CoursesIntermediate courseUnit 19
B1 Intermediate Course  ·  Unit 19 of 20

Travel and Culture

Vocabulary for travel, tourism, and cultural experience. Grammar: relative clauses — defining and non-defining.

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Vocabulary

Key words for this unit.

Itinerary
A planned route or journey, including stops and activities
I booked a tour whose itinerary covered seven cities in ten days.
Heritage
Traditions, buildings, and values a society considers important from its history
The city has a rich cultural heritage that attracts millions of visitors every year.
Cuisine
The style of cooking typical of a country or region
One of the main reasons I travel is to experience the local cuisine.
Immersive
Providing a deep, engaging experience that fully involves you
The museum offers an immersive experience that puts visitors inside historical events.
Ecotourism
Tourism focused on natural environments that supports conservation
Ecotourism, which has grown rapidly since the 1990s, aims to minimise the impact of travel on ecosystems.
Backpacking
Travelling cheaply and independently, usually with a backpack
She spent six months backpacking through Southeast Asia.
Visa
An official document that allows a person to enter a foreign country
I applied for a visa, which took three weeks to arrive, before booking my flights.
Jet lag
Tiredness and disorientation caused by long-distance air travel across time zones
Jet lag, which can last several days, is one of the downsides of long-haul travel.
Landmark
A building or feature that is easily recognised and associated with a place
The Eiffel Tower, which is recognised worldwide, is the most visited landmark in France.
Authentic
Real and genuine; relating to the true culture of a place
Travellers who want an authentic experience often choose homestays over hotels.
Off the beaten track
In a remote location, away from popular tourist destinations
The village where we stayed was completely off the beaten track.
Customs
The official process of checking goods and people entering a country
The customs process, which took over an hour, was the most stressful part of the journey.
Vocabulary exercises

Grammar

Relative clauses — defining and non-defining

A defining relative clause identifies exactly which person or thing we mean — no commas. A non-defining relative clause adds extra information — separated by commas and can be removed without changing the core meaning.

The guide who spoke French was excellent. (defining)
Our guide, who had lived in Paris for twenty years, was excellent. (non-defining)
PronounDefining (no commas)Non-defining (with commas)
whoThe traveller who lost his passport...My friend, who travels every summer,...
whichThe tour which we booked...The Colosseum, which was built in AD 80,...
thatThe city that I love most... (not in non-defining)— (cannot use "that" in non-defining)
whereThe hotel where we stayed...Rome, where we spent a week,...
whoseThe artist whose work we saw...Picasso, whose work spans many styles,...
  Use that only in defining clauses. You can omit the relative pronoun in a defining clause when it is the object: The city I love most = the city that I love most. In non-defining clauses, the pronoun cannot be omitted.
Grammar exercises

Reading

Read carefully, then answer the questions.

Why do we travel?

Tourism, which is one of the world's largest industries, returned strongly after the disruptions of the early 2020s. But as travel has recovered, so too have questions about why people travel and what they are really looking for.

For many, the answer is escape. A traveller who steps off a plane in a city they have never visited before experiences everything freshly. Research suggests that novelty, which activates the same brain pathways as learning, is deeply satisfying to the human mind.

Others travel for connection. Immersive travel, where visitors participate in cultural activities rather than simply observing them, has grown significantly. Travellers who engage deeply with a place often describe the experience as transformative.

Many people also feel drawn to places whose history connects to their own identity. Whatever the reason, travel that is done thoughtfully enriches both the traveller and the place visited.

Comprehension questions
Questions — Conversation 1
Conversation 2 — A travel podcast on ecotourism  |  <audio controls src="audio/int19-listen2.mp3"></audio>
Script 2
A travel podcast on ecotourism
Scene: A host interviews a travel writer about sustainable travel.
Host:You've written extensively about ecotourism, which is growing fast. What makes it different from regular tourism?
Writer:Ecotourism is designed to minimise harm and support local communities. The guides who take you into nature are usually from the local area.
Host:Is there a risk that operators use "eco" as a marketing label without doing the work?
Writer:Absolutely. Travellers who are serious about it should look for certification from organisations whose standards are independently verified.
Host:What destinations would you recommend?
Writer:Costa Rica, which has one of the best ecotourism frameworks in the world, is a great starting point. Rwanda, where gorilla conservation has been transformed by tourism revenue, is extraordinary.
Host:Any final advice?
Writer:Choose operators whose values align with yours. Stay longer in fewer places — a deeper connection with one place does more good than rushing through five.
Questions — Conversation 2

Writing

Guided writing task.

Task: Travel paragraph using relative clauses
Write a paragraph (80-120 words) describing a place you have visited or would like to visit. Use at least two defining and two non-defining relative clauses.
  • Use a defining relative clause to identify a specific feature
  • Use a non-defining relative clause (with commas) to add extra information
  • Use where, whose, or which at least once each
  • Describe what makes the place special to you
0 words
Model answer
One place I would love to visit is Kyoto, which is the ancient capital of Japan. The city, whose streets are lined with traditional wooden buildings, has preserved its cultural heritage better than almost anywhere else. There are temples where visitors can participate in meditation sessions, which I find deeply appealing. The local cuisine, which features beautifully presented seasonal ingredients, is also a major draw. The Fushimi Inari shrine, which is famous for its thousands of red torii gates, is the landmark that interests me most. I would want to visit in spring, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

Unit test

35 questions. You need 28/35 (80%) to pass.

Unit 18All unitsUnit 20

Writing

Guided writing task.

Task: Travel paragraph using relative clauses
Write a paragraph (80-120 words) describing a place you have visited or would like to visit. Use at least two defining and two non-defining relative clauses.
  • Use a defining relative clause to identify a specific feature
  • Use a non-defining relative clause (with commas) to add extra information
  • Use where, whose, or which at least once each
  • Describe what makes the place special to you
0 words

Unit test

30 questions. You need 80% to pass.

Unit 18All unitsUnit 20