TASK 2 - THEMATIC CONTENT 1

ENGLISH THREE
THE CITY THROUGH MY EYES, YOUR EYES, THEIR EYES
 ENGLISH THREE:
THE CITY THROUGH MY EYES,
YOUR EYES, THEIR EYES
THEMATIC UNIT: PLACES TO VISIT
THEMATIC CONTENT: NEIGHBORHOODS

TASK: In small groups, you will create a questionnaire to find out

about different people’s opinions regarding the best places in
Medellin. You will survey at least three people. Then, the whole
group will analyze the collected information and share the results.

Context: International students visiting the university want to learn about the best places to
see in Medellin.
INPUT: A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
GOALS:
• To understand specific information in an oral text.
• To describe a place in a written text.

LANGUAGE FOCUS
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Dates: When is your birthday?. My birthday is on June 17th, Yesterday, it was
November 3rd.
Feelings and Emotions: I feel stressed, I am overwhelmed. He is great. I am so
thankful.  
Countries and Nationalities: Where are you from?. Have you visited any other country different
from Colombia?. What is your favorite country?
-ed  and –ing Ending Adjectives: I am puzzled. The class is boring. This report is amazing,
Tenses: Simple Past, Past Continuous and Present Perfect (Affirmative and Negative): I wrote
an essay. I did not finish the task. I was carrying out an interview. I was not developing the
project. I have read an academic article. I have not completed the bio-statement.  
Expressions: How long, For, Since: How long have you studied your program? I have lived in
Medellin for 15 years. I have worked since last semester.
Community Places: I was in the school for 13 years. I will visit the hospital to conduct a study, I
have been to the bank to get cash.
Shapes Vocabulary: This is a triangle. Those are pyramids.
Sizes Vocabulary: The team is big, the teacher left us a huge amount of work. The universe is
enormous.    
Materials: My pencil is made of graphite. Glass is used in labs.
Prepositions of Place (around, in front of, behind, between, on the corner) The research center
is between the coffee shop and the library.
Currency The dollar exchange rate is 3.000 pesos. The Euro went up yesterday.

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 Simple Past, Past Continuous and Present Perfect Questions: What has been your greatest
achievement in college?. What was your favorite course last semester? What were you doing at
the lab?
Information Questions (How long, how far, how much, how many, how big, etc): How much
does a course cost? How long does it take to study a Masters? How far should I go to take the
metro?  
Comparatives and Superlatives: She is the greatest person of all. She is the best person in the
community. He works harder than me.
Adjective Order:  She had a small round black wooden box to keep her memories.
Time Expressions in Future: I will study a Masters. I will pursue a PhD. I will be in an exchange
program.  
Sequence, comparison and Addition Connectors: first, meanwhile, later, until, before, after, then,
later, finally, afterwards, eventually.
Future Tense: going to:  It is going to be a hard time solving the midterm exam in just one hour. I
am going to the United States next semester.
Verbal Patterns: Infinitive and Gerund:  I really love studying. I prefer writing than speaking
Invitations and Requests (Let’s... / Shall... / Would.../) Would you like to have something to
drink? Shall we start the discussion now?

Pronunciation
3

ACTION ONE: Watch a video of a foreign city and compare it to your hometown in terms
of population, weather, transportation, education system, industry and one other category
of your choice. Write a short text summarizing your findings.
PRE:
I. With a classmate answer the questions below and talk about them:

Where is Amsterdam?
What is Amsterdam famous for?
Is there any representative person from Amsterdam, who? Why?
What is the most representative place in Amsterdam? Why?

II. Write down the answers you got from the previous exercise.

Amsterdam is located in Netherlands. Netherlands is a country of Europe.

Amsterdam is famous for cannabis, more exactly for the legalization. In this city you can find

bars where people smoke weed in a legal way. Amsterdam is recognized like the city of it´s culture ,

bicycles and
ENGLISH THREE
THE CITY THROUGH MY EYES, YOUR EYES, THEIR EYES
 the city of the canals. Also, Amsterdam has a neighborhood very know, "Red neighborhood"; in that

neighborhood there are many interesting places like theaters and so cool stores. Amsterdam is famous

for it´s museums too, for example the Van Gogh museum and Ana Frank's house that now is a museum.

A representative person of Amsterdam is Van Gogh, he was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who is

among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. They include

landscapes, still lifes, portraits and self-portraits, and are characterised by bold colours and

dramatic, impulsive and expressive brushwork that contributed to the foundations of modern art.

III. Watch the video: Amsterdam Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia and complete the fo-
llowing chart with the required information.

AMSTERDAM
4
In XVII century it was the center of world economy
Dam square was founded 750 years ago Amsterdam is located in Netherlans, more exactly in
The name of the city is for a a dam that protect the river Holland
amstel. In Amsterdam there are many natural parks. The most
Trought the windows of the Royal Palace you can watch important caracteristic is the district of the canals
the monuments for peple who died in the WWII
There are many museums in the city where you can find
works of the masters of the art, such as Van Gogh
The canals central district is a humanity heritage

In this city you can find all common means of
transportation, but the caracteristic that make this city
very interesting is the use of the bike. Amsterdam is
known like the city of the bicycle, the people use the bike
because the geography of the city. The people likes walk
too.
The population is over 1.2 million people, is the largest
city in Amsterdam. Is a multicultural city.
Everybody talk english.
They are tolerant and friendly Talkers

The red neighborhoods. The heart of the city looks like a historic open air museum.
The Royal Palace is located in Dam square, Dam squere that is in the central station. Madame
Tissaudi is a museum of wex. Other museums like the Ruks museum, the Diamond museum, Van
Gogh museum, etc. The parks are very interestings to pass a sunny day, for example the Vondel
Park. The people who lover the beer could visit the old Heineken factory. At night, Leid Seplein is a
great option. Finaly, if you want a romantic air, you must prove the canals district.

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 WHILE:
IV. Using information described in the previous video: population, weather,
transportation, education system, history and one other category etc., write a short
text in which you: a) describe these aspects, and b) compare it to Medellín. Then,
read the text aloud to the class. Use the box below to write your own text.

The population in Amsterdam is over 1,2 million people. Amsterdam is the largest city in

Netherlands, but Medellín is larger than Amsterdam.The weather in Amsterdam is sunny

and very cold. Amsterdam is windier and colder than Medellin. The metro of Amsterdam is

very similar than the metro of Medellín. The educational system in both countries is very similar.

In Amsterdam are eight years of primary education; four, five or six years of secundary

education (different in Medellín). The story of Amsterdam is about many wars and difficult processes

for get freedom and peace. Amsterdam and Medellín are cities that have really interesting

story to know.

POST:
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LANGUAGE FOCUS
Write short ideas comparing Medellin to Amsterdam or vice
versa. Then, mention the reasons why you think Medellin is
better. Follow the examples below:
Medellín is as interesting as Amsterdam
Amsterdam has more inhabitants than Medellín

Medellín is bigger than Amsterdam; Medellín has a better metro than Amsterdam; Amsterdam

people use the bike more than Medellín people; Amsterdam is as beautiful as Medellín.

Medellín is better because the people and the way that the people enjoy the city. Here you

can find so much about latin culture and I think that our culture is more special/interesting than Ams-
terdam culture.
ACTION TWO: Prepare a presentation based on the following aspects of
your neighborhood: location, size, attractions, type of housing, challenges,
and opportunities. Present it to the class (3 mins).
PRE:
LANGUAGE FOCUS
The chart below contains some of the community places you can find in a
neighbourhood. Think of a symbol that represents each one of them and
draw it!

ENGLISH THREE
THE CITY THROUGH MY EYES, YOUR EYES, THEIR EYES
 Ice crea m parlou r Pet sho p

Beaut y parlou r Theatr e

Par k
Museum

Book sho p
Library

Think of a Think of a
co mm unity co mm unity
pl ace yo urself : pl ace yo urself :

I. Answer the following questions according to your experience.

Use the chart below to write your ideas down.
What words can you think of to describe your neighbourhood?
What places of your neighbourhood do you like and dislike? Describe
them.
What place should everybody visit in your neighbourhood?

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WHILE:
Make a presentation of your neighborhood to the class use the boxes below to take notes.

The Description of the The place everybody

The Words that describe One historical fact about
places you like and dislike should visit in my
your neighbourhood are… my neighbourhood is…
in your neighbourhood is… neighbourhood is…

POST:
II. Use the information in the chart above to write a description of your neighbourhood in the
lines below. Then, read it aloud to your classmates (130 words). Tell your classmates that after
you finish reading aloud, you would like them to ask you questions about your neighbourhood.
7

ENGLISH THREE
THE CITY THROUGH MY EYES, YOUR EYES, THEIR EYES