English Course 4

Learning about Canada

Professor Miriam López Serrano, PhD

Today’s lesson

Learning about Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada

Talking about the past

Describing people and places

Video 1

1. What does Rick say about Vancouver?

2. Are his friends University students?

3. What is the topic of conversation?

4. Did Alyssa and Dorothy have fun together?

Answers

1. What does Rick say about Vancouver?

Vancouver is considered one of the finest cities in the world.

Answers

2. Are his friends University students?

No, they are not.

They are High School Students.

Answers

3. What is the topic of conversation?

They are talking about last weekend.

They are talking about what they did over the weekend.

Answers

4. Did Alyssa and Dorothy have fun together?

No, they didn’t. (did not)

Alyssa went to the mall with her friends.

She bought a present for her mother.

Answers

Dorothy did not go out.

She stayed home because she had a sore throat and a headache.

She felt sick.

Video 2

Complete the spaces with the words you hear.

1.The Canadian Public library is definitely ___________ ____ _______.

2.There are also many _________ and __________inside this _________seven- storey building.

Answers

1. The Canadian Public library is definitely something to see.

2. There are also many shops and restaurants inside this beautiful seven- storey building.

Write down how they describe:

Daniel Ilya

Daniel is really smart for his age.

He is only 14. ( fourteen)

He is a really nice guy.

He’s got really pretty eyes.

Ilya is shy. ( timid, introverted)

He is new.

Describing people

Subject + verb + ( adverb) + adjective

e.g. Paul is extremely friendly.

Susan is rather conservative.

Describing people

Subject+ look/ have- has/tend to be+ adjective

e.g. She looks younger than women her age.

Frank tends to be rather stubborn.

Sue has beautiful blue eyes.

Describing people

Her hair is curly / white / gorgeous.

My neighbor is quite generous and friendly.

She loves to help people.

She also likes going to parties.

Describing places

There are beautiful trees everywhere.

You can meet many interesting and friendly people.

You can hear the sound of birds and smell the freshness of flowers.

Video 3

1. How popular is Stanley Park?

2. What can people enjoy when they visit the place?

3. How does Rick describe the seawall?

Stanley park is one of Vancouver’s most popular destinations.

Visitors can enjoy the playground, sandy beaches, lakes, fir trees, theaters, the seawall and other attractions.

The seawall is considered by many one of the most spectacular promenades in the world.

What season do you think it is?

What’s the weather like?

What physical activities are people doing?

Video 4

What do totem poles represent?

Totem poles represent part of Vancouver’s heritage.

For hundreds of years these totem poles have been photographed and visited by thousands of people.

Homework

How would you describe the totem poles?

Vancouver is considered one of the finest cities in the world.

Vancouver is one of the warmest cities in Canada.

It is one of the most populous cities in Western Canada.

Vancouver Stanley Park is one of the most popular destinations for tourists.

Vancouver’s public library is the third largest public library system in Canada.

Vancouver is considered to be one of the most livable cities of the world.

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood

Canadian literature is unique.

Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist

Born in Ottawa, on November 18, 1939

Her principal work of literary criticism is Survival.