Backpacking Across Europe by Train — B1 Lesson

Backpacking Across Europe by Train

Level: B1 (Intermediate)

Content Objective: Students will understand how someone plans and experiences a long backpacking trip across Europe by train.

Language Objective: Students will practice using the present perfect (have/has + past participle) to talk about life experiences, especially with “ever,” “never,” “already,” and “since,” alongside the simple past for specific, finished events.

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1. Reading Section

Sofia has always wanted to see Europe by train. Last spring, she finally saved enough money and packed one small backpack for a six-week trip.

She started her journey in Lisbon, where she watched the sunset over the river on her first night. The next day, she took an overnight train to Madrid. Because the seats were hard and narrow, she barely slept.

In ten days, Sofia visited three countries and finally reached Barcelona feeling exhausted. Have you ever tried to sleep sitting up on a moving train? She wrote about it in her journal and said she does not recommend it.

In France, Sofia climbed to the top of a small hill town while it rained. Her shoes got completely soaked, but she has never forgotten the smell of fresh bread from the bakery at the bottom of the hill.

When she arrived in Florence, she met two other backpackers at a hostel. They gave her tips about cheap places to eat, and Sofia has used their advice in every city since.

She has visited eight countries so far, and she has already started planning her next trip through Eastern Europe. She has never regretted a single day of the journey.

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2. Vocabulary Section

Word / Phrase	Meaning	Example
backpack	a bag carried on the back, often used for travel	She packed one small backpack for a six-week trip.
journey	a trip from one place to another, often a long one	She started her journey in Lisbon.
overnight	happening during the night	She took an overnight train to Madrid.
exhausted	extremely tired	She reached Barcelona feeling exhausted.
soaked	completely wet	Her shoes got completely soaked.
hostel	a cheap place for travelers to stay, often shared with strangers	She met two backpackers at a hostel.
tips	helpful pieces of advice	They gave her tips about cheap places to eat.
regret	to feel sorry about something you did or didn’t do	She has never regretted a single day of the journey.

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3. Example Sentences (Target Grammar in Use)

• Sofia has always wanted to see Europe by train.
• Have you ever tried to sleep sitting up on a moving train?
• She has never forgotten the smell of fresh bread.
• Sofia has used their advice in every city since.
• She has visited eight countries so far.
• She has already started planning her next trip.

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4. Grammar Section

Present Perfect (have/has + past participle)

We use the present perfect to talk about life experiences and things that happened at an unspecified time in the past but still connect to now. We often use ever, never, already, and since with this tense. For specific, finished actions with a clear time word (yesterday, last spring, in ten days), we use the simple past instead.

Subject	Form	Example
I / You / We / They	have + past participle	I have visited Italy twice.
He / She / It	has + past participle	Sofia has visited eight countries.
Question	Have/Has + subject + past participle…?	Have you ever slept on a train?

Quick Tip: No specific time mentioned, and it connects to now? Reach for the present perfect. A specific past time word in the sentence? Switch to the simple past.

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5. Comprehension Questions

A. True or False

1. Sofia traveled through Europe by car.
2. Sofia found the train seats to Madrid comfortable.
3. Sofia met two other backpackers in Florence.
4. Sofia has already started planning her next trip.

B. Short Answer

5. Where did Sofia start her journey?
6. What did Sofia do in France despite the rain?
7. Who did Sofia meet in Florence, and what did they give her?
8. How many countries has Sofia visited so far?

C. Fill in the Blank / Transform

9. Sofia ______ (visit) eight countries so far.
10. Last spring, she ______ (pack) one small backpack for her trip.
11. She ______ (never / forget) the smell of fresh bread in that French town.
12. When she ______ (arrive) in Florence, she met two backpackers.

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