Speaking and listening – Pre-intermediate to Upper-intermediate

Let’s talk about

COUNTRIES
Conversation cards

What is the biggest country in What is the country with the

How many continents are there?
the world? most people?
Can you name them?
What do you know about it? What do you know about it?

Do many people visit your Name some landmarks in the city Name three countries in three
country? or country where you live. different continents where it is
What can tourists see and do (= important sight or feature in the always hot and never snows or
there? city or the landscape) freezes.

Name three countries in three

How many countries are there in How many currencies do you
different continents where it
the world? know?
always snows and freezes in
Guess. Make a list.
winter.

What countries would you visit if How many countries can you
What are the most popular
you were on a world trip? name starting with the letter J?
tourist countries?
Get a map and plan your world On which continent(s) are they
Guess.
trip. located?

Which countries have you How many countries can you

visited? What countries would you not name starting with the letter K?
Which countries would you like want to visit and why? On which continent(s) are they
to visit? located?

Would you like to live, study or Plan a 3-week tour around your How many countries can you
work in another country? country. Make a list of places to name starting with the letter B?
If so, which country? visit, to stay and how to get there. On which continent(s) are they
If not, why not? Give a price estimate (low budget). located?

Draw and colour the flags.

Match
5 9
1 Australia
Brazil
China
1. Germany 2. Spain 3. UK
England
2 6 10
India
Italy
New Zealand
3 11
4. Mexico 5. USA 6. Japan Russia
Thailand 7
Turkey
4 USA 12
Vietnam 8
 Speaking and listening – Pre-intermediate to Upper-intermediate

7. China 8. Russia 9. Thailand

 Speaking and listening – Pre-intermediate to Upper-intermediate

Russia, capital Moscow, Russian China, capital Beijing, Chinese (most books mention) 7 continents:
PM Putin/President Medvedev Olympics 2008, Three Gorges Dam Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia
St Petersburg; snow, cold, Siberia Shanghai, Shenzen, Tibet (sometimes Oceania), Europe,
vodka, borsch; bears, wolves pandas; rice, Peking duck North America, South America

e.g. Big Ben in London, Eiffel tropical countries, e.g. Brazil,

Tower in Paris, the Great Wall in Thailand, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia,
China, the Empire State Building in DR Congo and many more
NY

e.g. pound (UK, Egypt), euro (very) cold countries include

Most websites claim there are 195
(France, Germany, Spain etc., Canada, Russia, Norway, USA
countries (including Taiwan as an
dollar (US, Canada, Singapore (Alaska)
independent country).
etc.), peso, yen, yuan, baht, etc.

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)

1 France 81.9 million
Match
2 Spain 59.2 million
3 United States 56.0 million Australia – millions of sheep farmed there 9
4 China 54.7 million Brazil – home of the rainforest 2
5 Italy 43.7 million China – where pandas live 12
6 United Kingdom 30.7 million
England – Big Ben and the London Eye 5
7 Germany 24.4 million
India – typical woman 11
8 Ukraine 23.1 million
9 Turkey 22.2 million
Italy - pizza 3
10 Malaysia 22.1 million New Zealand - kiwi 7
11 Mexico 21.0 million Russia – matrioshka dolls 1
12 Greece 21.0 million Thailand – boat, beach and islands 6
13 Austria 20.8 million
Turkey - mosque 8
14 Russia 20.2 million
15 Canada 17.9 million
USA – Statue of Libertt, New York 10
16 Hong Kong 17.2 million Vietnam – traditional conical hat 4
17 Poland 15.0 million
18 Thailand 14.5 million
19 Macau 12.9 million
20 Portugal 12.3 million