16848 lets talk about countries

Speaking and listening – Pre-intermediate to Upper-intermediate

Let’s talk about COUNTRIES
Conversation cards
What is the biggest country in
the world?
What do you know about it?

What is the country with the
most people?
What do you know about it?

How many continents are there?
Can you name them?

Do many people visit your
country?
What can tourists see and do
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 do 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

1. Germany

2. Spain

3. UK

2

4. Mexico

5. USA

6. Japan

3

4
7. China

8. Russia

9. Thailand

Australia
Brazil
China
England
India
Italy
New Zealand

Russia
Thailand
Turkey
USA
Vietnam

5

6

9

10
11

7
8

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) 7 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)
1

France 81.9 million

2
3

Spain 59.2 million
United States 56.0 million

4

China 54.7 million

5

6

Italy 43.7 million
United Kingdom 30.7 million

7

Germany 24.4 million

8

Ukraine 23.1 million

9
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

9
2
12
5
11
3
7
1
6
8
10
4