Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

How did you spend your Golden Week holidays? Who knows, some of you may still be on vacation.

Now, here's one frequently asked question: What's the difference between "holiday" and "vacation". The simplest answer is they're pretty much synonymous. They both mean a period of time when you are not at work or school, and often involve travelling. It's just that the British go on holiday while Americans go on vacation.

One big difference is (that) we use the word "holiday" when we talk about a special day of celebration including religious holidays such as Christmas and public holidays like Independence Day in the US.

The Golden Week includes four national holidays and each year over 20 million Japanese go on vacation either at home or abroad.

Now. Would you like to try a quiz? You'll be given three options. Please listen carefully and choose the one that is TRUE. Ready?

1. The word "vacation" is more likely to be used by the British.

2. The British never use the word "vacation".

3. The words "holiday" and "vacation" are often used synonymously.