UNIT 1: A VISIT FROM A PEN PAL
1. GETTING STARTED
Work with a partner. A foreign pen pal is coming to stay with you for a week. What activities would you do during the visit?
2. LISTEN AND READ
Lan`s Malaysian pen pal, Maryam, was staying with Lan last week. Maryam and Lan have been pen pals for over two years and they correspond at least once every two weeks, but this was their first meeting.
On Jane’s first day in Ha Noi, Lan took her to Hoan Kiem Lake. Like Kuala Lumpur, Ha Noi is a busy modern city. Maryam was really impressed by the beauty of the city and by the friendliness of its people.
Over the next few days, the girls visited Ho Chi Minh`s Mausoleum, the History Museum and the Temple of Literature, as well as many beautiful parks and lakes in Ha Noi. On Friday, Maryam wanted to visit the mosque on Hang Luoc Street. Lan used to walk past the mosque on her way to primary school. However, this was Lan`s first visit. She enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere while Maryam was praying.
"I wish you had a longer vacation," Lan said to Maryam at the end of the week.
"Yes, I wish I had more time to get to know your beautiful country better. Lan, would you like to come and visit me next summer?" Maryam asked.
"That would be great! However, it seems very difficult for me to have a trip abroad. It all depends on my parents. Anyway, we`ll keep in touch."
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.
1) Lan and Maryam usually write to one another every ...
A two years. B month. C two weeks. D day.
2) Maryam was impressed because . . . .
A Ha Noi was big and modern. C Ha Noi was different from Kuala Lumpur.
B Ha Noi people were friendly. D Ha Noi and Kuala Lumpur were the same.
3) The girls went to see ...
A famous places in Ha Noi. C a place of worship.
B areas for recreation. D all the above.
4) Maryam wanted to ...
A visit Ha Noi next summer. C stay in Ha Noi.
B invite Lan to Kuala Lumpur. D visit Ho Chi Minh City.
3. SPEAK
a) Nga is talking to Maryam. They are waiting for Lan outside her school. Put their dialogue in the correct order and copy it into your exercise book. Then practice with your partner. Start like this.
Nga : Hello. You must be Maryam:
Maryam: That`s right, I am.
Nga: Pleased to meet you. Let me introduce myself. I`m Nga:
Maryam: Pleased to meet you, Nga? Are you one of Lan`s classmates?
Nga: Yes, I am. Are you enjoying your stay in Viet Nam?
Maryam: Oh yes, very much. Vietnamese people are very friendly and Ha Noi is a very interesting city.
Nga: Do you live in a city, too?
Maryam: Yes, I live in Kuala Lumpur. Have you been there?
Nga: No. Is it very different from Ha Noi?
Maryam: The two cities are the same in some ways.
Nga: I see. Oh! Here`s Lan. Let`s go.
b) Now you are talking to Maryarn’s friends. Introduce yourself. Make similar dialogues. Take turns to be one of Maryam’s.friends.
Yoko from Tokyo, Japan (a busy big capital city)
Like Vietnamese people
Love old cities in Viet Nam
Paul from Liverpool, England (an industrial city, North of England)
Love the people, the food, and the beaches in Viet Nam
Jane from a small town in Perth, Australia (a quiet small town)
Love the temples and churches in VietNam
Love "ao dai”, Vietnamese food, especially "nem”
4. LISTEN
Tim Jones` Mexican pen pal, Carlo, is visiting the USA. Listen to their conversation and check (V) the numbers of the correct pictures. a) 1 b) 2 c) 2
TAPE TRANSCRIPT
Tim: Are you hungry, Carlo?
Carlo: Yes.
Tim: Okay. Let’s go to a restaurant downtown. If we go through the park, we can catch a bus on Ocean Drive.
Carlo: That’s fine. I really like walking in the park. You’re lucky to have a place like this close to your home. It’s so beautiful with all the trees and flowers and a pond in the middle.
Tim: Carlo! Be careful. You’re walking on the grass. The park keeper is growing some more – you’ll kill the new grass!
Carlo: Oh, sorry. I