Speaking and listening – Pre-intermediate to Upper-intermediate Let’s talk about COUNTRIES Conversation cards What is the biggest country in the world? What you know about it? What is the country with the most people? What you know about it? How many continents are there? Can you name them? Do many people visit your country? What can tourists see and there? Name some landmarks in the city or country where you live Name three countries in three different continents where it is always hot and never snows or freezes How many countries are there in the world? Guess How many currencies you know? Make a list Name three countries in three different continents where it always snows and freezes in winter What are the most popular tourist countries? Guess What countries would you visit if you were on a world trip? Get a map and plan your world trip How many countries can you name starting with the letter J? On which continent(s) are they located? Which countries have you visited? Which countries would you like to visit? What countries would you not want to visit and why? How many countries can you name starting with the letter K? On which continent(s) are they located? Would you like to live, study or work in another country? If so, which country? If not, why not? Plan a 3-week tour around your country Make a list of places to visit, to stay and how to get there Give a price estimate (low budget) How many countries can you name starting with the letter B? On which continent(s) are they located? (= important sight or feature in the city or the landscape) Draw and colour the flags Match 1 Germany Spain UK Mexico USA Japan China Russia Thailand Australia Brazil China England India Italy New Zealand Russia Thailand Turkey USA Vietnam 10 11 12 Speaking and listening – Pre-intermediate to Upper-intermediate Russia, capital Moscow, Russian PM Putin/President Medvedev St Petersburg; snow, cold, Siberia vodka, borsch; bears, wolves Most websites claim there are 195 countries (including Taiwan as an independent country) China, capital Beijing, Chinese Olympics 2008, Three Gorges Dam Shanghai, Shenzen, Tibet pandas; rice, Peking duck (most books mention) continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia (sometimes Oceania), Europe, North America, South America e.g Big Ben in London, Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Great Wall in China, the Empire State Building in NY tropical countries, e.g Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, DR Congo and many more e.g pound (UK, Egypt), euro (France, Germany, Spain etc., dollar (US, Canada, Singapore etc.), peso, yen, yuan, baht, etc (very) cold countries include Canada, Russia, Norway, USA (Alaska) see table bottom left Japan, Jamaica, Jordan Kazakstan, Kenya, Kiribati Korea, North, Korea, South Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi International tourist arrivals (2007) France 81.9 million Spain 59.2 million United States 56.0 million China 54.7 million Italy 43.7 million United Kingdom 30.7 million Germany 24.4 million Ukraine 23.1 million 10 Turkey 22.2 million Malaysia 22.1 million 11 Mexico 21.0 million 12 Greece 21.0 million 13 Austria 20.8 million 14 15 Russia 20.2 million Canada 17.9 million 16 Hong Kong 17.2 million 17 Poland 15.0 million 18 Thailand 14.5 million 19 Macau 12.9 million 20 Portugal 12.3 million Match Australia – millions of sheep farmed there Brazil – home of the rainforest China – where pandas live England – Big Ben and the London Eye India – typical woman Italy - pizza New Zealand - kiwi Russia – matrioshka dolls Thailand – boat, beach and islands Turkey - mosque USA – Statue of Libertt, New York Vietnam – traditional conical hat 12 11 10