Key takeaways
- Anna and David are going on a day trip tomorrow to a small lake surrounded by mountains.
- Three expressions: pack, surrounded (by) and be in for a treat.
- Great sentences for travel plans: Have you been there before?, I can’t wait for tomorrow, Me neither.
- Short and easy (A2–B1). Listen, repeat, answer the questions out loud and shadow the speakers.
Do you remember the feeling the night before a trip? Bag half packed, phone charging, and you keep thinking about tomorrow. Now imagine telling a friend about it in English. Could you describe the place? Could you say how excited you are?
This lesson is a light, happy one. Anna and David are going on a day trip, and Anna has been there before. In less than a minute of conversation, you’ll hear a handful of phrases that you can use for any holiday, weekend away or day out.
Watch the Lesson
Lesson map: listening (01:07), vocabulary (02:29), listen and repeat (03:31), listen and answer (08:04), shadowing (12:44).
The Conversation: A Trip to the Lake
- Anna: Hey David, are you ready for our trip tomorrow?
- David: Almost. I just need to pack a few things.
- Anna: Don’t forget your camera.
- David: Of course. I want to take lots of pictures.
- Anna: You should. The place we’re visiting is beautiful.
- David: Have you been there before?
- Anna: Yes, once. There’s a small lake surrounded by mountains.
- David: That sounds amazing.
- Anna: It is. And there’s a small restaurant near the lake.
- David: What kind of food do they serve?
- Anna: Local food, fresh bread, and a delicious homemade dessert. You’re in for a treat.
- David: Now I’m really excited. I can’t wait for tomorrow.
- Anna: Me neither. It’s going to be a great day.
3 Expressions to Learn
Pack
To put your clothes and other things into a bag before a trip. She is packing her bag. Don’t forget to pack your shoes. The opposite is unpack, what you do when you arrive or come home. A useful question: Have you packed yet?
Surrounded (by)
To have something all around you. The house is surrounded by trees. The garden is surrounded by a wall. Always use by after it. It’s a perfect word for describing places: a village surrounded by hills, a city surrounded by water.
Be in for a treat
This is the fun one. It means something very nice is coming soon, and the person doesn’t fully know how good it will be. You’re in for a treat at the party. The movie is amazing, you’re in for a treat. You say it to someone who is about to enjoy something you already know is great: a meal, a film, a place.
Try it: think of a place, a dish or a film you love. Write a sentence in the comments with “You’re in for a treat”. For example: If you visit Istanbul, try the breakfast. You’re in for a treat!
Small Phrases That Make You Sound Natural
Look again at the dialogue. Some of the most useful English isn’t in the vocabulary list:
- Almost. A one-word answer that sounds much more natural than “I am almost ready.”
- Have you been there before? The present perfect for life experience. Anna answers: Yes, once.
- That sounds amazing. Use “That sounds + adjective” to react to anything: That sounds fun / difficult / delicious.
- I can’t wait for tomorrow. = I’m very excited about tomorrow.
- Me neither. Here it means “I can’t wait either.” We use me neither to agree with a negative sentence (can’t), and me too to agree with a positive one.
That last one confuses many learners, so let’s make it clear: “I’m excited.” – “Me too.” / “I can’t wait.” – “Me neither.” The second sentence has a negative word, so the answer is negative too.
Describe Your Own Trip
Here’s a simple speaking exercise. Use the lesson as a model and talk for 30 seconds about a place you love or want to visit:
- Where is it? It’s a small village surrounded by…
- Have you been there before? Yes, twice. / No, never.
- What is special about it? There’s a little restaurant that serves…
- How do you feel? I can’t wait to go back.
Say it out loud, record it on your phone, and listen back. It feels strange at first, but nothing improves your speaking faster than hearing yourself.
Shopping before the trip? Our lesson on shopping for clothes in English has all the phrases you need. And for more everyday dialogues, see everyday English practice conversations.
Practise Every Day for a Week
The questions in the video are simple, like “What surrounds the lake?” or “Can David wait for tomorrow?”, but answering them out loud trains you to build sentences fast. Do the whole video once a day for seven days and notice how much easier the last day feels.
For a full library of conversations like this, take a look at the Shadowing English Speaking Course (60 lessons, MP3 + PDF), or download a free sample lesson.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “you’re in for a treat” mean?
It means something very enjoyable is going to happen to you soon. People say it when they know you will love a meal, a place, a film or an experience.
Is it “surrounded with” or “surrounded by”?
Use “surrounded by” for places and things around something: “a lake surrounded by mountains.” “Surrounded with” is much less common.
When do I say “me neither” instead of “me too”?
Say “me neither” after a negative sentence (“I can’t wait.” / “I don’t like it.”) and “me too” after a positive one (“I’m excited.”).
How do I ask if someone has visited a place?
“Have you been there before?” or “Have you ever been to Paris?” Use the present perfect for life experiences.
