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UNIT 3: A TRIP TO THE COUNTRYSIDE

Topic: Cities and the country, Hometown

PART 1: Personal Questions

1. Q: What is it like where you live?

A: I live in a residential area of a busy town in the south of Spain … we have all the facilities you need … good public transport … a good shopping centre … it’s nice …

2. Q: Do you like living in the city?

A: Yes I do … I like going out with my friends and there are lots of lively bars and restaurants within walking distance of my apartment … I’m a bit of a culture vulture as well so it’s great to have access to art exhibitions and that kind of thing …

3. Q: Do you get many tourists visiting your area?

A: Not really no … I live in the inner-city and the area is a little run down … it’s basically a lot of high-rise flats and many of the shops are boarded up … so nothing to interest tourists really …

4. Q: What is the most important problem in your hometown/city?

A: Air pollution. You know, most large cities have high levels of pollution, and my city is no exception. Unfortunately, it has been getting worse over the last decade.

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A: Traffic is the most critical problem in my hometown. The volume of traffic has increased in recent years and the incessant roar of vehicles makes the city centre an extremely noisy place. My city suffers from serious air pollution too.

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A: Heavy traffic jams. Since my hometown is very spread-out. It can sometimes take hours to go from one part of the city to another, especially in rush hours, traffic is chaotic, the roads usually become congested and people get held up in traffic jams.

5. Q: What do you like most about your city/town/village?

A: Its sense of space. My hometown is located in a delightful area, and is so spacious, everywhere is green. There is a great deal of natural beauty and a huge variety of plants and animals.

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A: What I like most about my hometown is its people. You know, there’s a strong sense of community in our area. Everyone knows everyone else and that makes you feel very safe and comfortable.

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There are so many things that I can mention, but the most important of all is its cultural sites. There are tons of cultural places and museums in the city where I live in…um…lots of things for people to do and be interested in. It’s a lovely place, big enough to have everything and small enough to visit the whole city.

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6. Q: What are the people like in your hometown?

A: The people of my hometown have a reputation for being warm-hearted and helpful.

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A: It’s really difficult to generalize. Broadly speaking, they are warm and friendly.

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A: Well, the people of my hometown are often perceived as being very hospitable and welcoming.

7. Q: Is there anything special that you don’t like about your hometown/city?

A: Yes, there is – it’s air pollution. It has caused many health problems in recent years. Id’ feel like a fish out of water. To put it in a nutshell, I’m not really a city person.

8. Q: Can you tell me a little about the transport in your hometown?

A: There are all means of public transport in my hometown, but people usually choose to travel by motorbikes. It’s not only convenient but also easy to move around in crowded roads.

9. What is your hometown well-known for? 10. What would be the best way for a visitor to get to know your city? 11. What recreational facilities are available in your hometown? 12. How easy is it to travel around in your city?

PART 2: Long-turn speaking

#1

Describe an interesting town or city in your country that visitors might enjoy.

You should say:

• what the place is called

• where the place is

• what the facilities are like

and say why visitors might enjoy going there.

Sample answer:

Anyone who comes to my country really should spend some time in Barcelona … it’s a beautiful place … it’s not what you would call a sprawling city … it’s quite compact really and you could walk across the city in a couple of hours … but there’s no need to do that as we have a fantastic public transport system so it’s easy to get around … there are various districts all with their own character … you have the upmarket shops in the centre … you’ll find lots of chain stores you’ll recognise from your own country but also local brands as well … we have the narrow streets in the Gothic district with lots of fashionable boutiques and tourist attractions … there’s the Olympic area and the beaches along the coast … and dotted around the city are some lovely public spaces … parks and squares in the city centre and on the outskirts of Barcelona where people relax with their friends and family … and of course pavement cafes everywhere … all that and some great historical places of interest … so a great destination for tourists …

#2

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Talk about the best city/country that you have been to.

You should say:

• where it was • how long you were there • what you like or dislike about it

and say if you would like to travel there again.

#3

Describe a day you spent in the country.

You should say:

• where and when you went • who you went with • what you did

and say what makes it worth remembering.

#4

Describe a serious problem in your hometown/city.

You should say:

• what it is • what has caused this problem • what can be done about it

and explain why you think it is serious.

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PART 3: DISCUSSION

1. Q: What are the advantages of living in a city or big town? A: I think it’s having access to local facilities really … local shops as well as access to larger shopping malls in the city centre … and if you’re well-off you can afford to live in the suburbs away from the busy traffic …

2. Q: In your experience are city centres usually attractive places? A: Some can be yes … especially those with a historical interest … but sometimes they’re full of ugly office blocks … multi-story car parks … and residents living in poor housing … it depends on the city doesn’t it?

3. Q: What are some of the challenges facing towns and cities? A: I suppose traffic congestion is a major problem … and the growth in out-of-town supermarkets and retail parks mean lots of town centre shops are closing down … plus a shortage of good quality housing … I think these are the major challenges …

4. How do you imagine city life in the future? 5. How would you describe an ‘ideal city’? 6. Would you agree that it is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big

city? 7. In what way do you think the relationships between people in urban areas differ from the

relationships between people in large cities?

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USEFUL LANGUAGE

• boarded up shops: shops that are no longer doing business

• chain stores: well-known brands with shops in multiple cities

• to close down: to stop doing business

• fashionable boutiques: fashionable clothes shops

• to get around: to travel around

• high-rise flats: multi-story apartments

• inner-city: the central part of a city where people live and where condidions are

often poor

• in the suburbs: the outer area of large towns and cities where people live

• lively bars/restaurants: bars or restaurants with a good atmosphere

• local facilities: local buildings or services serving the public

• multi-story car parks: car parks on several floors

• office block: a large building that contains offices

• out of town shopping centre/retail park: large shopping centres outside of the

town or city

• pavement cafe: cafes with tables outside on the pavement

• places of interest: buildings that have a particular interest for visitors

• poor housing: housing that is not in good condition

• public spaces: areas in a town or city that are open to the public

• public transport system: public vehicles such as buses and trains that operate at

regular times on fixed routes

• residential area: an area where people live

• run down: old and of a poor standard

• shopping centre: an area consisting of multiple shops

• shopping malls: large indoor shopping centres

• sprawling city: a city that has grown over time and which covers a wide area

• tourist attraction: a place of interest to tourists

• traffic congestion: heavy traffic making it difficult to move around a town or city

• upmarket shops: expensive fashionable shops

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Advantages and Disadvantages of living in the city and in the country:

Life in the city • become familiar with different

cultures, customs and traditions • recreational facilities • cultural places • shopping opportunities • higher standards of living • better health care systems • more educational facilities • more job opportunities • more attractive and vibrant • overcrowding • heavily polluted • increased traffic jams • higher rates of crime • fast-paced • hectic • stressful • there is much hurry and flurry • not much community spirit

Life in the country • peaceful • quiet • get away from the hustle and bustle of city life • natural areas • the greenness of nature is spectacular • provides many outdoor leisure activities • low cost of living • a stronger sense of unity • shortage or lack of educational facilities, medical facilities, recreational and cultural facilities • there isn’t much privacy • low level of income • too slow-paced and uneventful