PPT ESP 1

Grammar note: Approximations • Sometimes the exact number is not available and can only be approximate • instead. Hence, we can use: • more than • less than • about / approximately • For example: • 291,705 is more than 250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand) • 291,705 is less than 300,000 (three hundred thousand) • 291,705 is about 290,000 (two hundred and ninety thousand)

Use the words in the box below to complete the missing information in this report about Sayaboury Province. Check the answers with the class. • Area border districts east forest health live • mountainous population province rural west

Sayaboury Province • Sayaboury Province is in the ……………………… of Laos. It shares an international ………… with Thailand to the west. The Mekong River forms the border between Sayaboury Province and Oudomsay …………….. to the east, and between Luang Prabang province and Vientiane Province to the ……….. Sayaboury Province has a total …….…of 16389 km2 ,but 65% of the land is ……………. and 42% is ……………… Theprovince has a total of eight districts and a …………….. of 338,669 people living in 543 villages. Ninety (90%) of the people live in ……………… regions ; 38% in the districts in the south, 35% in the centre and 27% inthe districts in the north. The districts in the north are underdeveloped and Sayaboury needs more roads, schools and ……………. services there. In 2013, Sayaboury founded a new district named Saysathan located in a relatively remote area. The economic potential of Sayaboury is to build the Hydro Power along the Mekong River to generate the local incomeand to alleviate the poverty in line with the government‟s policy. • a) In groups, read the following questions about Sayaboury Province and guess the • answers. Try to come to an agreement on the answers in your group.

Read the text again and fill in the table below with the information on Sayaboury Description Province 1: ……………………. Location _________________________________ Area e.g. 16,389 km 2____________________ Mountains _________________________________ Forest __________________________________ Capital ________________________________ Population ___________________________________ No. of districts __________________________________ No. of villages __________________________________ Ethnic groups ________________________________ Important/Interesting facts ____________________________________ Needs

Unit 8 ASEAN country

What countries does Lao P D R share the border with? Work in pairs to add countries that share borders with Laos

. Grammar • 1. There are many two-word questions with how, what, and which • e.g. how long….? Which city….? What kinds of ……? • 2. Can you remember? Choose the correct alternatives • We use how many with countable nouns. • We use how much with uncountable nouns. • 3. We use what when there are a large number of possible answers. • What is the population of China? • We use which when there are only a few possible answers. • Which country has no access to the sea?

Reading • a) Can you explain the meaning of the Lao flag in English? Do you know when did Laos join ASEAN? • b) Find out all of the capital cities of the ASEAN member countries and write them below. • c) Discuss with your partner: What does being a member of ASEAN mean for Laos?

Read the text and match the heading below with the paragraphs. Note that there is one extra heading you do not need • 1. __B__ Laos can learn from its ASEAN partners. • 2. _____ Laos faces funding challenges. • 3 _____ PM‟s speech notes Laos‟ foreign policy success on ASEAN anniversary. • 4. _____ Laos needs more skilled officials with strong background of English. • 5. _____ ASEAN provides budget for travel and per diem expenses. • 6. _____ Laos raises international profile and attracts more FDI.

Laos in ASEAN • A. Laos, along with Myanmar, became a member of ASEAN on July 23, 1997. In a speech to mark the 47thanniversary of the establishment of ASEAN, the Prime Minister of Laos, Mr. Thongsing Thammavong, noted that: “Laos‟ ASEAN membership is the fruit of our consistent foreign policyof peace, independence, friendship, and cooperation, aimed at contributing to the building of Southeast Asia as a region of peace, stability and cooperation for development.” (LNTV News, 2014) • B. Membership of ASEAN has given Laos the opportunity to take part in discussions with other ASEAN nations on important regional issues, such as trade and transnational crime. Laos can learn from the experience of the more industrially developed ASEAN nations, and has received technical support as well as help with human resource developmentfrom ASEAN member states and other dialogue partners, such as Australia and New Zealand. • C. As ASEAN establishes itself as a single marketand production base, Laos will be better placed to attractmore foreign direct investment. In recent years, there has already been an increase in trade, investment and foreign tourist arrivals in the country. Laos‟ successful chairmanshipof ASEAN in 2004-2005 raised the country‟s profileinternationally. Subsequently, Laos was entrusted to chair and host various important regional and international meetings. In 2016, Laos will assume the ASEAN chairmanship for the second time.

• D. There are also, however, challenges for Laos in being a member of ASEAN, namely a lack of fundsand a lack of skilled staff. Attending ASEAN meetings is expensive. There are more than 500 ASEAN meetings every year, and as there is no funding provided by ASEAN to attend these meetings, all ASEAN member countries have to pay for themselves. Travel and per diem costs, as well as contributions to the ASEAN budget, cost the country more than US$3 million a year. • E. Another challenge for Laos is its lack of skilled human resources. A large number of English-speaking Lao government officials are needed to attend ASEAN meetings. They also need to have a good understanding of international law and international economics. This remains a significant challengefor Laos as it marks its 17thanniversary of ASEAN membership. As ASEAN moves forward to form an ASEAN Economic Community by the end of 2015, it is important that the voice of Laos does not go unheard

Read the text again and answer the following questions. • 1. When did Laos become a member of ASEAN? • 2. Which four words describe Laos‟ foreign policy? • 3. In what area has Laos received assistance from its ASEAN partners? • 4.What has increased in Laos in recent years? • 5.What raised Laos‟ profile internationally? • 6. Which two challenges does Laos face in being a member of ASEAN? • 7.How many ASEAN meetings are there per year? • 8.What skills do Lao government officials require to take part in ASEAN meetings?

b) Decide if the sentences below are trueor false. If the sentence is false, correct it. • 1. _T_Laos and Myanmar became members of ASEAN in 1997. • 2. ____ Trade and investment in Laos has decreased in recent years. • 3. ____ Successfully chairing the ASEAN Summit in 2004 raised Laos’ • international profile. • 4. ____ Laos will assume the ASEAN chairmanship for the third time in 2016. • 5. ____ ASEAN will form an ASEAN Economic Community by the end of 2015. • 6. ____ It is important that the voice of Laos is heard at ASEAN meetings.

Grammar point • 1. There are many two-word questions with how, what, and which • e.g. how long….? Which city….? What kinds of ……? • 2. Can you remember? Choose the correct alternatives • We use how many with countable nouns. • We use how much with uncountable nouns. • 3. We use what when there are a large number of possible answers. • What is the population of China? • We use which when there are only a few possible answers. • Which country has no access to the sea