level
Watch the video and complete the gaps. You can find the answers below.
Diana tells us that you get the opportunity to..
1.
2.
3.
4.
Dave says wwoofing allows people to…
1.
2.
3.
4.
Diana’s job’s consist in…
1.
2.
3.
4.
Answers
1.Meet people/ live with them/ encounter their culture/ have experiences you wouldn’t as an ordinary tourist
2. travel around the world/ go to organic farms/ get experience from growers/ to learn the green life
3. check on the animals/ clean out the stuff for the horses/ Feed the alpacas/ search for chicken eggs
LEAVE YOUR COMMENT
Which one did you like most? Have you ever had such an experience? Would you put a stranger up in your house?