The festive season is approaching and this month students from A1 Movers to C1 Advanced can improve their English skills with our Winter Wonderland activities. Happy teaching!

1. 1
Winter Wonderland
The festive season is approaching and this month our activities are all about winter. Our B2 First
and C1 Advanced students will watch a video about the highest hotel in Europe. Our A2 Key
students will read about what different people like and dislike about winter. Finally, our young
learners will practise their listening skills and winter vocabulary. Happy teaching!
1. The highest hotel in Europe…..………………..……………………………………………..…………………………….2
2. What do you like about winter?.….……………………………………………………………………………………….6
3. Winter Wonderland………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9
4. References………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………12

2. 2
1. The highest hotel in Europe
Level: B2 First / C1 Advanced
Skills: Speaking, Listening and Writing
Interaction: Individual, in pairs and whole class activity
Time: 85 mins
Warm up (15’) – whole class activity
• Do you like winter? Why (not)?
• What activities do you like to do in winter?
• Do you usually travel at this time of year? If so, where do you like to go?
• Where is the coldest place you have ever been?
• Have you ever stayed in an unusual hotel? What was different about it?
• Look at the photos below. Which of these places would you prefer to spend a winter
break in? Why?

3. 3
Listening (15’) – individual activity
You are going to watch a video about the highest hotel in Europe. Read questions 1-6 below
and write an answer. You will watch the video twice.
1. How is the hotel described at the beginning of the video?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. How do people get to the hotel?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3. What was happening in this area at the end of the 19th
century?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. What is the unseen danger and why?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. What facilities does the hotel have?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

4. 4
6. What else is the hotel used for?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Speaking (10’) – in pairs or groups of 3
Now, I’d like you to talk about something together for about two minutes. Which factors are
most important for choosing a hotel? Discuss the five options below and then decide which is
most important.
Writing (45’) – individual activity
Think about a hotel that you have stayed in or imagine that you were a guest at the hotel you
saw in the video and write a review of your experience. What were the rooms and facilities
like? What were the location and surrounding area like? Would you recommend the hotel to
other people? Why (not)?
Write your review in 220-260 words.
Which factors are most
important for choosing a
hotel?
Food
Facilities
Price
Comfort
Location

5. 5
Suggested answers
1. How is the hotel described at the beginning of the video?
As the ultimate retreat even though it doesn’t have a pool and isn’t luxurious. It is surrounded
by glaciers at the top of a mountain and is 4,554 metres above sea level.
2. How do people get to the hotel?
You take a cable car from one of two villages. Then you walk one hour to a climbers’ refuge
and stay for the night. The next day you go on a five-hour glacier hike.
3. What was happening in this area at the end of the 19th
century?
The villages were booming and climbing became more popular. The hut’s construction was
ordered by the Italian Alpine club.
4. What is the unseen danger and why?
The altitude because there is less oxygen and this causes altitude sickness.
5. What facilities does the hotel have?
It has Wi-Fi, a bar and a restaurant. It also has a library and sun terrace.
6. What else is the hotel used for?
It is a base for scientific research at high altitude.

6. 6
2. What do you like about winter?
Level: A2 Key
Skills: Reading, Speaking and Writing
Interaction: Individual and whole class activity
Time: 30 minutes
Warm up (10’) – whole class activity
• Do you like winter? Why (not)?
• What do you like to do in winter?
• What celebrations happen in your country in winter? How do you celebrate?
• Do you like to travel at this time of year? Where do you go?
Reading (10’) – individual activity
The people below are describing what they do at Christmas and what they like and don’t like
about winter. Read the descriptions and choose the best answer A, B or C. Underline where
you found the answer in the text.
1. Who doesn’t like cold weather?
2. Who tried a new sport last winter?
3. Who enjoys buying presents for family and friends?
4. Who is going to visit a friend in another country this winter?
5. Who thinks it’s more beautiful at Christmas when it’s dark?
6. Who is going to try something new this winter?
7. Who went on a trip with friends at Christmas last year?
Jessica Simon Helen

7. 7
A. Jessica
B. Simon
C. Helen
Writing (10’) – individual activity
Your friend James is coming to visit you this Christmas. Write an email to James. In your email:
• ask James what he would like to do when he visits.
• say what you would like to do.
• say what James should bring with him.
Write 25 words or more.
I like December because I enjoy celebrating
Christmas with my friends and family. Last year
we went to my aunt’s house, had dinner, and
opened presents together. I’m not a fan of cold
weather though, so I’ve decided to take a trip
somewhere warm this winter. In January I’m
going to visit a friend of mine in Australia. I’m
going to take some classes there to learn how to
surf. I can’t wait!
My favourite thing about winter is the snow. I love
skiing and going to the mountains. Last year I went
to Italy with my friends for Christmas. We went
skiing every day and I even tried snowboarding for
the first time. It was great! At night we stayed in
the cosy hotel by the fire and drank hot chocolate.
The only thing I don’t like about winter is that it
gets dark earlier.
I always celebrate Christmas with my family. This
year my friend Lisa is coming to visit us too. I like
shopping for Christmas gifts for my family, but I
think the shops are too busy sometimes. It gets
very cold in my town in winter and sometimes it
snows, but I don’t really mind. It’s so beautiful at
this time of year, especially at night when you can
see all the Christmas lights.

8. 8
Key
Reading
1. B
2. A
3. C
4. B
5. C
6. B
7. A
Jessica
Simon
Helen
I always celebrate Christmas with my family. This
year my friend Lisa is coming to visit us too. I like
shopping for Christmas gifts for my family, but I
think the shops are too busy sometimes. It gets
very cold in my town in winter and sometimes it
snows, but I don’t really mind. It’s so beautiful at
this time of year, especially at night when you can
see all the Christmas lights.
I like December because I enjoy celebrating
Christmas with my friends and family. Last year we
went to my aunt’s house, had dinner, and opened
presents together. I’m not a fan of cold weather
though, so I’ve decided to take a trip somewhere
warm this winter. In January I’m going to visit a
friend of mine in Australia. I’m going to take some
classes there to learn how to surf. I can’t wait!
My favourite thing about winter is the snow. I love
skiing and going to the mountains. Last year I
went to Italy with my friends for Christmas. We
went skiing every day and I even tried
snowboarding for the first time. It was great! At
night we stayed in the cosy hotel by the fire and
drank hot chocolate. The only thing I don’t like
about winter is that it gets dark earlier.

9. 9
3. Winter Wonderland
Level: A1 Movers & A2 Flyers
Skills: Speaking and Listening
Interaction: in pairs, whole class and individual activity
Time: 35 minutes
Warm up (10’) – whole class activity
• What is the weather like in winter?
• What do you like doing in winter?
• What clothes do you wear when it’s cold?
• How many words can you think of about winter?
Speaking (5’) – whole class activity
Look at the picture.
• Can you find someone who is wearing a green hat?
• Who is wearing an orange and yellow scarf?
• What are the children doing outside?
• What are they doing inside?
Listening (10’) – individual activity1
Look at the picture below. Can you match these names to the children in the picture? Write
the names next to the children.
Vicky Julia Jack Charlie Sally
1
Read the transcript below for your students.
Can you see any animals in the
picture? Which ones?

10. 10
Speaking (10’) - in pairs or small groups
Look at the pictures. Talk to your partner. Say which one is different and why.
Example: You don’t wear a carrot. You eat it.

11. 11
Transcript
Read the following phrases for your students to listen to and find out the names of the
children:
• Can you find Vicky? She’s wearing a green coat and red gloves. She’s skiing.
• Can you find Julia? She’s wearing a yellow hat, brown trousers and orange boots. She’s
throwing a snowball at her friend.
• Can you find Jack? He’s wearing a red coat and a blue and white scarf. He’s making a
snowman.
• Can you find Charlie? He’s the boy with short, brown hair. He’s inside playing chess
with his sister.
• Can you find Sally? She’s the girl in the purple jumper. She’s inside watching a TV
programme about snowboarding.
Suggested answers
Camels don’t live in cold places. They live in warm places.
A robin isn’t a sport. It’s an animal / a bird.
You can’t ski inside. You have to ski outside.
Pumpkins aren’t Christmas decorations. They’re Halloween decorations.

12. 12
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