Speaking and listening – Pre-intermediate to Upper-intermediate Let’s talk about the ENVIRONMENT Environment: the natural world in which people, animals and plants live What’s the most beautiful place in your country? Why you like it? Describe it What’s the ugliest place in your country? Why don’t you like it? Describe it Describe the natural environment in your country What kinds of pollution you know? Which is the worst? Discuss in group Think of a place where there is no pollution at all What is it? Where is it? What you recycle? How can we recycle more? Talk about it Some people carelessly throw away rubbish wherever they go What can we about this? What are fossil fuels? Give examples Where are they used? Can they be replaced? Some factories dump waste water in rivers and ocean How can we prevent this? People throw away tons of garbage every day How can we reduce the amount of garbage? Do you drink bottled water? Why or why not? What is its effect on the environment? Traffic jams cause air pollution How can we reduce traffic jams? Brainstorm What happens to garbage after it is collected? How and where we get rid of it? ‘Honestly, I don’t care I won’t be around in the future.’ Do you share this opinion? Explain Big cities are often very noisy places How can we reduce noise pollution? Are you prepared to change your lifestyle to save the Earth? How? Explain ‘I know we need to change, but I don’t want to give up the comfortable life I have now.’ Do you agree? Discuss What is renewable energy? Give examples Is it used in your country? Explain (Are there mountains, fields, forests, rivers? Is it clean?) Pardon? Match British and American words BrE AmE bin a gas(oline) cinema b dump dustman/binman c sidewalk holiday d trash can lift e garbage lorry f movie theatre pavement g vacation petrol h elevator rubbish i garbage man tip j truck 10 Match electric car garbage dump hydroelectricity incinerator nuclear power plant recycling solar panel wind turbine