Listen, read and practise.

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 791.

My Hometown

1.

Woman: So tell me about your hometown, Joyce.

Joyce: Well, it's a real smalltown...

Woman: Really? What's it like there?

Joyce: Oh, I think it's a very boring place.

Woman: Why?

Joyce: Well, there's nothing exciting to do. No good restaurants.

No nightlife of any kind. I really get bored there.

Woman: Oh, that's too bad.

Joyce: Yeah, but lots of people love it there because it's so pretty.

Woman: Yeah?

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Joyce: Uh-huh. It has lovely scenery — lots of mountains, rivers, lakes, trees...

Woman: Well, I don't know, Joyce, it sounds like a nice place!

Joyce: Well, yeah, if you like to go hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. But, you know, I'm not the outdoor type! I'm a real city person!

Woman: Do you come from a big city, Lou?

Lou: Oh, yes, I do. It's pretty big.

Woman: What's it like there?

Lou: Oh, it's a really great place! It has some fantastic art museums, and wonderful theatres, and terrific restaurants of all kinds... like Greek, Russian, French, Thai, Japanese...

Woman: Ah... really? And how are the prices? Is it expensive?

Lou: Yeah, yeah, I guess so. Food costs a lot... both in the su­permarket and in restaurants. And apartments! They're so hard to find... and the rents are pretty high.

Woman: Yeah, I guess it's expensive everywhere these day

3.

Man: Hey, Nick. Are you going home for the holidays?

Nick: No way!

Man: Oh, why not?

Nick: I don't like my hometown. Too many people, too many build­ings, too many factories. It's big and it's ugly! I like places
that are small and quiet. Like here!

Man: Is your hometown as bad as that?

Nick: Yes, it's pretty bad. It doesn't even have any good restaurants.

Man: No, c'mon, Nick! No interesting theatres or nightlife?

Nick: No, not really.

Man: It sounds like a terrible place.

Nick: Yeah, it really is.

A. What do they say? Write Yes or No.

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B. Talk about your hometown. Ask questions like these and other ques­-
tions of your own.

What's your city or hometown like? Is it an interesting place? Is it safe? What's shopping like there? Is it expensive? Is the transportation good? Does it have good restaurants? What are the things you like most about your hometown? What are the things you don't like about it?

C. Have a conversation about your hometown.

4.

Linda: Whereabouts in Canada are you from?

Steve: I'm from Toronto.

Linda: I've never been there. What's it like?

Steve: It's a great city! It has good museums and wonderful restau­rants. And the nightlife is exciting, too.

Linda: Really? Is it expensive there?

Steve: Well, it's not bad, but apartments are fairly expensive.

Linda: Toronto sounds like a nice place. I've heard it has a good subway.

Steve: Oh, yeah. It's excellent. And the buses are good, too.

Linda: And what about shopping?

Steve: There are some great shopping centres and department stores. Do you know the Euton Centre?

Linda: The Euton Centre? No. What's that?

Steve: Huh! It's one of the biggest shopping centres in the world. It has everything, and the prices are pretty good, too.

Linda: Well, I hope some day I'll get a chance to go there.

Steve: I hope so, too. If you ever go, I'll show you around the city...

Linda: You will? Great! Thanks!

Steve: OK.

A. Questions.

1. Where is Steve from? 2. What does Steve think of Toronto? 3. What does Steve say about the transportation and shopping in Toronto?

B. What places of interest would you show your foreign guest if she/he
came to your hometown?

C. Situation.

Your friend from London has come to your hometown. At the moment you are showing him/her around the town. You are a good guide, you know your hometown very well.

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5.

Andy: Whereabouts are you from, Carla?

Carla: I'm from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Andy: Oh? What's it like there?

Carla: Well, it's a beautiful little tourist town, and the climate's great. Actually, it's a centre for American Indian culture, and there are also lots of artists there. Georgia O'Keeffe, the famous painter, used to live there.

Andy: Really? It sounds like an interesting place! I'd like to go there sometime.

Carla: Yeah, you'd enjoy it, Andy. And whereabouts in England are you from, Andy?

Andy: I'm from Bath.

Carla: Really? Where's that?

Andy: It's near Bristol. It takes about an hour and a half to get there by train from London.

Carla: You know, I've always wondered why it's called 'Bath'. How did you get that name?

Andy: Because of its famous hot springs. Throughout history, peo­ple have gone there to bathe — that's why it's called Bath.

Carla: Ah! Is it an old city, then?

Andy: Oh, yes. In fact, it's an old Roman city, with lots of lovely old stone buildings.

Carla: Andy, it sounds really interesting! I'd love to visit Bath some day.

Andy: Well, just let me know when you plan to come and my fam­ily and I'll take care of you.

Carla: Really? Thanks! And I'd do the same for you if you ever visit my hometown of Santa Fe.

Andy: OK, then, that's a deal!

A. Questions.

1. Where is Carla from? 2. What's it like there? 3. Where is Andy from? 4. Where is Bath? 5. How did it get that name? 6. Is Bath a new or an old city?

B. Take turns talking about your favourite city. Talk about it like this
and answer any questions other students may have.

My favourite city in North America is Santa Fe. It's in New Mexico. It's an old city with lots of interesting Spanish and Indian buildings. It's fairly small, and it's really beautiful...

What's Mexico Like?

David: Can you tell me a little about Mexico?

Maria: Yes, sure. What would you like to know?

David: Well, when's the best time to visit?

Maria: Mmm, you should go in the winter or spring. The weather is

nice then. It's not very hot. David: Really? And does Mexico have good beaches? Maria: Yes, the beaches are excellent. David: Oh, good! And what places should I see? Maria: Well, you should go to Mexico City. And you shouldn't miss

the Mayan ruins. They are very interesting. David: Great! I can't wait to go there.

A. Questions.

1. When is the best time to visit Mexico? Why? 2. What are the beaches

like? 3. What is worth seeing?

Tell Me About Brazil

Man: I'm thinking of going to Brazil next year, Maria.

Maria: Oh, great! I'm sure you'll have a good time.

Man: What places do tourists visit in Brazil?

Maria: Well, a lot of people go to Rio for Carnival. And nowadays,

lots of people are visiting the Amazon to take river trips. Man: Oh, really? That sounds interesting. And when's a good time

to visit?

Maria: Well, I like Rio in the spring or fall because it's not too

hot then.

Man: And what other cities are worth visiting in Brazil?

Maria: Well, I'd suggest Brasilia first.

Man: OK.

Maria: It's been the capital city of Brazil since nineteen sixty...

Man: Uh-huh.

Maria: It's not very big, but very, very modern. The architecture is

very interesting. Most of the buildings were designed by

Niemeier, a famous Brazilian architect.

Man: It sounds really interesting.

Maria: Yeah, it really is... and then there's Sao Paulo. Man: Oh? Tell me about that.

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Maria: It's the biggest city in Brazil and an important commercial

centre. So lots of people go there on business... and there

are not too many tourists. Man: Oh! That's good! Maria: It is! The restaurants are excellent — great food — and

nightlife in Sao Paulo is out of this world!

Man: Sao Paulo really sounds great! You know, actually, I'd be

very interested in seeing an old city, too. Uhm... where would

you suggest?

Maria: Mmm... I think you'd enjoy Salvador in Bahia. It's on the north-

east coast of Brazil and it's Brazil's oldest city.

Man: Oh-huh.

Maria: It has a lot of beautiful old Portuguese architecture, and

it's also the centre of African culture in Brazil. Man: Really?

Maria: And the food! My gosh, it's so good! Spicy, but delicious! Man: Oh, I love spicy food. It sounds really interesting. I can't wait

to go there! Do you know a good travel agent?

A. Ask and answer questions on the text.

B. A visitor wants information about your country. What places do tour­ists like to visit? Why? Roleplay a conversation like the one above.