Practise descriptions of places using photos from travel brochures. Give each group a selection of five or six places. Ask them to take turns describing the place in their picture: the climate, the location, the activities you can do there, etc. Make sure you have a good contrast in place types, e.g. different climates, urban and rural, developed or very deserted, etc. Then either:
- Ask each group to select their favourite destination from the pictures you have given them. Go round the class and ask them to say why they would like to visit the place in the picture.
- Ask them to use their pictures to pick a holiday for a honeymoon couple, a group of teenagers and a retired couple. Each group presents their choice to the class, explaining why they have chosen this holiday for these people.
Focus on plans for the summer (not just a holiday) and use them to preview the language needed to talk about plans. Tell them about your plans and ask students to note down key words while you are speaking, for example This July I'm planning to work in my uncle's shop and I'm going to do some reading for my university course next year. I'd like to play a bit of tennis and spend some time with my friends. Ask students to do the same exercise in pairs. The note-taking will help them listen carefully. Go round the class asking students to tell you about their partner's plans.
Use a holiday song to introduce the topic, e.g. Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday or Madonna's Holiday.