Unit 3 Travel Journal Using Language Journey down the Mekong A night in the Mountains Reading and discussing Have you ever been to Tibet? Tibet Speaking activity: Imagine that you and your partners are planning to make a trip down the Mekong, you need to choose what you will take with you, please have a group of four to discuss which thing you think is the most useful, and which thing is the least useful . Give a reason why do you think so. The following things are for you to choose. flashlight umbrella matches raincoat can openers tyre water bottle compass radioblanket tent map 1. When they arrived in Tibet, it was winter then. 2. Wang Wei was behind me as usual. 3. When we reached a valley, it became warmer. F F T True or False. First reading 4. After supper, we started to make camp. 5. Wang Kun went to sleep and Wang Wei stayed awake. 6. There was almost no wind on that night. F F T Please listen to the passage and fill in the chart. see On the mountain: 1. _ 2. _ sky 3. _ stars In the valleys: 4. _ flying around us 5. _ eating grass hear snowfallclear bright almost no sound but flames of the fire Second reading butterflies yaks and sheep Do 1. _ 2._ 3. _ _ 4. _ ride bicycle in the snow change autumn clothes to winter clothes change winter clothes back to autumn clothes put up tents to make camp feel 1. _ 2. _ _ _ 3. _ _ (legs) heavy and cold To climb the mountain was hard work, but to go down the hills was great fun. can hardly wait to see their cousins 1. How does Wang Kung feel about the trip now？ He is starting to like it/ enjoy it. 2. What do you think has changed his attitude？ Seeing how beautiful the land is has changed Wang Kuns attitude. Please read the passage again and discuss these questions in pairs. 3. Is it natural for Wang Kun not to feel lonely? Yes. We can see that the scene Wang Kun was seeing is beautiful. The clear sky, the bright stars and the fire accompany him. Besides, their cousins are waiting for him. They will meet soon. So he doesnt feel lonely. 4. Would you feel the same way in this situation? Why or why not? Yes, because beautiful scenery will make people happy when his best friend are waiting for him somewhere. 5. Do Chinese like to be around others more than westerners? Yes. Chinese prefer to be around others while westerners want to spend some time alone. This is because of different cultures. 6. What items are Wang Kun and Wang Wei carrying with them? What do you think they will have to leave behind in Dali? What should they take instead? Wang Kun and Wang Wei are carrying a tent, a cooker and food, pillows, water bottles. In the mountains they wore long wool coats, caps, gloves and trousers. In the plains they changed into T-shirts and shorts. Sample dialogue: WK: Oh, up so early? WW: Early? Its nearly 9 oclock. Imagine that in the morning there is a dialogue between Wang Kun and Wang Wei. What do you think they would say before they leave camp? WK: Oops. ( Look at his watch). I guess youre right. WW: Why were you so tired? WK: Well, I stayed up late last night to watch the stars. WW: Thats nice. They must be pretty. WK: Yes, they were. Listening and speaking 1 Before you listen, read the exercises below and try to predict what the listening is about. Can you imagine what happened when Wang Kun and Wang Wei travelled down the Mekong river? seeing some beautiful sceneries meeting some thing dangerous getting lost chatting with the passers-by What happened? 2 Listen to the tape and tick the statement which tells the main idea of the dialogue. A. A girl from Laos told Wang Kun about how Laotians use the Mekong River. B. A girl told Wang Kun about what they would see along the Mekong River. C. A girl from Laos told Wang Kun about how important and beautiful the Mekong is. C 3 Listen again and complete the passage below. The Mekong is the most important river in Laos. It even _ on the national _ of the country. Laotian people use the river for _, _ and _ goods and people around the country. appears flag washing transporting fishing They call the Mekong “the _ of Laos”, but in Tibet people call it “the water of the _”. If you follow the river in Laos, you can visit temples, caves and a _. At night, you can sleep in some small _ by the river. sea rocks waterfall villages The next day the travellers see a girl (G) walking along the road. Wan Kun (WK) speaks to her. WK: Hello! G: Hello! Are you travelers? Listening Text Part 3 CHATTING WITH A GIRL WK: Yes. Were travelling along the Mekong River. Weve been all through China a