Session 8: Summer Holidays!

With your classmate, read the signs and compare ideas as to which of these holidays you would prefer.

As you might have guessed, this blog’s topic is again related to holidays;  summer holidays!

Can you remember the last time you went on holiday during the summer? Ask your friend 4 questions related to this topic.

Now you’ll start writing. Think about your last summer holiday. You have  to include:

-Where you went and Who was there ( provide a brief description)

- Where you stayed and a short description of the place.

 - Descriptions related to your senses:  Smells,tastes, sensations of touch, sounds like voices, chants, etc.,  Colors,  and shapes

- If the experience was different from what you expected and why; if it was what you expected, describe it.

- What your favourite part of the holidays was and why, and what you would like to do next summer.

WORD COUNT : 240

Tips:  When you need to write longer texts, it’s always best to start with a short pre-writing exercise.

You can use the ‘spider’ map on your copy book first, to decide what you’ll write about first, the most important characteristics about each element you want to include, vocabulary you’d like to use, and how your piece will end.

Use these diagrammes to organise your ideas. List some of the words and connectors you’d like to include ( you can add the connectors in the 'other' column)

After you do your pre-writing, check the sample below and write your own text. Pay attention to the words and expressions in bold or that have been underlined.
Remember you should post here and in your classmates' blogs.

Sample

Last summer,  I went to El Canelo, a tiny beach located in Algarrobo. It's small but extremely beautiful and colourful. It was February, so the weather was warm and sunny. Given that my parents have been living there for almost 4 years, I stayed in their house for a few days.

One thing that has always called my attention is the way the air feels in El Canelo; it has a distinctive, sort of minty and cool scent, which feels  a bit cold (and salty!) and yet pleasant. Silence is  also something very unique about this area; you can only hear a few people in the afternoon as they walk towards the beach, but mostly, you can hear birds chirping and tree leaves in the wind…very peaceful!

In the mornings we did some gardening and read a bit, then my dad cooked something special and tasty, and then we talked about our lives and shared memories at the dinner table  (very Chilean custom!). I really enjoyed walking down a small forest near the beach, because in the summer the colours and hues of flowers, bushes and waves of course are very intense and vivid. However, I have to say that my favourite part was spending time and talking to my parents, because I seldom see them and I miss them a lot.

I’d have to say that everything was just as I expected; I was able to unwind and spend time with my loved ones. I surely hope I am able to do the same next summer, though I’d definitely like to have more time!

Word count: 265