START
1. SLOVAKIA: Where is it? Why is it? (History) How is it? Who are its leaders? What is its capital? Go round the room swapping stories. Change partners often.
2. DICTATION: The teacher will read some of the article slowly and clearly. Students will write down what they hear. The teacher will repeat the passage slowly again. Self correct your work from page 2 - filling in spaces and correcting mistakes. Be honest with yourself on the number of errors. Advise the teacher of your total number of errors. Less than 5 is very good. 10 are acceptable. Any more is room for improvement! More than 20 - we need to do some work!
3. READING: Get students to read the passage aloud. Swap readers every paragraph.
4. VOCABULARY: Students look through the article. Underline/highlight any vocabulary you do not know. Look in dictionaries. Discuss and help each other out. The teacher will go through & explain any words or phrases you do not understand.
5. EXPLAIN: Explain the following: Baptised / clumps of earth / narrow down / blissfully unaware / international stage / browsing / initial selection / huge diversity
6. 6 PLACES IN SLOVAKIA WORTH VISITING…: Think of 6 places in Slovakia worth visiting. (You may need to use the internet to help you) Why these? Compare and discuss with your partner.
7. 6 PLACES IN YOUR/ANOTHER COUNTRY…: Think of 6 places in your/another country worth visiting. (You may need to use the internet to help you) Why these? Compare and discuss with your partner.
8. BOOKS: With your partner on the board write as many words to do with ‘Books’ as you can. One-two minutes. Compare with other teams. Discuss together – linking your words.
9. THREE SENTENCES: Choose six/nine of the words from no 8. Write three sentences using two/three words in each. Underline your chosen words. The teacher will if necessary correct your work. Students might be asked to read their sentences aloud.
10. TOP 3 BOOKS/AUTHORS & 3 PUBLISHERS: Name your current top 3 books / authors. Can you think of 3 publishers? Compare with your partner and discuss. The teacher will pick some students to compare overall results.
Top 3 books Top 3 authors 3 Publishers
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
11. QUICK DISCUSSION: Student(s) A thinks Slovakia is worth visiting. Explain why. Student(s) B prefers another country (of your choice). Explain why.
12. ARTICLE QUIZ: With your partner or in small groups: (1 point for each correct answer. Lose ½ point if you look at the article for help!)
Student A
1) What book was launched?
2) Who is the author of the book?
3) Name the Slovak President?
4) How many pages does the book have?
5) Name the publishing house
6) What language is the book in?
7) What other languages will the book be in?
8) Name the Slovak capital
9) What do the High Tatra Mountains offer?
10) What does the book mostly contain?
11) What does Slovakia have a huge diversity of?
Student B
1) Name the towns with a castle or chateau
2) Where is Bratislava situated?
3) What date will the book be available in other languages?
4) Who was satisfied with the book contents?
5) Sum up what the author said
6) Where was the book launched?
7) How was the book launched?
8) What are many people blissfully unaware of?
9) Name the fascinating towns mentioned
10) What is the Presidents native town?
11) What was the President looking for?
13. UN-SCRAMBLE: Un-scramble the following…
1) Slovakia a President book of new launch the helped
2) Slovakia stage will the international It on help promote
3) publication ceremonially the new baptised the President
4) Poltar bridge was I in looking a for
5) contents I satisfied its am with
6) Slovakia began the distribution in book the of
7) Slovak the with to begin only book in is
8) Slovakia visit many towns to has fascinating
9) Scenic unaware many its people beauty are of blissfully
10) contains the book mostly photographs 383-page
(Answers are on page 14)
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: After reading the article guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
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a.
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The President of Slovakia is Robert Fico
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T / F
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b.
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The event took place at the Slovak National Museum
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T / F
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c.
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The President whilst browsing was looking for a statue in Poltar
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T / F
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d.
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The author hopes to write another book
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T / F
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e.
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The 384-page book contains many photos
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T / F
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f.
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The distribution of the book began in January
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T / F
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g.
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The book is in Slovak, English and German
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T / F
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h.
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Czech translations of the book will be available from June
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T / F
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2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
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a.
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launch
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awe-inspiring
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b.
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comprises
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chapters
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c.
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contents
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choice
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d.
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available
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lots of
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e.
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diversity
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tourists
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f.
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wonderful
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novel
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g.
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many
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consists of
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h.
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travellers
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looking through
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i.
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book
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obtainable
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j.
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browsing
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start
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3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article:
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a.
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The President of Slovakia
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for a bridge in Poltar
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b.
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The event took place on February 6th
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began in Slovakia
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c.
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The Slovak President
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Ivan Gasparovic
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d.
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I was looking
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mostly photographs
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e.
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It was hard
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of interesting places to visit
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f.
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The 383-page book contains
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at the Slovak National Museum
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g.
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The distribution of the book
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is only available in Slovak
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h.
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To begin with the book
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of countryside
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i.
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Slovakia has a huge diversity
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ceremonially baptised the new publication
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j.
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There’s also a wonderful large area
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to narrow down my initial selection
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GAP FILL: READING
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
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The President of Slovakia Ivan Gasparovic helped launch a new book about ________ last week. The event took place on February 6th at the Slovak National Museum. The ____ entitled “1000 interesting ______ about Slovakia” was written by Slovak author Jan Lacika. It will help promote Slovakia on the international stage. The Slovak President ____________ baptised the new ___________ with clumps of earth in the presence of its author. “While ________ through the book I wanted to find out whether it contains all that Slovakia’s history comprises. I was looking for a bridge in Poltar (This is Gasparovic’s native town in the Banská Bystrica region of central Slovakia) and I found it!” Gasparovic said adding, “I am satisfied with its ________.” The books author Jan Lacika: “It wasn’t difficult to find 1,000 of the most interesting places in Slovakia.” He added, “It was hard to narrow down my initial selection to the final number. I hope that no __________ in Slovakia will be without this book.”
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book
contents
Slovakia
things
publication
travellers
browsing
ceremonially
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The 383-page book contains mostly photographs with brief descriptions of sites, _______ and chateaux, monuments and open air folk museums. There is geographic criteria and a special chapter on the nation’s capital Bratislava. Ikar publishing house General Manager Gabriela Belopotocka: “The __________ of the book began in Slovakia last week.” To begin with the book is only in Slovak. English, German and Czech translations will be available from May 2008. Slovakia has a huge _______ of interesting ______ to visit. Most people who come to the country simply visit its capital Bratislava, which is situated on its western ______ with Austria. Many people are ________ unaware of its scenic beauty that lies beyond it to the east. This includes the Low and High Tatra Mountains, which offer skiing in winter and hiking in summer. There’s also a ________ large area of countryside known as Slovak Paradise. Slovakia has many ___________ towns to visit like Kosˇice, Martin and Banská Bystrica together with many castles and chateaux including Bojnice, Trencˇin and Spisˇská Nova Ves.
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blissfully
wonderful
border
diversity
castles
fascinating
places
distribution
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GAP FILL: LISTENING:
Listen and fill in the spaces.
1000 interesting things about Slovakia...
The President of Slovakia Ivan Gasparovic helped launch a new book about Slovakia last week. The ___________________ February 6th at the Slovak National Museum. The book entitled “1000 interesting things about Slovakia” was written by Slovak author Jan Lacika. It will help promote Slovakia on the international stage. The Slovak President ceremonially baptised the new publication with clumps _______________ presence of its author. “While browsing through the book I wanted to find out whether it contains all that Slovakia’s history comprises. I _________________ bridge in Poltar (This is Gasparovic’s native town in the Banská Bystrica region of central Slovakia) ______________!” Gasparovic said adding, “I am satisfied with its contents.” The books author Jan Lacika: “It wasn’t difficult ____________________ most interesting places in Slovakia.” He added, “______________ narrow down my initial selection to the final number. ______________ travellers in Slovakia will be without this book.”
The 383-page book contains mostly photographs with brief descriptions of sites, castles and chateaux, monuments _________________ museums. There is geographic criteria and a special chapter on the nation’s capital Bratislava. Ikar publishing house General Manager Gabriela Belopotocka: “The distribution of _________________ Slovakia last week.” To begin with the book is only in Slovak. English, German and Czech translations will be available from May 2008. Slovakia has a huge diversity of interesting places to visit. Most people _______________ country simply visit its capital Bratislava, which is situated on its western border with Austria. Many people are blissfully unaware of its scenic beauty that lies beyond ______________. This includes the Low and High Tatra Mountains, which offer skiing in winter ____________________. There’s also a wonderful large area of countryside known as Slovak Paradise. Slovakia has many fascinating towns to visit like Kosˇice, Martin and Banská Bystrica together _____________________ chateaux including Bojnice, Trencˇin and Spisˇská Nova Ves.
DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
a) Did the headline make you want to read the article?
b) Are you interested in Slovakia?
c) Do you ever promote your country?
d) Would you buy this book – 1000 interesting things about Slovakia?
e) What is your favourite book?
f) What travel books do you read?
g) What do you look for in a travel book?
h) Have you ever heard of A Rough guide / Lonely Planet / Footprint travel guides?
i) Have you ever visited the Slovak National Museum?
j) Do you visit the countryside a lot?
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STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
a) Are you a book reader?
b) What is your current favourite book?
c) Where do you read books?
d) Have you ever been to a book launch? If yes, where?
e) Where do you prefer to visit and why?
f) Are you a browser in bookshops?
g) Have you ever met the President of Slovakia?
h) What is your favourite part of Slovakia and why?
i) Who do you go with when visiting places of interest?
j) Did you like this discussion?
AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.
a. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
b. Was there a question you did not like?
c. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
d. What did you like talking about?
e. Which was the most difficult question?
SPEAKING
1000 interesting things in my/another country
In pairs or in teams of 3/4
You are keen to find out about the interesting places to visit in your / another country of your choice. Go round the room finding out 3 places that other people find interesting. Why?
List your findings below.
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Your interesting place
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Your colleagues interesting places
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In your Country
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1
2
3
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1
2
3
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In your capital City
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1
2
3
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1
2
3
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Another country
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1
2
3
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1
2
3
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In another capital city
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1
2
3
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1
2
3
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What places are the most exciting? What are the least exciting?
The teacher may ask some pairs/groups to present their findings.
LANGUAGE: CORRECT WORD: Choose the correct words from a–d below and write them in the article.
The (1)___ of Slovakia Ivan Gasparovic helped (2)___ a new book about Slovakia last week. The event took place on February 6th at the Slovak National Museum. The book entitled “1000 interesting things about Slovakia” was written by Slovak author Jan Lacika. It will help promote Slovakia on the international (3)__. The Slovak President ceremonially baptised the new publication with (4)__ of earth in the presence of its author. “While (5)__ through the book I wanted to find out whether it contains all that Slovakia’s history comprises. I was looking for a bridge in Poltar (This is Gasparovic’s native town in the Banská Bystrica region of central Slovakia) and I found it!” Gasparovic said adding, “I am satisfied with its contents.” The books author Jan Lacika: “It wasn’t difficult to find 1,000 of the most interesting places in Slovakia.” He added, “It was hard to narrow down my initial selection to the final number. I hope that no travellers in Slovakia will be without this book.” The 383-page book contains mostly photographs with brief descriptions of sites, castles and chateaux, monuments and open air folk museums. There is geographic criteria and a special chapter on the nation’s capital Bratislava. Ikar publishing house General Manager Gabriela Belopotocka: “The distribution of the book began in Slovakia last week.” To begin with the (6)__ is only in Slovak. English, German and Czech translations will be available from May 2008. Slovakia has a huge diversity of interesting places to visit. Most people who come to the country simply visit its capital Bratislava, which is situated on its (7)___ border with Austria. Many people are blissfully unaware of its scenic (8)___ that lies beyond it to the east. This includes the Low and High Tatra Mountains, which offer skiing in winter and hiking in summer. There’s also a wonderful large area of countryside (9)__ as Slovak (10)__. Slovakia has many (11)__ towns to visit like Kosˇice, Martin and Banská Bystrica (12)__ with many castles and chateaux including Bojnice, Trencˇin and Spisˇská Nova Ves.
