UNIT 10 · LESSON 1

Describe a Geographical Location

Interactive English lesson about beautiful places, geographical features, location phrases, recommendations, and criticisms.

By the end of this lesson, students can:

  • name common geographical features.
  • describe where places are located.
  • understand a photo story about Costa Rica.
  • use recommendations and criticisms naturally.
Progress
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Lesson Reference Pages

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Open / close Unit 10 Preview and Photo Story pageUnit 10 preview and photo story page
Open / close Unit 10 Lesson 1 pageUnit 10 lesson 1 page

Lesson Beginning · Warm-up

Start here: Think about places you know. Which places have mountains, waterfalls, lakes, oceans, seas, bays, gulfs, or volcanoes?

Which geographical feature is water surrounded by land?

Which feature is a group of mountains?

Which word means a very large body of salt water?

Which word means an opening in the earth that can send out lava?

V

Vocabulary · Geographical Features

Audio 22 · Vocabulary

Read and listen. Then use the words to describe places on a map.

a gulf
a bay
a lake
an ocean
a sea
a mountain range
a volcano
a national park

Which word means part of the sea that cuts into the land?

Which word means a large area of sea partly surrounded by land?

Which place is protected by a country because of nature, animals, or scenery?

Which word means a large body of salt water, smaller than an ocean?

📷

Photo Story · Costa Rica

Audio 23 · Photo Story

Part 1 · Meeting

Max: Have you folks been here long?

Frank: A little over a week. Unfortunately, we've only got two days left. You?

Max: We just got here yesterday, actually.

Frank: I'm Frank, by the way. Frank Lew. From Hong Kong.

Max: Max Billi. From Labro, Italy. Have you heard of it?

Frank: I can't say I have.

Max: It's a very small town about 20 kilometers north of Rome.

Part 2 · La Fortuna

Max: Hey, you wouldn't happen to know anything about the La Fortuna waterfall, would you? We plan on driving up there this weekend.

Frank: Actually, we just got back from there yesterday.

Max: What a coincidence! Was it worth seeing?

Frank: Spectacular. You don't want to miss it.

Part 3 · Warning and plan

Frank: But be sure to take it slow on the path down to the bottom of the falls. It can get pretty wet and slippery.

Max: Thanks for the warning. What if we want to get a look at the Arenal Volcano, too? Do you think that's doable in two days?

Frank: No problem. The volcano's only about twenty minutes west of La Fortuna by car. So I'm sure you could handle them both.

Photo Story Check

Where is Max from?

What place does Max ask about?

What warning does Frank give Max?

How far is Arenal Volcano from La Fortuna by car?

Focus on Language · Paraphrase

“I can’t say I have.” means ...

“What a coincidence!” means ...

“Was it worth seeing?” means ...

“You don’t want to miss it.” means ...

“Be sure to take it slow.” means ...

“Do you think that’s doable in two days?” means ...

“I’m sure you could handle them both.” means ...

G

Grammar · Prepositional Phrases of Geographical Place

Audio 24 · Grammar
Compass directions: north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest

Compass directions

Use compass words to describe direction: north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest.

For coasts, use: on the east coast / on the eastern coast. You can also say on the northern / southern / western coast.

How to describe geographical location

Use these phrases to say exactly where a place is. Pay attention to the preposition before each phrase.

Direction + of
Use north of / south of / east of / west of when one place is outside another place.
Example: Vietnam is south of China.
In the part of
Use in the northern / southern / eastern / western part of when the place is inside an area.
Example: Barranquilla is in the northern part of Colombia.
On a coast / river / lake
Use on with coasts, rivers, and lakes.
Example: Manaus is on the Amazon River.

Vladivostok is located ___ the eastern coast ___ Russia.

Barranquilla is ___ the northern part ___ Colombia.

Haikou is ___ the northern coast ___ Hainan Island in China.

Machu Picchu is located about 100 kilometers ___ Cuzco.

Vietnam is located ___ China.

Kota Kinabalu is ___ the north coast of Borneo.

Manaus is located ___ the Amazon River in Brazil.

Canada is ___ the north ___ the United States.

🔊

Pronunciation · Voiced and Voiceless th

Audio 25 · Pronunciation
Pronunciation tip: The letters th have two common sounds. In there, this, northern, southern, the sound is voiced: your voice vibrates. In thanks, think, north, south, the sound is voiceless: air comes out, but your voice does not vibrate.
Voiced thVoiceless th
there, this, northern, southern, the westthanks, think, north, south, southwest

Which word has a voiced th sound?

Which word has a voiceless th sound?

💬

Conversation Model · Describing a Location

Audio 26 · Conversation

A: Where exactly is the temple located?

B: About 15 kilometers north of Kyoto. Are you planning to go there?

A: I've been thinking about it.

B: It's a must-see. Be sure to take pictures!

Where exactly is the temple located?

What does B recommend?

Recommendations

Audio 28 · Recommendations

It’s a must-see.
You don’t want to miss it.

Criticisms

Audio 29 · Criticisms

It’s overrated.
It’s a waste of time.

Intensive Practice

Which sentence gives a recommendation?

Which sentence gives a criticism?

Which phrase asks for exact location?

Which sentence correctly describes a place?

Final Quiz

1. A volcano is a ...

2. “It’s a must-see” is a ...

3. Choose the correct phrase: Canada is ___ the north ___ the United States.

4. “You don’t want to miss it” means ...

5. “It’s overrated” is used to say something is ...

You’ve completed the first lesson.
Outstanding!