Lessons For Teaching In Japan: Countries - A Trip Around The World

Countries: A Trip Around The World

Preparation Materials: Bingo sheets, stamps, vocabulary cards.

Level: Upper elementary to first year junior high. 

Introduction 

One of the reasons to study English is because it is an international language. Many travelers from all over use English to communicate in different countries. We will look at a lesson that teaches countries as well as some useful travel phrases. Spinning the Globe There are many countries to choose from. An ideal mix combines countries that students know (United States, Russia) with countries they don’t know (South Africa, Iceland). For example:

• Canada 
• China 
• Brazil 
• South Korea 
• Italy 
• India 
• Egypt 
• Taiwan 
• England 
• Australia 
• Russia 

Preparation Activity: Interview Bingo

• The teacher prepares bingo sheets with country flags. 
• Each students is given a secret country card. 
• Students can circle their own flag on the sheet. 
• Students meet, do paper, rock, scissors, and the winner asks, “Where are you from?” 
• The loser answers, “I’m from [his or her card].” 
• The winner circles that flag. 
• Repeat. 
• When students get bingo, they go to the teacher for a prize. 

Main Activity: Let's Travel

• Students get a passport from teacher. 
• Inside, they write their name and country (the same secret card), and draw a picture of their face. For higher-level students, you can add more information. 
• The teacher sits at desks with different stamps representing each country. You can use some students as countries too as long as there is time to rotate them. 
• The students approach the desks and the teacher asks, “Where are you from?” 
• The student answers, “I’m from ~.” 
• The teacher asks, “Where are you going?” 
• The student answers, “I’m going to [any country]” 
• The teacher stamps their passport with that country’s stamp. 
• Repeat. 

Note: If you can find country stamps, that’s great. If not, stamp each flashcard so you and the students can remember what stamp belongs to what country.

Level Up: Customs Interview Instead of sticking to the pattern, challenge the students by adding new questions. For example: “How old are you?” “What’s your name?” “When is your birthday?” Or: “Where are you going?” “I’m going to Brazil” “Why?” “I like soccer.” This encourages students to think outside of the pattern.

Review: My Travel Diary 

After the lesson is over, students should have a passport full of different stamps. To review, pick a student and ask them to list the places they went in English. You can even use past tense: “Where did you go?” “I went to Canada, Brazil, China…”

Final Tips

• You can turn the vocabulary into a quiz by giving the students hints rather than showing them the cards. For example: “This country is hot. It has many crocodiles and kangaroos.” 
• Controlling the flow of students is important during shopping and passport games. Try to make sure that no country/shop is being ignored.