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Student Handout · Tourism & Heritage: Who Does Machu Picchu Belong To? · Intermediate Adaptation B1–B2
Intermediate ESL B1–B2Topic: Tourism, Heritage & CommunityFocus: Community & Opinion VocabularyRural University Educators, Peru
VOCABULARY SET 1 — TOURISM AND HERITAGE
TOO MANY TOURISTS / OVERTOURISM (n)
Simpler: "too many tourists"
When a place gets more visitors than it can handle — the site is damaged and local life gets harder.
"Machu Picchu has a problem with overtourism — the stone paths are slowly wearing away."
VISITOR LIMIT / CARRYING CAPACITY (n)
Simpler: "visitor limit"
The maximum number of people a site can receive each day without being damaged.
"The government is writing a report to set a visitor limit for Machu Picchu."
HERITAGE SITE (n)
A place that is important for its history or culture — often protected by the government or UNESCO.
"Machu Picchu, Chan Chan, and the Nazca Lines are all UNESCO heritage sites in Peru."
CONSERVATION (n)
Protecting a place so that it is not damaged — so that it still exists in 100 years.
"Conservation means controlling how many people visit Machu Picchu each day."
FAIR SHARE OF MONEY / BENEFIT-SHARING (n)
Simpler: "fair share of the money"
When tourism income reaches the people and communities near the attraction — not just companies in Lima.
"Communities near Rainbow Mountain fought because they were not getting a fair share of the tourist money."
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM (n)
Tourism that tries not to harm the environment or local communities, and supports local businesses.
"Responsible tourism means hiring local guides and eating at local restaurants."
LIVING CULTURE / LIVING HERITAGE (n)
Simpler: "living culture"
A cultural tradition that people still practise today — not in a museum, but in daily life.
"The weavers of Chinchero practise a living culture — the same techniques as their grandmothers."
CULTURAL TRADITION (n)
A practice, ceremony, or skill that a community keeps and passes on from generation to generation.
"The scissors dance is a cultural tradition of the Andes — it has existed for hundreds of years."
VOCABULARY SET 2 — OPINIONS AND EVALUATION
SIMPLEgood · bad · unfair · ours
→
INTERMEDIATEdamaged · ignored · one-sided · forced to leave
→
TODAY'S WORDS ★fragile · stewardship · agency · spectacle · left out
UNFAIR (adj)
When one group benefits and another pays the cost — and this is not right.
TRY IT: "It is unfair that the tourist money stays in Lima because _______________."
FRAGILE (adj)
Easy to damage — must be treated very carefully.
TRY IT: "The stone paths of Machu Picchu are fragile because _______________."
BELONG TO (phr v)
To be the property, right, or responsibility of a person or group.
TRY IT: "Machu Picchu belongs to _______________ because _______________."
FORCED TO LEAVE / DISPLACEMENT (n)
Technical term: displacement
When people have to move from their home because rents go up or developers push them out.
TRY IT: "Some families near Cusco were forced to leave because _______________."
TURNED INTO A SHOW / SPECTACLE (n)
Technical term: spectacle
When a real tradition is changed so it looks good for tourists instead of being lived honestly.
TRY IT: "A ceremony becomes a spectacle when _______________."
STEWARDSHIP (n)
Taking care of something that belongs to everyone — protecting it for the future, not just using it.
TRY IT: "Local communities have practised stewardship of these sites because _______________."
AGENCY / THE RIGHT TO DECIDE (phr)
Simpler: "the right to decide"
The power and freedom to make choices about things that affect you.
TRY IT: "Communities need agency over heritage sites because _______________."
LEFT OUT / IGNORED (adj)
When a group of people is not included in decisions or does not receive the same benefits as others.
TRY IT: "The people nearest Machu Picchu are often left out because _______________."
ONE-SIDED (adj)
When only one group benefits — the relationship is not fair or equal.
TRY IT: "The current tourism model is one-sided because _______________."
INTERACTION TOOLKIT — USE DURING ALL DISCUSSIONS
🗣 PHRASES FOR MANAGING THE CONVERSATION
ADDING TO THE CONVERSATION
  • "Can I add something?"
  • "That's interesting — also…"
  • "I agree, and also…"
  • "Wait — I want to say…"
DISAGREEING POLITELY
  • "I'm not sure about that…"
  • "I think it's different because…"
  • "Maybe, but what about…?"
  • "I don't completely agree…"
CHECKING UNDERSTANDING
  • "Do you mean that…?"
  • "Can you explain more?"
  • "What do you mean by…?"
  • "So you're saying…?"
VIDEO TASK — BEFORE YOUR FIRST DISCUSSION
📱 COMMUNITY RESIDENT NEAR A HERITAGE SITE
Search: "comunidad Machu Picchu turismo impacto / Vinicunca conflicto comunidad"
FIRST VIEWING — FEELING

This person lives near a famous tourist site. How do they feel?

One word:

One problem they have:

SECOND VIEWING — WHAT THEY WANT

What does this person want — more tourists, fewer tourists, or something different?

They want:

A word from Set 2 that fits:

★ Read-Aloud Script (no-internet fallback)

"I am a guide here. I was born in the village below the site. My family has lived in this valley for six generations. The tourists come for three hours, take photographs, and leave. Some are kind. Many don't look at me. They don't know that I am from the same people who built this place. Every morning the buses arrive before the sun comes up. The noise wakes my children. The prices in the market are higher now because the shops know tourists will pay more. Some of my neighbours sold their homes and moved to Cusco. The young people don't want to stay here anymore. And yet — I am proud to live here. I want the world to know this place. I just want to be seen in it. Not behind it."

Task 1: One word for how this person feels. Task 2: What do they want from tourism?

SECTION A — PAIR DISCUSSION
Choose any two — name a real place or a real experience
7 MINUTES
  1. 1Have you visited Machu Picchu or another famous Peruvian site? If yes: what was it like? If no: what stopped you — and does that feel unfair?
  2. 2If you live or teach near a tourist site: how has tourism changed life in your community? What got better — and what got worse?
  3. 3Is there a place in your region that is beautiful or historically important but that tourists never visit? What would need to change?
  4. 4When tourists take photos of local people, ceremonies, or sacred places without asking — is that a problem? Why?
SECTION B — PERSPECTIVE TASK

Your teacher will assign you Group A or Group B. First: argue your position strongly. Then: drop the role and say what you actually think.

GROUP A — TOURISM IS GOOD FOR PERU
  • Tourism creates jobs for thousands of Peruvians — guides, cooks, hotel workers, artisans, drivers
  • The money from tourists helps pay for roads, services, and the conservation of important sites
  • When Machu Picchu becomes world-famous, Peruvians feel proud — it shows the world how important their history is
  • Many rural communities want more tourists, not fewer. The problem is that the money doesn't reach them
  • Tourists who hire local guides and buy from local markets do bring real benefits to communities
  • Without tourism, many Peruvians in regions like Cusco and Cajamarca would have much fewer opportunities
Argue strongly that tourism is good. Then say what you actually think.
GROUP B — TOURISM IS DAMAGING COMMUNITIES
  • Machu Picchu is being physically damaged by too many visitors — the stonework is wearing away
  • The violence at Rainbow Mountain shows what happens when communities don't get a fair share of the tourist income
  • When rents go up because of tourists, local families are forced to leave their neighbourhoods
  • Most of the tourism money in Peru goes to Lima-based companies and foreign platforms — not to local people
  • Ceremonies and traditions are being changed to look good for tourists — they become a show instead of a real practice
  • The communities that live closest to these sites should have the right to decide what happens there
Argue strongly that tourism damages communities. Then say what you actually think.
SECTION C — WHERE DO YOU STAND?

Circle your answer (1 = strongly disagree → 5 = strongly agree). Be ready to explain in one sentence.

1. Machu Picchu should have a daily visitor limit — even if this means the price goes up and some Peruvians can no longer afford to visit.
strongly disagree
1
2
3
4
5
strongly agree
2. The communities that live closest to heritage sites should control who visits — not the government in Lima, not international companies.
strongly disagree
1
2
3
4
5
strongly agree
3. When a tourist photographs a local ceremony without asking, that is disrespectful and wrong — like taking something that is not yours.
strongly disagree
1
2
3
4
5
strongly agree
4. The real problem is not too many tourists — it is that the money goes to Lima and leaves local communities with only the problems.
strongly disagree
1
2
3
4
5
strongly agree
5. Taking students on a trip to a heritage site is one of the most important things I can do as a teacher — it tells them that this history belongs to them.
strongly disagree
1
2
3
4
5
strongly agree
6. Peru has many beautiful and important places that tourists never visit — we should protect and promote those instead of sending everyone to Machu Picchu.
strongly disagree
1
2
3
4
5
strongly agree
USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR DISCUSSIONS

Expressing Your Opinion

  • "I think that…"
  • "In my opinion…"
  • "I believe…"
  • "For me, the most important thing is…"
  • "I feel strongly that…"

Agreeing & Adding

  • "I agree, and also…"
  • "Yes, and another point is…"
  • "That's a good point — plus…"
  • "I had the same experience…"
  • "Exactly — because…"

Disagreeing & Questioning ★

  • "I'm not sure about that…"
  • "Maybe, but what about…?"
  • "I see what you mean, but…"
  • "Can you explain more?"
  • "What do you mean by…?"
OUTPUT TASK — END OF LESSON
✍ MINI POSITION STATEMENT — 90 SECONDS
CHOOSE FORMAT

"The government asks you: how should Peru manage its famous heritage sites — for tourists, for local communities, or for the sites themselves? Who should make the decisions?"

Language scaffold:"I think Peru should… · The communities near these sites deserve… · The biggest problem is… · What gives me hope is… · The most important change would be…"

Preparation notes (3 minutes):

PERSONAL REFLECTION — TAKE HOME

Choose one:

  1. → Describe a place in your region that you love and that tourists never visit. Why does it matter to you — and why isn't it better known?
  2. → If you could write one rule for how tourists must behave at Peruvian heritage sites — what would it be?
  3. → Think about a student you teach. Would they feel that Machu Picchu belongs to them? Why or why not?
Teach for Success  ·  Handout · Tourism & Heritage (B1–B2 Adaptation)  ·  Intermediate ESL  ·  Rural University Educators, Peru