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GENERAL ENGLISH · GENERAL ISSUES · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

VISITING
SRI LANKA
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1 Warm up

Look at the questions about Sri Lanka and select the correct answer.

1. Which ocean is Sri Lanka located in?

a. Indian b. Pacific c. Atlantic

2. What currency is used in Sri Lanka?

a. Sri Lankan Rupee b. Sri Lankan Won c. Sri Lankan Baht

3. How many species of mammals have been found in Sri Lanka?

a. 345 b. 234 c. 123

4. When was the Sri Lankan flag created?

a. 486BCE b. 486 c. 1486

5. What is the national sport of Sri Lanka?

a. volleyball b. football c. cricket

6. What is Sri Lanka’s largest export?

a. cheese b. coffee c. tea

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2 Visual Guide: The sites of Colombo

Look at the list below and tell your partner if you know or can guess how the items in the first column
relate to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, then watch the video and put them in the order that you
see them (1-first, 2-second etc.)

horse racing

air pollution

Galle Face Green

Seema Malaka

Gangaaramaya Temple

local schools

kite season

traffic congestion

Have a quick chat with your partner about Colombo and Sri Lanka.

1. Do you know anything else about Sri Lanka?

2. After watching the video, do you think you would like to travel to Colombo?
3. Are there any similarities between Colombo and where you come from?

3 Focus on keywords: natural expressions

Match the underlined words to the definitions below.

1. It took me a long time to learn the guitar as there were many bumps in the road that I had to get
over.

2. The amazing smells that were coming out of the window really drew me to this restaurant.

3. I love lying beside the pool, chilling out and catching some rays.

4. I can’t get enough of this new chocolate bar, I think I could eat a hundred of them.

5. One of my big bugbears is people who eat crisps on the train, it really drives me crazy.

6. They said that they were going to build a new stadium, but the plans never got off the ground.

7. I always imagined having a big family with loads of little ones running around the garden.

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a. sitting or lying in the sun

b. attracted to something
c. love something so much that you always want more
d. something that delays a process, or prevents something from developing
e. young children
f. a significant cause of annoyance or irritation
g. started, began something

4 Listen for details

Watch the video and answer these questions.

1. What was the first thing that made the speaker come to Colombo?

2. What was Galle Face Green previously used as?

3. What is Gangaramaya Temple?

4. What countries did the building take influence from?

5. What are two things that annoy them about Colombo?

6. Which people in Sri Lanka think that they can make a change when it comes to pollution?

5 Vocabulary for conversation 1

Look at the expressions from the video with your partner and using the context, try to guess the
meaning of each one. Then, to help you remember the language, have a chat with your partner, and
use them to talk about your life.

• ... all you will see is people from all backgrounds kicking back ...
• ... Not everything in Colombo works like a dream though...
• ... the fact that they are the ones who can make a difference ...

Let’s chat.

1. How do you like to kick back at the weekend?

2. Is there any part of the government in your country that works like a dream?
3. How can you make a difference if you have a friend who is having a bad time?

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6 Pre-reading: vocabulary

Part A: Match the following vocabulary to the definitions.

1. make-up (n) a. changed form

2. staggering (adj.) b. so surprising that is hard to believe

3. publicised (adj.) c. made something known to the public

4. fortnight (n) d. the feeling of being thankful to others

5. excruciating (adj.) e. considered to be holy

6. gratitude (n) f. two weeks, common in British English

7. sacred (adj.) g. including a large number of things

8. morphed into (phr. v) h. extremely painful or bad

9. all-encompassing (adj.) i. the different things, people etc. that combine to form
something

Part B: Now fill in the gaps using a word from Part A.

1. The project was seen to be a success.

2. I always want to express the I feel towards my sister.

3. The football stadium a concert venue in the summer.

4. The kids were off school for a , and they couldn’t stop smiling.

5. Sam visited so many places in India and they all made her see the world differently.

6. London has a diverse cultural and that can make it such an interesting place to
live.

7. The dinner at the hotel has an menu with drinks and desserts included.

8. When I broke my ankle, I experienced periods of pain.

9. His new movie had been as the best film of the year.

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7 Skimming for general understanding

You are going to read about some of the festivals that occur in Sri Lanka. Match the following
paragraph titles (1-7) to the article on page six.

1. Cheers for freedom

2. A wide selection to go to
3. A family and a light
4. Rejoice to the teeth
5. Thank you through pain
6. Music and dance
7. Celebrate an arrival

The festivals and celebrations of Sri Lanka

Celebrate with the locals on the Resplendent Isle

A.

Due to its long, rich history and its multi-cultural make-up, Sri Lanka is fortunate enough to have amazing festivals
all year round. The vast majority of the festivals in Sri Lanka are worth checking out but here are a few that have
something extra special about them.

B.

Duruthu Poya Day is celebrated all over the island and it occurs during the first full moon of the year. The festival
is held to celebrate Buddha’s first visit to the island 2500 years ago. The premium location to witness these vibrant
celebrations is at the Raja Maha Vihara temple which Buddhists believe dates back to 500 BCE. The event itself
is centred around a staggering procession that includes musicians, dancers and even animals.

C.

On February 4th Sri Lanka celebrates its Independence Day. On this day the country gets together to rejoice
at the anniversary of becoming free from British rule in 1948. The most publicised events occur in the capital
Colombo, and these peak with a grand military parade. Not just in the capital but throughout the country you will
find performances which promote the ideas of unity and independence.

D.

Commonly held in July or August the Kataragama Festival quite unsurprisingly takes place in the southern town
of Kataragama. It runs for a fortnight and is dedicated to the Hindu God Skanda. The festival incorporates many
stunning performances that you have probably never set your eyes on before. There is a procession of elephants
and a handful of locals who go out of their way to perform excruciating acts of pain. These include hanging from
hooks inserted into their skin or walking on red hot coals. The believers think that these acts of pain help them
show gratitude to God who may in turn return the favour.

E.

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In October or November try and set aside some time to take in Deepavali the Hindu festival that celebrates
everything that is good and light. The festival lasts for five days with the most important night falling when the
moon is at its darkest. The best place to feel the vibe of this authentic celebration is in the north of the country in
Jaffna. One of the best things you can do to really get a good feel for the festival is to arrange a house visit where
a local Tamil family will warmly welcome you.

F.

While Sri Lanka has several major festivals and celebrations there are also quite a few less publicised festivals that
can also be worth checking out. In July you can attend the Festival of the Tooth which honours the sacred tooth
of Lord Buddha. Decorated elephants lead an unforgettable parade through the city of Kandy.

G.

If you like to dance the night away, then a visit to the Sri Lankan countryside and the Atman festival might be right
up your street. It primarily began life as a hip-hop festival but quickly morphed into an all-encompassing event
which includes music, dance, culture and spirituality. The festival usually occurs in late May and offers you the
chance to make some memories that will last you a lifetime.

Sources: srilanka.travel, kelaniyatemple.lk, plc.lk, en.wikipedia.org, holidify.com, srilanka.travel, globalbucketlist.com,

kataragama.org, tourslanka.com, traveltriangle.com, travel.eatsandretreats.com, atman-festival.com, viberate.com

8 Vocabulary for conversation 2

Look at the examples of natural language from the article with your partner and from the context,
try to guess the meaning of each one. To help you remember the expressions, have a chat with your
partner and use them to talk about your life.

• ... tunning performances that you have probably never set your eyes on before...
• ... help them show gratitude to God who may in turn return the favour...
• ... If you like to dance the night away...

Let’s chat.

1. What is the most beautiful beach that you have ever set your eyes on?
2. Do you think it is important to return the favour if someone has been nice to you in the past?
3. What kind of music would you like to dance the night away to?

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9 Extension/ homework: Sri Lankan food

Look at the two texts below, each one is about something wonderful you can try in Sri Lanka. Try to
complete each one with the vocabulary in the box.

Once you have read your text you must then summarise your paragraph for your partner.

When you are summarising it, try and use different vocabulary, as this will develop your ability to
paraphrase.

cutlery doughballs scooping slippery subtle variety

A. Flatbread/Roti

1
There are a of flatbreads for you to try if you visit the island of Sri Lanka, and
2
each one of them has its own different characteristics. Perhaps the most popular
is coconut roti which is super easy to prepare should you wish to put one together at home. As the
3
recipe doesn’t use yeast of any kind all you need to do is make little and throw
them onto the pan.

In Sri Lanka, flatbreads are traditionally eaten at all times of the day, for breakfast lunch or dinner.
4 5
As curries are often served without flatbreads are perfect for
6
up those dishes and popping them into your expectant mouth. The problem is
that they are so delicious you will probably need more than one with your curry.

authentic chopped commonly high-end treat variations

B. Kottu

1
In Sri Lanka, you can usually find two of the beautiful dish known as Kottu. In
2
the north, you will more find kottu - roti which is a dish made with
3
roti, a curry dish, eggs, onions and chillies. In parts of the south, you will find
Kothu parotta, which uses parotta (a different type of flat bread) instead of roti.

4
For that real feel some of the best places to get kottu are on the street. However,
5
there is a huge variation in kottu and you can even get it from some of the hotels
in the area. Certain chefs like to be experimental with their kottu as well, and if you are lucky
6
enough to find it with cheese added then your taste buds are in for a .

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Look at the questions below and talk to your partner.

1. Do you have a type of bread in your country that is similar to a flatbread? Do people eat a lot of
bread in your country?
2. Would you like to try kottu? Are you a fan of street food?
3. Is there any food from your country that is served at cheap restaurants but also really expensive
ones?

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Transcripts

4. Listen for details

Narrator: I have been living in Colombo for over a decade and while I’ve had to negotiate a few
bumps in the road it is a city that I have really fallen for during my time here. The first
thing that really drew me here was the beaches. I still love them all but my preferred
beach at the moment is Galle Face Green.

Narrator: Quite surprisingly, in the 19th century, this stretch of land was used for horse racing, but
you won’t see any of that these days. For miles around all you will see is people from all
backgrounds kicking back and catching some rays. I adore being there during Kite Season
when hundreds of colourful kites float up into the sky flooding the area with energy and
vibrancy.

Narrator: I also have a real affection for the cultural heritage of the city, this place is bursting with
energy, and I just can’t get enough of it. One of my favourite places is Gangaramaya Temple
which is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the city.

Narrator: The design of the temple incorporates styles of buildings from a number of Asian countries
including Thailand, India and China. Within the area surrounding Gangaramaya Temple, I
also love to spend time taking in the spirituality of Seema Malaka which is a structure that
stands on three platforms connected by pontoon bridges.

Narrator: Not everything in Colombo works like a dream though and some things get on my nerves
from time to time. One of my big bugbears is traffic congestion and also its ugly brother
air pollution. Not a single person in Colombo can stand the traffic and despite constant
promises from the government to improve the infrastructure none of their ambitious plans
ever seem to get off the ground.

Narrator: I’ve heard from friends that Colombo’s Greenhouse Gas emissions have more than doubled
in the last ten years and sometimes when I step outside I can more than believe it.

Narrator: The air quality drops so low that they sometimes have to close local schools as breathing
the air can have adverse effects on the little ones who attend. There is some hope though,
and the younger generation of Sri Lankans seem passionate about the fact that they are
the ones who can make a difference. I really hope they do because Colombo with clean
air would be like heaven on earth.

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Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
This gives the teacher an opportunity to set the context and allows the students time to talk about their previous
knowledge in relation to Sri Lanka.

1. a. 2. a. 3. c. 4. a. 5. a. 6. c.

2. Visual Guide: The sites of Colombo

10 mins.
In this stage, students will be able to watch a video that covers of the good and bad things you can see if you visit
Colombo. Ask the students to first discuss if they can guess how the items relate to Colombo then ask them to
watch the video (without sound) and put them in the correct order. Students compare answers with a partner and
then discuss Colombo.

Galle Face Green

horse racing
kite season
Gangaaramaya Temple
Seema Malaka
traffic congestion
air pollution
local schools
Sri Lanka Quick Facts
Population- Roughly 22 million
Weather- Two seasons which are both related to monsoons, with an average temperature of 27C/28C it is one of
the hottest countries in the world
Sri Lanka is an island, and it is shaped like a tear drop
Important places- Colombo (Capital), Kandy, Jaffna
Sri Lankan wildlife: elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, red slender loris
Sri Lankan food: Fish ambul thiyal (sour fish curry), kukul mas curry (chicken curry), wambatu moju (eggplant/brinjals
pickle)
The currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee

3. Focus on keywords: natural expressions

5 mins.
Make sure students can correctly pronounce the target language. Ask them to complete the task by themselves
first, and then compare answers with a partner.

1. → d. 2. → b. 3. → a. 4. → c. 5. → f. 6. → g. 7. → e.

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4. Listen for details

5 mins.
Tell students to read through the questions, listen to the audio and then answer the five questions, comparing
their answers with their partners afterwards.

1. "...The first thing that really drew me here was the beaches..."
2. "...this stretch of land was used for horse racing..."
3. "... one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the city..."
4. "...countries including Thailand, India and China..."
5. "...is the traffic congestion and also its ugly brother air pollution..."
6. "...There is some hope though, and the younger generation of Sri Lankans seem passionate..."
Video sources:
Sources:
https://www.urtrips.com/en/top-beaches-in-colombo/
https://visitcolombo.com/content/2-galle-face-green
https://traveltriangle.com/blog/heritage-sites-in-colombo-bdp/
https://srilanka.travel/cultural_heritage
https://gangaramaya.com/
https://bestpubcrawl.com/can-you-enjoy-life-in-colombo-a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-pros-and-cons/
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/sri-lanka-loses-5-million-daily-to-traffic-congestion/
https://asiafoundation.org/2023/07/26/its-time-to-act-on-sri-lankas-air-quality/

5. Vocabulary for conversation 1

10 mins.
Ask students to look through the sentences together and try to guess the meaning, monitor to support and then
allow them to personalise the vocabulary with a quick discussion.
Kicking back- relaxing, chilling out
Works like a dream– goes extremely well
Make a difference – have a significant positive effect on a situation or person

6. Pre-reading: vocabulary

10 mins.
Ensure students can correctly pronounce the target vocabulary. Ask them to complete the task by themselves
first and then compare answers with a partner.
Part A:

1. → i. 2. → b. 3. → c.
4. → f. 5. → h. 6. → d.
7. → e. 8. → a. 9. → g.
Part B:

1. staggering 2. gratitude 3. morphed into

4. fortnight 5. sacred 6. make-up
7. all-encompassing 8. excruciating 9. publicised

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7. Skimming for general understanding

5 mins.
Students should be encouraged to skim through the article and not to spend too much time reading, perhaps set
a time limit if your group of learners are comfortable with it.

A. A wide selection to go to B. Celebrate an arrival C. Cheers for freedom

D. Thank you through pain E. A family and a light F. Rejoice to the teeth
G. Music and dance
Sources:
https://srilanka.travel/festivals_year_around
https://kelaniyatemple.lk/the-duruthu-perahera-and-festival/
https://www.plc.lk/event/duruthu-poya-day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelaniya_Raja_Maha_Vihara
https://www.holidify.com/pages/vibrant-festivals-of-sri-lanka-3362.html
https://www.srilanka.travel/festive?article=52
http://globalbucketlist.com/experiences/kataragama/
https://kataragama.org/kataragama-puja.htm
https://www.tourslanka.com/events-festivals/deepavali-festival-of-lights/
https://traveltriangle.com/blog/festivals-in-sri-lanka/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(Sri_Lanka)
https://travel.eatsandretreats.com/events-and-festivals-in-sri-lanka-in-2019/
https://www.atman-festival.com/
https://www.viberate.com/festival/atman-festival/

8. Vocabulary for conversation 2

10 mins.
Ask students to look through the sentences together and try to guess the meaning, monitor to support and then
allow them to personalise the vocabulary with a quick discussion.
Set your eyes on- to notice something
Return the favour- do something nice for someone who has done something nice for you
Dance the night away- dance for so long that you forget about the passing of time

9. Extension/ homework: Sri Lankan food

15- 20 mins.
The task below can be done in class or set for homework.
First, ask the students to complete the text using the words from the word bank. Then put students into pairs and
provide each student with either text, A or B. The students read through their own text and then tell their partner
what their paragraph was about.
Try and make sure the students use their own words when they are telling their classmates about their paragraph.
A:

1. variety 2. subtle 3. doughballs

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4. cutlery 5. scooping 6. slippery

B:

1. variations 2. commonly 3. chopped

4. authentic 5. high-end 6. treat

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