English Specific Purpose II

English Specific Purpose II 2017-2018 1

English Specific Purpose II 2

Contents Title page English Specific Purpose II ..........................................................................................................................1 Unit 1 ...........................................................................................................................................................5 Tourist Attraction .........................................................................................................................................5 1. Language focus: ...............................................................................................................................5 2. Vocabulary .......................................................................................................................................5 3. Speaking...........................................................................................................................................5 Unit 2 .........................................................................................................................................................13 Tourism ......................................................................................................................................................13 1. Language focus: .............................................................................................................................13 2. Vocabulary .....................................................................................................................................13 3. Speaking.........................................................................................................................................13 ...............................................................................................................................................................13 ...............................................................................................................................................................13 Look at the picture and ask and answer the question..............................................................................14 1. Do you know how many festivals are there in Laos ? ...................................................................14 2. Which festival do Lao people like the most? ..................................................................................14 3. What is your favorite festival?........................................................................................................14 4. Have you ever celebrate Lao new year? .........................................................................................14 5. What kind of festival you never celebrate?.....................................................................................14 4. Festivals in Lao ..............................................................................................................................14 Boun Khao Phansa ...............................................................................................................................14 Pha That Luang....................................................................................................................................14 Hmong New Year .................................................................................................................................14 Lao National Day..................................................................................................................................15 Boun Ock Phansa .................................................................................................................................15 Haw Khao Salaack ...............................................................................................................................15 6. Grammar note: Comparative adjectives..........................................................................................18 Unit 3 .........................................................................................................................................................21 Travel abroad .............................................................................................................................................21 1. Language focus: .............................................................................................................................21 2. Vocabulary .....................................................................................................................................21 3

3. Laos Tourist visa ............................................................................................................................21 Travel neighboring country.................................................................................................................26 Vietnam ................................................................................................................................................. 26 Cambodia .............................................................................................................................................. 26 Thailand ................................................................................................................................................27 Unit 4 .........................................................................................................................................................28 Capital City ................................................................................................................................................28 1. Language focus: .............................................................................................................................28 2. Vocabulary .....................................................................................................................................28 3. Reading ..........................................................................................................................................28 Listening ................................................................................................................................................33 Unit 5 .........................................................................................................................................................38 Conference Presentation.............................................................................................................................38 1. Language focus: .............................................................................................................................38 2. Vocabulary .....................................................................................................................................38 3. Speaking.........................................................................................................................................38 4. Reading ..........................................................................................................................................41 Unit 6 .........................................................................................................................................................45 Changes......................................................................................................................................................45 1. Language focus: .............................................................................................................................45 2. Vocabulary .....................................................................................................................................45 3. Speaking.........................................................................................................................................46 4. Conversation ..................................................................................................................................46 5. Reading ..........................................................................................................................................47 6. Writing ...........................................................................................................................................51 4

Unit 1 Tourist Attraction 1. Language focus:  First conditionals (If he comes to school early, he will understand the lesson well.)  Present perfect tense 2. Vocabulary acknowledged agricultural accommodation bombing burial rituals celebrate products attraction competition complex commerce hub damage contact delicious dolphin declare export massage event mystery national clinics parade relaxing atmosphere rocket festival holiday suggestion scattered stupa unexploded bombs surprise tourist unique World Heritage site 3. Speaking 5

Using a few questions to ask all of students in the classroom 1. Who have ever been to Wat phou? 2. Have you ever gone to Vientiane? 3. Have you visited the Plain of Jar? 4. If you go to Vientiane what will you do? 5. If you go to Vientiane where will you visit? 6. If you can travel again where will you go ? 4. Reading Cultural attractions for tourists in Laos Phra That Luang Phra That Luang in this most Buddhist of nations, it is no surprise that temples are a key attraction. In the capital city of Vientiane, the three-layered gilded stupa of Phra That Luang is the national symbol and most important religious monument in the country, dating from the 16th century. There are numerous other beautiful temples which on their own make a stay in the capital city really good for any visitor to Laos. The Plain of Jars near Phonsavan The Plain of Jars is a landscape dating from the Iron Age. Thousands of stone jars are scattered over a large area of the low foothills near Phonsavan. The main theory is that the jars formed part of Iron Age burial rituals in the area, but no one know for sure and a great deal of mystery remains. The area suffered damage from American bombing during the secret war of the 1960s, and many unexploded bombs remain. It is very likely this will be declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wat Phou This is a ruined Hindu Khmer temple complex in Champasack Province. It dates from the 12th century and it is an important historic and cultural site and was acknowledged by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) as the second World Heritage site in Laos on 14 December 2001. Every year in February, Wat Phou Festival is held at the ruins. It is a three-day festival, which includes elephant racing, cock fighting and performances of traditional Lao music and dancing. 6

Luangprabang One of the most charming cities in south-east Asia, Luang Prabang is the most popular tourist attraction in Laos. Until 1975, when the communist took over the country, it was the royal capital of Laos. The main part of Luang Prabang is located on a peninsula between the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers. A collection of golden-roofed temples, wooden houses and crumbling French provincial buildings fill the main roads. At dawn, monks from the various monasteries walk through the streets collecting alms of rice. Wat Xieng Thong Located near the northern tip of the peninsula formed by the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers, Wat Xieng Thong is Luang Prabang‟s most magnificent temple. It was built in 1560 by King Setthathirath and was under royal patronage during the Kingdom of Laos. Wat Xieng Thong contains a rare reclining Buddha statue that dates from the construction of the temple. In 1931, the image was taken to Paris and displayed at the Paris Exhibition, only to return to Luang Phrabang more than 30 years later. Si Phan Don Si Phan Don (meaning 4,000 islands) is a beautiful set of islands, set against a scenic section of the Mekong River in Southern Laos. The Mekong is impassable to river traffic here due to the Khone Falls, a series of rapids that stretch 9.7 km (6.0 miles) of the river‟s length. The Mekong below the falls has a small population of the highly endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins. The three principal islands that cater to tourists are Don Det, Don Khon and Done Kong. Most of the lodging available on Don Det and Don Khon consists of simple, family run bungalows. Bikes and kayaks can also be rented here. Discussion about the tourist attraction Read tourists attraction and answer the questions 1. Who have traveled for many times in nationwide? 2. Where have you been to ? 3. Are there any interesting things? 4. What are there ? 5. Which tourist attraction you like the most? Why ? 6. Which tourists attraction you don‟t most ? why not? 7. Which province is the most popular in Laos? 8. Where is Wat Xiengthong? 9. How will we get there? 10. Tell an interesting tourists attraction that you are interested in? Champasack Province 7

Champasack Province is located in the southern part of the country, and shares borders with Thailand to the west, and Cambodia to the south. It is the third biggest province in Laos, with a population of over 640 000, including Lowland Lao, Highland Lao, Khmers and many unique ethnic minority groups. It has an area of 15 415 square kilometers. The province is also famous for the production of Lao coffee, tea, rattan and other agricultural produces. The capital city is Pakse. The easiest way to get to Champasack is to fly to Pakse, but you can also go by road. Pakse is about 12 hours drive from Vientiane. From Pakse you can travel by road to other places in the province of Champasack. Pakse(Pakxe) is the capital city of Champasack Province of southern Laos, and the fourth largest town in the country. It is as a major transport and commerce hub for southern Laos. If you plan to go to the Bolaven Plateau, Wat Phou, Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands), the Xe Pian National Protected Area, or Lao Ngamand Tad Lo (water fall) in neighboring Salavan Province. Pakse is an ideal base. The city has friendly locals with its relaxing atmosphere on the Mekong and Sedone Rivers. There are riverside restaurants and bars, and numerous massage clinics.There are also many tourist attractions in Champasack. In the south there is the Khon Phapeng Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Asia. It is also known as the “Niagara Falls of the East‟. Near the group of Four Thousand Islands (Si Phan Don) on the Mekong River, you may see the fresh water dolphins living in the river. They can be sighted during the dry season. Two hours drive east of Pakse is the coffee growing region of the Bolaven Plateau. They grow delicious coffee there and export it to many countries. Reading Comprehension a) Read about Champasak province fill the information in the gap Province:……………………………..Location:…………………………………..…….. Area:…………………………………Population:……………………………………..…. How to get there:……………………….Tourist Attractions:…………………………….. b) Work in pairs to ask each other about the text. Follow the example below. A: Can you tell me what countries Champasack shares theborder with? B: Yes, Laos shares the borders with ………………………………..…….………. A: How manypeople are there in Champasack Province? B: ……………………………………………………………………………………. A: What are the tourist attractions in Champasack? B: …………………………………………………………………………………………. c) Where are you from originally 1. Each students choose a province where you were from. 2. Work in group talk about your province where you were from 8

3. Choose the best province from the group and talk to the whole class 5. Visiting the great wall of China The Great Wall of China extends from Hushan in the east of China, passing through many landscapes such as mountains, hills, deserts, grasslands, valleys and plateaus to the west where it ends at the Jiayuguan Pass. Thus travelling along the wall whether by foot or by cable car, allows you to view most of China‟s brilliant landscape and fresh vegetation that naturally grow in the country because the wall passes a large cross area of China‟s geographical occupation. Parts of the complete length of this wall can be found trespassing in Liaoning, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai before it reaches Jiayuguan Pass. The walk trips along the Great Wall of China are named according to the place where the terminals of the wall begin. The Jinshanling Great Wall Tour, Muntianyu Great Wall, Simatai Great Wall Tour, Great Wall Hiking Tour and Badaling Great Wall Tour are the trips that take place at the Great Wall, so tourists have to choose the point to start, apply for the tour at a fee, travel to the terminal and start the long journey of several kilometers along the Great Wall. If you are in Beijing, you will have to travel ninety kilometers north east to arrive for Muntianyu Great Wall Tour in Muntianyu. Tourists are always advised to wear good, comfortable walking shoes because it is a long trek and wear appropriate clothing for the weather. Participating in the Muntianyu Great Wall Tour gives you the opportunity to view hills and mountains. There options of walking along the relatively steep wall or using cable cars that drive you to the highest point at which you can view the wall snaking across the landscape. Jinshanling Great Wall Tour is roughly a hundred and forty kilometer trek for one day that starts in Jinshanling, farther north east from Beijing than Muntianyu. This trip enables you to view the ancient watch towers, splendid landscape scenery and also the uniqueness of the wall itself To attend the Simatai Great Wall Trip, you have to travel one hindered and twenty kilometers north east of Beijing. This trip involves walking along one of the steepest length of the Great Wall, thus those who have a good health with no complications from such a walk can be fit for this tough journey. Starting from Jinshanling to Simatai sections of the Great Wall is a ten kilometer trek that enables you to view the wall feature, watch towers and the beautiful landscape of the area. 9

The Badaling Great Wall Tour starts from Badaling, seven kilometers North West of Beijing. This trek enables you to view and take nice pictures of the mountains, the ancient Ming Tombs, statues of animals and humans on both sides of the wall, the Ding Mausoleum that is a tomb of one of the historic Chinese emperors, Emperor Zhu Yijun. Jinshanling and Simatai are quintessential sections of the great Wall. Jinshanling to Simatai section is a distance of about 10 km. Only partly restored, it‟s less crowded, and provides a unique view of the Wall, watchtowers and magnificent scenery Reading Comprehension Students work in group of four to ask and answer taking a trip to china a group explain the experience to the Great wall while the other interested in taking and ask questions Questions 1. How do you start your trip to visit the great wall ? 2. Do take a long walk in the great wall? 3. How is the landscape along the sides of the great wall? 4. Are you exciting to see the great wall? 5. What is the most impressive at the great wall ?  First conditionals The first conditional is used to express a possible situation and its result. Possible situation result Example: If you go to Pakse by bus, it will take about 12 hours. If +S+ Present Simple tense + S+will + verb Example: If you go to Pakse, you‟ll see Wat Phou. (Spoken language) If you go to Pakse, you will see Wat Phou. (Written language) c) Possible conditional 1. If I __________________ (go) out tonight, I __________________ (go) to the cinema. 2. If you __________________ (get) back late, I __________________ (be) angry. 3. If we __________________ (not / see) each other tomorrow, we __________________ (see) each other next week. 4. If he __________________ (come), I __________________ (be) surprised. 5. If we __________________ (wait) here, we __________________ (be) late. 6. If we __________________ (go) on holiday this summer, we __________________ (go) to Spain. 10

7. If the weather __________________ (not / improve), we __________________ (not / have) a picnic. 8. If I __________________ (not / go) to bed early, I __________________ (be) tired tomorrow. 9. If we __________________ (eat) all this cake, we __________________ (feel) sick. 10. If you __________________ (not / want) to go out, I __________________ (cook) dinner at home. Find and underline the if sentences in the dialogue and write them below. .………………. …………………………………………..…………………………….. ..…………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………..……………………. d) Class work: First read the mini-dialogues below. Then listen and repeat each phrase or sentence of the mini-dialogues. A:Where‟s a good place to stay in Luang Prabang? B:You could stay at the Phou Si Hotel. A:Where‟s a good place to be at Lao New Year? B:Well, if you stay in Vientiane, you‟ll get invited to a lot of parties, but if you go to Luang Prabang, you‟ll see the Nang Sang Khane parade. A:How can I get to Savannakhet? B:You could go by bus or plane. If you go by plane, it‟ll take only one hour. If you go by bus, it‟ll take 8 hours. A: How long does it take to get to Thakhek? B: It usually takes about 3 hours, but sometimes it takes longer in the rainy season. b) Work in pairs to ask each other about the text. Follow the example below. A: Can you tell me what countries Champasack shares theborder with? B: Yes, Laos shares the borders with ………………………………..…….………. A: How many people are there in Champasack Province? B: ……………………………………………………………………………………. A: What are the tourist attractions in Champasack? B: ……………………………………………………………………………………..…………… 11

 Present perfect tense. 1. We use present perfect to describe past actions that are connected the present. Very often they happen in a time period that is not finished. I‟ve sent about ten e-mails (so far today) I‟ve owned three computers (in my life) I haven‟t written any letters (this week) We also use: ever, never, just, yet, since, for and already with present perfect tense. We do not say exactly when these things happened with the Present perfect-it is not important. 2. We form the Present perfect with have/has + past participle. a) Regular past participle: verb + ed I‟ve watched TV for fifteen hours this week. b) Irregular past participle: made, sent, written, read He had read about 4 storybooks since this morning. 3. Choose the words from the parentheses and change it in the correct forms 1. I _________________ (see) three police cars this morning (it‟s still morning). 2. After he _________________ (arrive) home, he _________________ (unpack) and _________________ (go) to bed early. 3. A: What‟s wrong? B: I _________________ (break) a glass! 4. My grandparents only _________________ (know) each other for a few months before they _________________ (get) married. 5. I _________________ (be) in London for three years.I love it here. 6. We _________________ (see) Julie last night. 7. He _________________ (be) a teacher before he _________________ (become) a musician. 8. When the boss _________________ (walk) into the room, we _________________ (know) someone was going to get fired. 9. The children _________________ (break) a window in the school last week. 10. He _________________ (see) that film last year. Writing 12

a) Work in pairs to tell each other about the favorite place you have been to recently. Take note while your partner is telling you about the place he/she has been to. e.g. I‟ve been to Wat Phou. There are……………….. etc. Unit 2 Tourism 1. Language focus:  Simple past tense of verb „to be‟  Modals- „should‟ and „should not‟  Comparative and superlative adjectives 2. Vocabulary ancient place authority announce contact rocket festival boat racing celebrate danger inform crop crowd Poor you! tourism That‟s awful/terrible! What a pity! enough further up monk pleasure religious ceremony What a pain! What a shame! 3. Speaking 13

Look at the picture and ask and answer the question 1. Do you know how many festivals are there in Laos ? 2. Which festival do Lao people like the most? 3. What is your favorite festival? 4. Have you ever celebrate Lao new year? 5. What kind of festival you never celebrate? 4. Festivals in Lao Boun Khao Phansa The July full moon brings on the rainy season and the start of Buddhist lent. Weddings are put on hold until October, monks return to their home temples and hundreds of young men take up the cloth as novices, to earn merit for their families and show their devotion to the Buddhist tenants. The faithful bring offerings such as intricately folded banana leaves and marigolds to the temples for the monks, and receive blessings. Pha That Luang Boun That Luang takes place every November, over three days around the full moon. The stupa in Vientiane is the national symbol of Laos and is said to house a piece of Buddha‟s breastbone. Thousands of pilgrims gather at That Luang to give offerings to the monks who come from all over Laos. Processions, parties, and a trade show follow. Even if you don‟t make it for the festival, the stupa is a sight to behold any time of year. Join the faithful and place offerings of flowers, candles and incenses at the alter or quietly stroll around the massive enclosed yard. Hmong New Year The Hmong people are an ethnic tribe who live in Northern Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Mid- December means New Year celebrations for Hmong people, who don their best clothes and silver jewelry. Carnival games, singing and dancing and (of course) tons of delicious food are part of the celebration. The Hmong courtship ritual is an important part of the New Year celebration–in a 14

game called pov pob, young people toss cloth balls back and forth to get to know one another and find potential partners Lao National Day December 2 is Lao National Day, which is a celebration of the Communist party. The Pathet Lao, which translates as “the lao people”, is the name of the only political party in the country. On this day in 1975, the monarchy was abolished and the beginning of the people‟s democratic republic. Citizens wear their ethnic clothing or government uniforms and attend political rallies at dawn Boun Ock Phansa Boun Ock Phansa is celebrated in October as the end of Buddhist lent. This festival is celebrated with boat racing, especially in Mekong River towns like Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Parades are held in the streets with elaborate floats that are eventually taken to the river as offerings to the naga, or mythical water serpents. Alms are given to the monks who resume their social duties outside the temple. Haw Khao Salaack During the full moon in September, Buddhists in Laos celebrate Haw Khao Salaack. People dress up and go to the temple with offerings for their own dead loved ones. They also bring food, candles, incense and money for the dead who have no living relatives. By appeasing the spirits and making sure they are resting peacefully, it‟s more likely the spirits will watch over those still living and not cause trouble. The Rocket Festival Boun Bang Fai is a traditional Lao festival still celebrated in various villages. But now in the cities there are fewer Rocket Festivals because of the serious risk of having houses and people living nearby hit by big rockets. Many visitors visiting Lao can travel to villages outside Vientiane to enjoy the Rocket Festivals there. The Rocket Festival, or „Boun Bang Fai‟, is an exciting, colorful and noisy festival held at the end of the hot season, in about mid-May, every year. The purpose of the festival is to ask gods for some rain. The rain is vital to growing rice and other crops. Villagers launch rockets to the sky gods in the hope of receiving rain in return. In the morning, a religious ceremony is held at the village temple. By the afternoon, the people start gathering in the nearby field to launch rockets made by the villagers. There is a competition for the best rockets that can travel the furthest up in the sky. Men dress as women to make the gods angry so that they would send rain. Playing Khene and beating drums, groups of young men mingle with the crowd. a) using the question below as a modal to ask some of festivals above 15

1. how many festival do you know in Laos? 2. When and how long is the Stupa Festival organized? 3. Where is the Festival organized? 4. How can we get to the Festival? 5. What are other tourist attractions in Khammuan Province? b) Read the text again and answer the following questions: 1. When is the Rocket Festival held? ……………………………………………........... 2. What is the purpose of the festival? ……………………………………..................... 3. What do the young men do during the festival?…………..........………...............………….. 4. Why are there fewer Rocket Festivals now?………………..........................…............. b) conversation about famous places in Laos Julie is asking Soumaly about famous places in Laos Julie: Soumaly, can you recommend me some famous places to visit? Soumaly: Yes, I would like to see temples, or waterfalls,or an ancient place. Julie: Well, I am interested in visiting a beautiful ancient place. Soumaly: I recommend Vat Sene in Luang Prabang Province and Wat Phou in Champasack Province. Julie: I am interested in visiting Wat Phou. How far is it from Vientiane Capital? Soumaly: It‟s about 750 kilometers. Julie: How can I get there? Soumaly: By plane, car or bus. Julie: Thanks Soumaly for you recommendation. Soummaly: It‟s my pleasure. 5. Grammar note: Reminder - simple past tense of verb ‘to be’ Present Past 16

is was isn‟t wasn‟t are were aren‟t weren‟t Grammar note: Modals- ‘should’ and ‘should not’ Should and shouldn‟t are used to give advice on how to do thing appropriately. Eg: You should wear long trousers to a temple. You shouldn‟t touch Lao people on the head. Should is used to politely say what needs to be done. Eg: Officials should give tourists more information. They should build more hotels. Other modals like must and have to are used to tell someone the necessity of doing something. Eg: You have to take off your shoes at the temple. A woman mustn‟t touch a monk. a) Read the dialogue. Underline the sentences that have the simple past tense of the verb „to be‟. b) Rewrite the sentences below using simple past tense of the verb „to be‟: 1. There aren‟t enough hotel rooms in Champasack. ...........................………….…………………………………….......……………… 2. The guest house is very clean. .………………………………………………………........................................... 3. The food isn‟t expensive. …………………………………………………………….…..…………………… 4. There is enough information for tourists. …………………………………………………………….…..…………………… 5. There are enough places to eat. ……………………………………………………………....….………………….. c) Pair work:Practice these mini-dialogues with a partner. Practice them until you can say 17

them without looking at your book. Read the dialogue again and underline the parts where they do these A:I think more tourist information should be made available in the provinces. B:Iagree with you. A:I think food shouldn‟t be so expensive during festivals. B:Ithink so too. A: I think the tourist authority should inspect the cleanliness and service of those hotels and guest houses. B:Iagree with you Practice a) Group work: Work in small groups. What do you think of the rocket festival? Summarize the group‟s ideas on the festival and report to the class, including both positive and negative points of view. b) Discuss and share the idea about the festival in Laos by comparison which festival is funnier, safer, more beautiful and cheaper ……………………… 6. Grammar note: Comparative adjectives Reminder: Adjectives with one syllable, add „er‟ when you compare two things that are not the same. Eg: Vientiane is bigger than Pakse. China is larger than Vietnam. There are spelling rules when making change to the adjectives. Look back at Unit 8 to review the spelling of comparative adjectives. Adjectives with three syllables: Adjectives with three syllables do not change in their spelling, but „more‟ is used before the adjective in a comparative sentence. Eg: Lao food is more delicious than French food. Luang Prabang is more beautiful than Vientiane. * Special case: „good‟ and „bad‟ change in special ways. good – better bad – worse 18

Eg: I speak Lao better than I speak French. The road from Savannakhet to Pakse is worse than the road from Vang Vieng to LuangPrabang. CARNIVAL (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Arguably the world‟s biggest festival (not to mention its wildest party), Brazil‟s Carnival is widely considered “the greatest show on Earth.” The event attracts nearly 5 million people each year, with a half-million or so being visitors traveling to see the spectacle. Historically, Carnival is a religious celebration. The festival takes place in February or March, over the 5 days preceding the Catholic season of Lent, which starts 40 days before Easter. It also coincides with the end of the long, brutally hot Brazilian summer. So picture 5 million people who‟ve been baking in the heat for months, preparing to give up the things they love for 40 days, set loose in a city filled with lively music and half-naked dancers shaking what their mama gave them. Yeah, it‟s THAT crazy. And colorful, thanks to creative costumes worn by the 70+ samba schools (each representing a different neighborhood) who compete for cash and national fame. The festival culminates with a rowdy, raucous 2-night extravaganza at Rio‟s remarkable Sambadrome, where 90,000+ spectators pay top dollar to watch the top 12 samba schools compete for the grand prize. There are annual themes for the competition, and the carnival parades are usually the stuff of legend. Carnival is celebrated in many Latin American nations, but nobody does it like Rio. Writing a) Short Presentation: Each person in the class prepares a five-minute presentation on the festival or special day that he or she enjoys the most. Use the following questions to help you with the preparation: 19

e.g. We always went to the Boat Racing Festival. My family and I sat near the river all day. We ……………………. Or I like Lao New Year the best because I have four-day holiday. Writing practice Uses the information above or choose any festival or special day in Laos to write about. Make sure your writing includes these parts: - name of the festival or special day; and -where or when or why it is held; who takes part. - what happens: preparations, ceremonies, food, clothes, performances - your personal thought on the festival or special day;and -potential changes of the way to celebrate. a) Use the following questions to guide you in finding out information about the festival: nies) b) Exchange your writing with a student sitting next to you to compare the writing and then hand in your writing to your teacher after completion. 20

Unit 3 Travel abroad 1. Language focus:  Modals - „should‟ and „could‟  Modals - spoken and written form  „When‟ and„where‟as sentence connectors 2. Vocabulary application baggage applicant board boarding pass check-in counter country of residence customs departure gate departure destination extend extension fine (verb) flight number immigration luggage overstay passenger passport control return ticket route single ticket transit valid 3. Laos Tourist visa The 30 –day tourist visa for Laos can be issued at some entry points, via a travel agency or through a Lao embassy or consulate. Via an embassy, the visa should cost between US$30 to US$37 depending on your nationality and the office you use. The fee for Canadians is US$ 44. Some nationalities, notably ASEAN members, may get a visa-free stay check with a Lao consulate or embassy for the very latest information. Visa on arrival may be obtained at various overland crossings between Laos and Thailand, including the Huay Xai, Vientiane, Savannakhet, Thakhek and Songmek entry points. It is also available at both Vientiane and Luang Prabang Airports (US$37, cash only, one passport photo) and at Boten crossing with China and the main international crossing with Vietnam. Visaon arrival is not available at Paksan crossing, but now obtainable at the popular southern crossing from Cambodia. Extensions 21

Extending a tourist visa is straightforward and can be arranged at the immigration office in Vientiane. An extension costs US$ 2-3 per day depending on whether you handle it yourself orwork through a travel agent, i.e., US$ 30 for extra ten days. Validity issues All tourist visas are single-entry only. The visa sticker for visas issued from an embassy are full page, so bear that in mind if you do not have many pages left in your passport. No big deal, if you want to stay in Laos longer than a month, you could leave for Thailand and come back on a new tourist visa for another 30 days. Overstays While it isn‟t big deal to overstay a visa in Laos, at US$10 a day, it is expensive. If you‟re looking at an overstay of anything more than a couple of days, you‟re better be off leaving on time and coming back on another visa. Things to watch out for If you get your visa beforehand from a Lao embassy, it should be valid for 30 days, but pay attention to the stamped visa because it may only be for 15 days instead. Departure tax There is no departure tax if using a land crossing, though on weekends and evenings you may be required to pay a small “overtime fee”, generally no more than US$ 1. If you‟re flying out of Vientiane or Luang Prabang International Airport, there is a departure tax of US$ 10, but as of early January 2009 this fee was included in the airline ticket, so no longer does one need to pay in person at the airport. Border crossings For information on border crossings and to read traveller report, please see our Lao border crossing page, or the exhaustive Border Crossing FAQ which includes reports from travellers who have recently crossed. Practice a) Fill in the blanks with the words in the table below. Boarding pass customs gate departure departure hall check-in counter arrival card Things to do at the airport You have to get to the airport about one and a half hours before the plane leaves when you travel abroad because there are many things to do. First you have to go to the ………………………………. to have your ticket checked and your luggage weighed. The airline staff will give you your ……………………..………… It will tell you what time to go to the boarding gate and board the plane. You must fill in 22

your…………………………… card before you go to passport control, where your passport and boarding pass will be checked. You should check your flight departure time and what ………………….. your plane leaves from, on your boarding pass or on the TV monitors in the departure hall. You should do all these things before your flight boarding time, so you can have some time to shop or relax in the ………………………..…….. Also, you should go to the boarding gate on time, so that you do not miss your flight. Fill in the …………………….…… when you have time during the flight. After you collect your bags, you must go to…………….…………, where your bags may be inspected. b) Check the answers with a partner and then with the class. c) Complete the sentences below with the words/phrases from the text above. 1. Ifyou want to extend your visa, it can be done at…………………………………. 2. Visa on arrival is not available at …………………………………………………. 3. All tourist visas are ……………………………………………………… entry. 4. If you have an overstay, you need to pay………………………………………… 5. There is no …………………………………………… if using a land crossing. Speaking a) Soumaly is asking Julie about her trip to the conference in China next week Soumaly:Julie, when are you leaving for the conference in China? Julie: I am leaving on Tuesday next week. Soumaly: What‟s the date? Julie: On January, 31st Soumaly: Oh, so soon. What‟s your flight number, then? Julie: QV 235. Soumaly: How long does the flight take? Is it a direct or indirect flight? Julie: It‟s a direct flight for 2 hours and 15 minutes. Soumaly: What time do you have to be at the airport? Julie: My flight leaves at 9:00 am so I have to be at the airport 2 hours before the departure time. Soumaly: Enjoy your trip! 23

Julie: Thank you. b) Work in groups: One member in your group is leaving to Australia next week. What should you do if things go wrong? Take turns to ask and answer. e.g. If your car breaks down on the way to the airport, you should take a taxi. What should I do if … I lose my air tickets? … I lose my passport? … the airline loses my luggage? … someone steals my wallet? … I get sick? … I miss my plane home? Grammar note: Modals – spoken and written form Spoken Written shouldn‟t should not mustn‟t must not don‟t have to do not have to (I / you / we / they) doesn‟t have to does not have to(he / she) Grammar note: Connectors ‘when’, ‘where’ „When‟ and „where‟ can be used to join two parts of a sentence. Examples: You must go to passport control where your passport will be checked. You have to get to the airport one and a half hours before the plane leaves when you travel abroad. a) Work alone: Look at the four boarding passes on the next page. Answer the questions below using information from the boarding passes. 1. What is the Thai flight number from Sydney? ………………………………………………………………………………….. 24

2. When is Mrs Keovongsa flying to Vientiane? ………………………………………………………………………………….. 3. Who is going to Manila? ……………………………………………………………………………….. 4. Where is Mr Meng going? ............................................................................... 5. Which boarding gate is for Lao Aviation flight from Bangkok to Vientiane? …………………………………………………………………………………. 6. Where is Mr Warren traveling from? ............................................................................................................................ 7. What is Ms Wallis‟s seat number? ........................................................................................................................... 8. What is the boarding time for the Singapore Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur? ………………………………………………………………………………. A) Pair work: Ask and answer more questions using information from the boarding passes. Use the questions 25

Travel neighboring country Vietnam Best for: LGBTQ travel, history, market haggling, food, beerVietnam is known as one of the best countries in Southeast Asia for LGBTQ travelers. It‟s friendly, it‟s bustling, it‟s filled with the delicious smells of one thousand simultaneously cooking foods. You may need a visa before you go, but they‟re not hard to get -- if you‟re coming from somewhere like Cambodia, your hostel might even help procure yours before you leave. Once there, you can take your pick of floating markets, museums, caves, grottoes, cool-as-hell scenery, noodles, you get the idea. Do not be afraid to haggle in markets; assume it‟s built into the initial price and try to have fun with it. Best place to go: In Hanoi, you‟ll find the absurdly beautiful Temple of Literature, the country‟s first university. For a look into history that‟s darker in both the literal and spiritual meaning of the world, tour the underground network of the Cu Chi tunnels, once headquarters for the Viet Cong. Also, remember the largest cave in the world from Planet Earth? That‟s this one. Food to eat: Vietnam is a place to drink beer, both from craft breweries sprouting up all around the country and from street vendors hawking bia hoi -- the local draft. You must also try bun rieu, a noodle soup that is not pho. And sorry to harp yet again on coffee, but look, this coffee has egg in it. Cambodia Best for: History, spirituality, nightlife, movie reenactments Hey, look, we‟re back to gay- friendly territory! Also, Phnom Penh is pronounced “P‟nom” Penh, not Nom or Fnom or anything like that. Speaking of, if you‟re in Phnom Penh you might consider setting aside an afternoon for Tuol Sleng, the national genocide museum. I will not bullshit you -- this was, emotionally, the most difficult museum I‟ve ever visited, and I respect that your vacation days are precious and you don‟t want to spend them doing things that don‟t make you feel good. But the legacy of the Cambodian genocide is not a thing that‟s really separable from daily life, and ultimately you get more out of a trip when you understand how and why a place came to be the way it is. Plus, you‟ll find more than enough good vibes during the rest of your stay, such as: 26

Best place to go: Rent a bike for like a dollar and ride around Angkor Wat -- that temple you‟ve seen in Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones -- drinking palm juice. If you‟re coming from Phnom Penh, skip the bus or car -- instead opt for a river taxi. This mode of transportation is a good way to see what Cambodia looks like to real Cambodians, not to backpackers or expats (though if you want to party with other backpackers, this is certainly one of the places to do it; just check into the biggest hostel you can find and let nature take its course). Fair warning, what is advertised as a journey of a few hours might take, I dunno, all day, depending on how healthy your river taxi is, but this is one of those things where you need to just let go and surrender to the process. You will get there when you get there. Food to eat: Don‟t @ me for this being too basic, but honestly the fruit juice. Anyone stands to be delighted by the endless succession of perfectly ripe Cambodian fruits that someone will squeeze into your glass for probably around $1. Try sugar palm if you want something new. Thailand Best for: LGBTQ travel, partying, spirituality, foodThe fact that people spend half their lives wanting to go to Thailand and then confine themselves to Bangkok and the abhorrent Full Moon Party is baffling to me, but fortunately we‟ve found each other in time for you to do the thing right. Best place to go: For a trip both different and better than the one everyone else goes on, head into the confusingly underhyped northern region of Chiang Mai and rent a scooter. If you‟re really ready to throw down, go to Wat Ram Poeng for a silent meditation retreat (minimum 10 days). It has been three years since I did this and my back still hurts whenever I think about it, but as meditation retreats go, this is the real shit. In Bangkok, do your very best not to get killed in a traffic accident. Then decompress on the beaches of Ko Muk, an island where you can get Thailand‟s signature gorgeous beaches without the signature crowds. Food to eat: Khao soi -- a coconut curry with crispy egg noodles, some kind of meat, and a loosely enforced roster of herbs and spices. Like bagels in New York or tacos in LA, khao soi will be excellent pretty much anywhere you go in Chiang Mai, just in different ways. The place with the best khao soi is the place you find after a leisurely walk from your hotel, where you can smell the noodles deep-frying while you take your pick of the plastic chairs and tables outside, most of which are empty because it‟s still early. (You, unlike the rest of the tourists, know that the best way to enjoy khao soi is for breakfast.) Practice a) Work in pairs: Fill in the arrival visa on the next page by using some of your information. 27

b) Work alone: Use your own personal information to complete the Lao departure and arrival cards on the next page. Unit 4 Capital City 1. Language focus: What‟s it like? 2. Vocabulary card cash air-conditioned credit card department store double room fresh gift jewelry lift (noun) modern money exchange parking popular porter reception receptionist relax reservation room service safe (noun) seafood sign (noun) sign (verb) single room souvenir swimming pool wake-up call 3. Reading City Facts Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, has a population of about 10 million. The Chao Phraya River runs through Bangkok. It is a very modern city with large number of tall buildings, big shopping centres, large factories, offices of international businesses and crowded streets. There are also numerous places of cultural interest in Bangkok such as temples and palaces. Bangkok is famous for its food, shopping and nightlife. Food Thai food is always delicious and not so expensive. Food centers, in large shopping malls, are popular and cheap. Garden and riverside restaurants are relaxing and also not expensive. The cheapest way to eat out is to try food sold on the street. Seafood in Thailand is fresh. Try some spicy prawn soup or fresh fish and crab. 28

Shopping Thai silk and cottons, jewellery and handicrafts are good gifts and souvenirs. There is a wide choice of places for shopping such as Silom and Suriwong Roads with a large number of silk shops and clothing stores. Chatuchak is a big market not far from the Central Plaza Hotel where merchandises produced or grown in Thailand are sold at low cost. Transport Public buses are plentiful and cheap, with a minimum fare of 3.50 baht to most destinations within the city. Air-conditioned blue buses have minimum and maximum fares of 6 and 16 baht respectively. Orange air-conditioned buses charge 8 – 18 baht. Air-conditioned microbusescharge a flat fare of 20 baht for all routes. The BTS sky train (Bangkok Mass Transit System) is another way to travel around the city. It can transport up to 50,000 people per hour in one direction. There are 23 stations altogether. The total distance is 23.5 kilometres. Hotel and airport taxis have fixed rates. Taxis on the city streets are metered. They charge a minimum of 35 Baht for the first 3 kms, and approximately 5 Baht per km thereafter. Tuk-tuks or three-wheeled „open-air‟ motorized taxis are popular for short journeys. Fares must be bargained in advance. Minimum fares, for journeys of up to 3 kms, are approximately 30 Baht. Tourist Attractions Bangkok‟s tourist attractions include Wat Phra Keo temple and the Grand Palace. Other temples to see are Wat Arun and Wat Pho. Vimannek Palace, the favourite palace of King Chulalongkorn, is the world‟s largest golden teak-wood building. There is also the interesting snake farm where they are fed daily. Jim Thompson‟s House, where you can see beautiful Asian art, is also a nice place to visit. The world‟s largest Crocodile Farm and an open-air museum called the Ancient City are near Bangkok. Bangkok also offers many amusement parks such as Siam Water Park and Safari World Zoo. a) On the next page, read the tourist information in the brochure about Bangkok. Then check your answers in parte above. b) Read the brochure again. Choose True (T) or False (F) for the following statements. 1. Visitors to Bangkok can see both modern and traditional Thai buildings. 2. Thai food is cheap in food centers and large shopping centres, but it is expensive in the restaurant. 3. There are not many shopping places in Bangkok. 4. There is a wide choice of transport in Bangkok. 5. There is nothing to see in Bangkok for people interested in animals. 29

Conversation note: ‘What’s it like?’ „What‟s ………. like?‟ is used to ask people to describe something. Example: What‟s Bangkok like? - Oh, it‟s very busy. What‟s that restaurant like? - It‟s good, not expensive and the food is delicious Practice a) Look at the information about Hanoi and Singapore. What information is relevant to which city? Write the name of the correct city at the beginning of each text. b) Match the headings below with the information about each city. Write the correct heading following headings with each part of the information. Headings Background information Food Shopping Transport Tourist Attractions City 1: The City of ……………………………………………………………… -organised streets …………………………… -tech electronic equipment 30

……………………… …………………………… modern bus service …………………………… City 2: The City of ……………………………………………………………….… -style buildings in the old quarter …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… 31

…………………………… c) Work alone: Give information about your home town or city to a visitor. Complete the mini-dialogue below with the name of your home town and your suggestions. A:I‟m going to ……………………….…………………….…. What‟s it like there? B: Well,……………………………………………………………………………… A:What is there to see and do in …………………………………………..……….? B: Well, …………………………………..……………………………………..…... A:Where‟s good place to eat in …………………………….…………………..…. ? B: You could ………………………………………….………………………..……. A:Where‟s a good place to shop in …………………………………………...…… ? B:You should ………………………………………………….………………..…... A:Howshould I travel around …………………………………………………..… ? B:A good way to travel around is ……………………………………………..……. d) Pair work: Practice the mini-dialogues with a partner. Take turns to give information about your home town. Practice the mini-dialogues until you can say them without looking at your book. Introductory tasks a) Group Work: Work in groups of four. Choose a city among the ASEAN countries for a group presentation. You can choose Hanoi, Singapore, Vientiane etc. Each group has to choose a different city. Look for information online about the city your group has selected. Use the following headings to help you collect information. 32

You may use the resource books or internet to help in the collection of information. b) Group Presentation After collecting the information, use it to prepare a draft for the presentation. Decide who will be responsible for each section. Prepare the draft and visual aids such as maps or pictures that your group will use during the presentation. Your teacher will inform you of the date of the presentation. Each group will take turns to give their presentation. Listen and record the information in the following table: Listening a) Listen to Julie and Khamsene check in at the hotel. Listen to the dialogue and tick the sentences you hear. You can listen to the dialogue twice. 1. Can I help you? 2. What are your names? 3. Do you have a reservation? 4. We have a reservation. 5. How long are your staying? 6. Could you fill in these forms, please? 7. Here are some forms. 8. Could the porter take our luggage? 9. The porter will take your luggage. 10. Could you book a table for us at 8 pm, please? 11. Could you book a taxi for us at 8 am, please? 12. I‟d like a wake-up call, please. 13. I‟d like to make a phone call. 33

b) Listen to the dialogue again and complete the information below. Check the answers with the teacher. Receptionist: Good evening.__________________ ? Julie: Good evening. My name is Julie Wilson. We ____________________or two single rooms. Receptionist: Yes, two single rooms for five nights. Is that right? Julie: Yes, that‟s right. Receptionist: ____________________________________ and sign here. (Julie and Khamsene fill in the hotel registration forms.) Receptionist: Thank you. Here are your keys. Your rooms are on the third floor - room 312 and 314. The__________________________________ Julie: Thank you.__________________________ for us at 8 am, please, to go to UNDP? Receptionist: Yes, certainly. Do you need anything else? Khamsenee:I‟d like a ,________________________________ please? Receptionist: Yes, at what time? Khamsenee:: At 6:30 am. Receptionist: Yes, I‟ll book that Pair work c) Work in pairs: Take turns to be the guest and the hotel receptionist. Use the dialogue above as an example and practice with a partner. In your dialogue, use this information: kfast at 7:30 am. Now, use another new set of information for practice: 34

e receptionist to book a table for dinner at 7:30 pm. d) Work alone: Fill in this hotel registration card with your own information. e) Pair work: Use the following sets of questions / responses, work with a partner to make 3 sets of dialogue for 3 different situations – “Going to the airport”, “Dinner at the restaurant” and “Going to the Embassy”. Choose a suitable sentence / response from each set to form a dialogue for each situation. Write down the dialogues below. Set 1 When does the hotel bus leave for the airport? What time does the restaurant open? How far is the Australian Embassy? Set 2 About 10 minutes by taxi from here. At twelve fifteen. 35

At 6 p.m. Set 3 Would you please ask a porter to collect my bags from my room at twelve? Would you please book a table for five people at six thirty? Would you please call a taxi for me? Set 4 Certainly. Of course. Yes, I will. f) Dialogue one: „Going to the airport‟ e.g. A: When does the hotel bus leave for the airport? B: At twelve fifteen. A:…………………………………………………………………………….... B:…………………………………………………………………………….... g) Dialogue two: „Dinner at the restaurant” A:…………………………………………………………………………….... B:…………………………………………………………………………….... A:…………………………………………………………………………….... B:…………………………………………………………………………….... h) Dialogue three: „Going to the embassy‟ A:…………………………………………………………………………….... B:…………………………………………………………………………….... A:…………………………………………………………………………….... B:…………………………………………………………………………….... Writing task In your group, write a paragraph or more about the city you have presented. Using the plan you have made, write in about 100 words about the city. You have 30 minutes to complete the task. Check the following in your group writing: 36

because)? e your grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation correct? Make any necessary changes before handing in your work to your teacher. 37

Unit 5 Conference Presentation 1. Language focus:  Question: „Which?‟ How many?  Present perfect with „for‟ or „ since‟ and „in the last few years‟ 2. Vocabulary about (concerning) abstract about (approximately) access childcare centers development equal (adj) equality (n) housework increase parity prevalent proportions workforce trigger lack literate(adj) malnourished (adj) malnutrition (n) percentage small business socio-economic statistics tradition(n) sex trade combat victims wage dynamics life expectancy literacy(n) traditional (adj) wealth illiterate average contribute decision-making billion (1,000,000,000) disseminate 3. Speaking Abstract three ……………………………...................................................................................... By Lynda Clarke As the population of the world increases so do inequalities around the world-inequalities between rich and poor, and between men and women. This presentation will give some of the latest statistics on world population and then talk in more detail about some inequalities. Gender equality will be one of the main topics discussed. d) Listen to the dialogue: Complete sentences 1-3 with the correct phrases below. You can listen twice. 38

- looks interesting - looks relevant to work of the OHRD - will provide some useful information for Julie The presentation on: 1. INTAN training ………………………………………………………… 2. HRD training in Laos …………………………………………………... 3. World population ………………………………………………………. e) Listen again and complete these sentences with the phrases given below. - HRD training in Savannakhet - can learn more about HRD training in Laos - world population - needs some information for a report Julie is going to the presentation on ………………………………..………………… because/so she ………………………………………………………………………… Khamseneis going to the presentation on ……………………………………………. because/so he ………………………..………………………………………………… f) Listen to the dialogue again and complete the blank. Khamsene: Well, Julie, there are a lot of interesting presentations to choose from in the next session. Which one are you going to? Julie: I‟m not sure. The one about INTAN‟s training (1)___________________ (2)____________________. Maybe I‟ll go to that one. Khamsene: Yes, it does look relevant to our work, and also the one about (3)__________________ in Savannakhet (4) _________________. Maybe I‟ll go to that one too. Julie: Mmm. And I‟d also like to hear the latest statistics on (5)________________. There should be some useful information in that 39

presentation. I think I‟ll go to that because I need to get some (6)_____________________________ for a report to be written next month. What about you, Khamsene? Khamsene: I‟ll go to the presentation on the HRD training in Savannakhet so that I can learn more about what is happening in (7)__________________________ Julie: Good idea. See you after this session. a) Repeat each sentence or phrase of the dialogue after your teacher. b) Practice the dialogue in pairs. Dialogue a) In the dialogue Julie and Khamsene are discussing the different possible choices and trying to decide what to do. Underline these phrases in the dialogue. Which one…? …looks relevant And also… What about you? …looks interesting Maybe… …but also, … Grammar note: „Which‟ „Which‟ is used when there are a small number of choices. Example: Which presentation will you go to - world population or HRD training? Which color do you want? I have brown, blue and red. b) Complete the mini-dialogue with the phrases in aabove. A:There are two presentations. ………. …………………………..should we go to? B:Well, the one on education …………………………………………… … A:Yes, and also the one on health …………………………….. ……to our work. B:Mmm, …………………………………………. I‟ll go to the one on health. A:I‟m going to the presentation on health ………… ………………….….…… ? B:Well, …………….……… I‟ll go to the one on health too. ……… ………….the one 40

on education ………………... … I think I‟ll go to that one. A:Yes, good idea. A:Which airline should we take to London? B:…………………we should fly Singapore Airline. It is the most comfortable. A:Yes, ……………………… ………..it is also the most expensive. B:Oh, then …………………..……we should fly Thai International. They„re cheaper. b) Practice the mini-dialogue with a partner. Practice them until you can say them without looking at your book. 4. Reading Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women in Laos The Lao PDR has made steady progress on its gender equality targets. It is on track to realize parity between boys and girls by 2015. In higher education, however, equality is not as prevalent; falling to 77 girls per 100 boys by the time they reach tertiary education. Women and men account for equal proportions of the total workforce, but there is a wage gap between male and female workers. A quarter of the national parliament in 2012 was composed of women, giving the the Lao PDR one of the highest proportions of women in parliament in the region. The Lao PDR remains primarily a source country for victims of human trafficking. Young women and girls, especially those from economically disadvantaged demography, may be forced into Thailand‟s commercial sex trade or domestic service, garment factories and agricultural industries. Approximately 72% of trafficked children are young girls under 18 years of age. The Government has adopted several laws, regulations and plans to combat trafficking and is a signatory to numerous regional MOUs that seek to prevent, combat and assist human trafficking victims. Meeting the goal targets requires a better understanding at all levels of the dynamics that sustain and/or create gender inequalities, as well as targeted policies, strategies, actions and re- prioritised public expenditures. In turn, this requires committed leadership and political will to trigger social change, because gender inequality has been deeply rooted. Establishment of the Lao National Commission for the Advancement in Women (Lao NCAW) provides an excellent opportunity for the Government to consider gender issues across sectors. A need exists to further collect and disseminate data specific to women and men. a) Work alone: Refer to the text above, write true or false next to these sentences. 1. ........ The proportion of boys and girls are equal in the tertiary education. 2. ........ There is no gap between men and women in the workforce. 41

3. ........ There is a high percentage of Lao women elected to the parliament. 4. ........ Many young women and girls from the disadvantaged districts are the victims of human trafficking. 5. ........ Many trafficked girls are teenagers. Check your answers with a partner. b) Work in pairs: Underline the sentences in the text that are in the present perfect tense. Then complete these sentences about Laos. 1. In recent years, Lao government has tried to ……………………………..……… 2. Traditionally, in Laos girls from rural areas have ……………………………………. 3. About …………. %of Lao women have learnt how to read and write. 4. Lao women have always been responsible for ……………………………………… 42

Presentation a) Group work: Work in groups of fours. Each group will prepare a presentation on „The situation of women in Laos‟. Come up with a chart or graph you may need to help you with your presentation. Talk about the situation of women in health, education, the workplace, the home and society. Use the Lao statistics above and any other information you may have to make your group presentation on the situation of Lao women. b) Presentation: Each group is to gives their presentation. Listen for the following information and write it down under the headings below. You will need these notes later for your writing task. Health: Education: Workplace: Home: Society: 43

c) Report back:After each presentation, review the information in your notes. Ask the presenters: „Did you say…?‟ „What did you talk about…?‟ „How many… did you say?‟ Grammar note: Present perfect The present perfect tense is formed with: I / you / we / they + have + past participle of verb He / she / it + has + past participle of verb Regular verbs add „ed‟ to make the past participle. Irregular verbs change in different ways. See the irregular verb list on the back of this book The present perfect tense relates past actions or situations to the present. It is used to talk about a situation or action that began in the past and is still true in the present. The situation or action has not finished. e.g. Life expectancy in Laos has increased since 1950. Julie has been in Laos for the last six months. Since and for Since is used when we talk about a certain time in the past I have lived in Laos since 1992. Foris used to talk abut a period of time from the past until now. I have lived in Laos for eight years. Writing Work in pairs: Use your note,and as a group devise a plan of a short essay, e.g., The situation of women in Laos. You could also add other information if necessary. Group work a) First writing: Work in groups of 4. Write a paragraph or more about the situation of women in Laos. Using the plan you have made, and write an essay of about 100 words. You have 30 minutes to finish the task. Everybody should share ideas. b) After writing, check the following points and make any necessary change in your group 44

writing: 0-word requirement, inclusive of any additional information? but, because? g and punctuation correct? c) Exchange text with another group and then check with the whole class. d) Pick someone in your group to provide some feedback. Unit 6 Changes 1. Language focus:  Superlative adjectives using „most‟  Comparative and superlative of „good‟and „bad‟  Present perfect with „ever‟ / „never‟  Contrast „ago‟with „since‟and „in the last few years‟ 2. Vocabulary advantage ago Accident best crowded alcohol attend inhabitants cause change enrolments decline 45

disadvantage electricity ever improve happen never lower secondary school situation polluted traffic equate skew solve upper secondary school traffic lights 2) achieve 3. Speaking 1) 3) 4) 4. Conversation Vandy: Hi Julie. I haven‟t seen you for a while. Have you been busy? Julie: Yes, I have. I‟ve spent the last week at the National University of Laos. Somuch has changed since I was last there. Have you been there recently? Vandy: No, not recently. I studied there back in the 1990s. Julie: That‟s a long time ago. It has changed so much since 2000 when I was last there. It was very interesting to see it again. So many more modern buildings and students but some old buildings are still there. There are beautiful gardens and a lot of cars of course. I was stuck in a traffic jam trying to leave the University. 46

Vandy: Yes, the traffic has increased so much in Vientiane. It‟s becoming difficult to get around sometimes. Dongdok‟s campus is crowded now. What were you doing at the University? Julie: More research really. I interviewed two female professors about the place of women in the workplace in Laos. I got some excellent information about how things have changed about women in recent years. Women are involved more in making decisions. There are more womenin high positions. Vandy: That‟s good. Julie: Yes, more and more changes. I hope most of the changes are for the better! Vandy: Yes, me too. 5. Reading Vientiane Today If we compare Vientiane in 2000 and Vientiane now, there are many changes to note. The roads have much been improved with many new major thoroughfares as well as the surfacing of many smaller roads. In the center of the city the footpaths and gutters have been newly built. Better roads are important because of the traffic flow in recent years plus a sharp increase in the number of cars on the roads. Traffic jams are now part of the daily life of most commuters in Vientiane. Fleets of new buses help keep the number of cars down, but traffic continues to be a growing issue in Vientiane. The increase in cars and motorbikes has also meant the increase in the number of road accidents. Fortunately, a new fleet of ambulances in the capital helps cope with the increase in road accidents. An enormous amount of high-rise buildings are becoming a common sight in the city. Shopping centres, new government facilities, hospitals and schools can be seen all around Vientiane. Ontop of this, a number of new banks and particularly the introduction of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are also noticeable. Internet is more widely available throughout Laos and certainly in Vientiane Capital. Wi-Fi is freely available at home, and numerous cafes also offer free Wi-Fi to their customers. As Laos is about to enter the 21stcentury, a lot of more changes in Vientiane and all over the country are to be expected. Read the text and check whether these sentences are true or false 1. Vientiane has changed a lot for more than a decade. T/F 2. Many roads have seen much of improvement in Vientiane. T/F 3. Recently the number of cars has sharply been on the increase in Vientiane. T/F 4. Many buildings and shopping centres have been expanded. T/F 47

5. The number of vehicles have risen dramatically. T/F d) Read the text and discuss with your partner what changes have taken place in Vientiane. Further practice a) Discuss with your friend what changes occured in your hometown/district/ province and report back to the class. b) Work in groups of 4. Discuss about four disadvantages and four advantages for that changes. Write down the information on the chart below. Advantages Disadvantages c) Find someone: Ask him/her to stand up and walk around the class. Usethe following chart, ask any student „Have you been to………………..?‟ Ask „Where was that? „When was that?‟ and „Have things changed?‟ Write down the information on the chart as shown below: Place Where When Change a rural area with ..….…… ………… ……….… no electricity a rural area with no ……….… .………… …………. access to clean water a rural area with .……...… …………. ………… no roads. 48

Pre-reading a) Brainstorm with your group: What are the advantages and disadvantages of more people able to afford to buy cars and motorbikes? a) Read the text below and answer the questions. 1. Looking at the topic of the report what does it tell you? 2. According to the traffic police what are the main causes of the road accidents? 3. What should the public help to reduce the road accidents? 4. What should the concerned ministries do to solve the road accidents? Cooperation is essential to stopping road accidents A number of factors are the causes behind road accidents which have now become a major social problem in dire need of public involvement to find solution to it.The newspapers must continue to report them regularly because motorists do not respect the regulations and traffic congestion is getting worse every year. Between 2013-2014, the Vientiane Traffic Police Department reported that 175 people died and 2,200 people were injured as a result of road accidents.The main causes of the accidents were the same as those of last year, e.g., not following traffic regulations, car speed, rough road surfaces, no street lights, driving under toxication, and more vehicles on the road.To solve these problems the police must get tougher on motorists who drive under the influence of alcohol and enforce the traffic regulations in a very strict sensIn the absence of the law banning the sale of alcohol to anyone under 18, a large number of younsters are able to buy it and can enter any drinking establishment at any time.The Ministry of Public Security recently ordered a step-up in the prevention of and solution to these social problems.It is expected that in the near future the National Assembly will adopt such alcohol control law to be used as a tool to punish motorists who drives under intoxication.If such law and regulations are put in place, they will considerably help reduce the number of road accidents. As a result, the public will be able to feel safer when driving. Speaking a) Group work: What problems are discussed in the report? What other traffic problems are there in Vientiane? What are the causes of these problems? How could these problems be solved? Problems Causes Solution 49

c) Report back:Teacher will invite students to share their ideas and ask for comments from others in class. d) Role play: Work with a partner. One student plays the role of a traffic police officer and another student plays the character of a motorist who rides his motocycle with high speed and with no helmet, thus got stopped by the police officer. Come up with a conversation between thetwo of them and have it written down. Police: Stop! Stop! Stop! Motorist: What did I do wrong? Police: Well, ……………………………………………………………….. Motorist: ……………………………………………………………………… Discussion e) Teacher-student discussion: „What has changed in your province?‟ Use the chart below to conduct the discussion. Invite students to share information and opinions. In the last five years, what type of change has taken place in your province/ Laos? What are the results of those changes? Yes / No What are the results? …have the roads been improved? ……. …………….. … have more hospitals been built? … have more teachers been trained?has tourism increased? ……. …………….. … has the health of people improved? … have more government officials learnt to speak English? ……. …………….. ……. …………….. ……. …………….. 50