Unit 12: Vacation Activities and Extreme Sports
Unit 12
Vocabulary: Vacation Activities
- Buy handicrafts (comprar artesanato)
- Go to clubs (ir para festas)
- Listen to live music (ouvir música ao vivo)
- See wildlife (ver animais selvagens)
- Speak a foreign language (falar língua estrangeira)
- Try local food (experimentar comida local)
- Visit landmarks (visitar locais turísticos)
- Volunteer (ser voluntário)
Grammar: Gerunds
A gerund is an -ing word that acts like a noun. Gerunds may be the subject of a sentence, or they may appear after some verbs or prepositions.
- As subjects:
- Trying local foods is a great way to learn about a culture.
- Volunteering is a rewarding way to spend a vacation.
- After some verbs:
- I enjoy traveling by bus.
- I dislike planning the travel details.
- After prepositions:
- I’m interested in joining the “Eat and Learn” tour.
- I’m concerned about protecting the environment.
Examples:
- A: Do you enjoy traveling alone or in a group? B: I prefer being in a large group. It’s more fun.
- A: Are you interested in buying handicrafts when you travel? B: Not really. I like going to markets, but just to look.
- A: Trying local food is the best way to learn about a culture. Don’t you agree? B: I’m not really sure. Meeting local people is also good.
- A: Are you worried about getting sick when you travel abroad? B: Not really. I’m more concerned about losing my passport!
- A: Do you think volunteering on vacation would be fun? B: I do. Helping other people is a great thing to do.
Interactions: Preferences and Reminders
- Asking about preferences:
- Would you like… or…?
- Would you prefer… or…?
- Would you rather have… or…?
- Reminding someone of something:
- Remember to…
- Don’t forget to…
- Let me remind you to…
Vocabulary: Extreme Sports
- Bungee jumping (bungee jumping)
- Kite surfing (kite surf)
- Paragliding (parapente)
- Rock climbing (escalada)
- Skydiving (paraquedismo)
- Snowboarding (snowboard)
- Waterskiing (esqui aquático)
- White-water rafting (rafting em águas brancas)
Grammar: Modals for Necessity and Recommendations
- Necessity:
- You must wear a helmet.
- You’ve got to complete this form.
- You have to listen to your instructor.
- Lack of necessity:
- You don’t have to take a lesson.
- Recommendations:
- You’d better be back before dark.
- You ought to wear sunscreen.
- You should stay in the beginners’ section.
- You shouldn’t go in the advanced section.
Examples:
- You must get a passport before you go abroad. Everybody needs one.
- You don’t have to visit every landmark. Choose just a few instead.
- You should book a hotel online. It’s often cheaper that way.
- You shouldn’t get to your hotel too early. You can’t check in until 2:00.
- You’d better keep your money in a safe place. Losing it would be awful.
- You have to pay for some things in cash. Many places don’t take credit cards.
- You must show your student ID to get a discount. Don’t forget it!
- You ought to try some local food. It can be full of nice surprises.
Writing: A Walking Tour
The Nightlife in Porto Alegre
To know a little of the nightlife in Porto Alegre, you must know two regions that are quite busy at night. The first is Padre Chagas Street, which has several bars for people to have fun. The second is the Lower City, located in the center of the city, which is the main meeting place for young people. In addition to having many bars, there are several party houses for all tastes. Usually, when people don’t want to spend a lot of money, they go to the Lower City. This happens because Padre Chagas is in a noble area of Porto Alegre, so the prices of its establishments are more expensive than those of the Lower City. A great option for those who want to have fun and enjoy a good-value chopp is Boteco do Joaquim. You pay a fixed amount to drink at will. I went there a few times, and I loved it. I highly recommend visiting this place.