Title?

Introduction How the five met

In red, lexical field of « toursim » In blue, lexical field of human interaction

Title?Couchsurfing.com’s mission

Title?making a smaller world

globalisation

Title?services that are proposed

Title?How it startedBirth of the idea

Title?

fighting against prejudice

fighting against preconceived ideas

Title?

making a differenceconnecting people around the world

1) Introduce the document

This newspaper article, which was published in the Boston Globe on August 22nd, 2007, is entitled « Take the Couch » and deals with a new way of traveling for free.

2) In a few words, explain what the following elements refer to:

A couch

>>> synonym of a sofa

2) In a few words, explain what the following elements refer to:

Couchsurfing

>>> Couchsurfing (sofa surfing in the UK) is a neologism referring to the practice of moving from one friend's house to another, sleeping in whatever spare space is available, floor or couch, generally staying a few days before moving on to the next house.

2) In a few words, explain what the following elements refer to:

Couchsurfing

>>> In this context, it means sleeping in someone’s house for free when you are travelling abroad.

2) In a few words, explain what the following elements refer to:

Couchsurfing.com

>>> Couchsurfing.com is the website which makes couchsurfing possible as it allows people to connect.

3) Explain why some people decide to go couchsurfingPeople decide to go couchsurfing because they want to see the world with a free place to sleep in. They also look for opportunities to make friends and meet new people. Couchsurfing also allows people to have a closer look at the culture of the country where they are staying. Besides, couchsurfers are thirsty for tips about local attractions from their hosts.

5) List all the services couchsurfers may be offered

Couchsurfers may be offered the use of a couch, a bathroom, a kitchen, a spare bed if available, meals and sometimes a car.They also get tips about local attractions.All of this for free!

6) Read paragraph 5 again. Casey Fenton wanted to go to Iceland for a weekend. Wishing to avoid hotels, he decided to send 1500 e-mails to Icelandic students to look for free accomodation.After a while, he got more than 50 answers offering free accomodation.