Name that city: the cost of living

Level: Upper Intermediate

Lesson plan by Andrew Drummond

Main Aims:
• To stimulate discussion and provide practice of spoken fluency
(spontaneous speech)
• To provide practice of the speech functions 'expressing surprise' and
it's opposite 'expressing no surprise' (controlled practice of speech
functions/tools)
• To provide practice of the grammar of making comparisons

Other Aims:
• To provide gist reading practice with a global focus
• To provide practice scanning information to check predictions
• To provide practice of preparing for delivering a short presentation
(prepared speaking)

Main Activities

1 Introduction and brainstorming: teacher could begin by raising

interest in the cities. I tried drawing a map on the board and pointing
out the cities' locations. Students work in small groups discussing the
questions. Ideally students will know something about each place but
not that much.

2 Gist reading (Name That City): students look at the descriptions of

the five cities individually and write the name of the city in the space
provided. In pairs they can highlight the information that 'gave the
game away'.

Answers: A - Sydney B - Cairo C - Kuala Lumpur D - Paris E - Rio

de Janeiro

© Andrew Drummond and Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2004

Downloaded from the lesson share in www.onestopenglish.com
3 Prediction & 1st Reading: students are no doubt aware of the big
difference in the cost of living across various cities. Teacher could
ask, 'where's the most expensive place you've ever been? What's the
cheapest? Etc. Then, looking at the names of the five cities, students
predict the order of what will prove the most expensive down to the
cheapest according to the information page they are about to receive.
Teacher gives out the information and students check their
predictions.

Answers: this can be a bit problematic because the data doesn't really
do exactly what you expect it to. Something like a definite answer
can only be achieved by ignoring the anomalous high costs. Doing
that yields the order Paris, Sydney, KL, Rio, Cairo.
4 2nd Reading: encourage students to look at the information again,
thinking about what they find surprising and what is 'as they
expected'. Writing the notes next to the function on the worksheet
creates something close to grammatical utterance. However, in order
to be grammatical, they will need to expand their notes to include
articles etc. The idea here is for students to have a go at using the
speech function and comparisons at the same time. This should
generate some errors as well as good 'classroom' usage
5 Grammar tune-up: Assuming they had a go at the previous
activities and made some errors, you could choose to do a bit of
remedial work on the structures suggested by the activity. Teacher
writes something like, 'Ahhh, that's what I wanted to say!' on the
board, then puts up the following structures:

I was (not) surprised to hear that [City A] is so much more expensive than [City B]
It's (not) hard to believe that buying [Product A] costs so much more in [City A] than in
[City B]
I wouldn't have thought there was so much difference between the prices of [Product A]
from place to place
As I thought/ expected, comparing costs in [City A] and [City B] shows a big difference in
the price of [Product A]
Plus any you think they tried to say

To provide practice you could ask students to give examples of each structure
using their notes or redo the previous speaking activity asking for controlled
practice of the structures and / or students could write a dialogue or short report
including the structures.

© Andrew Drummond and Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2004

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6 Discuss and present: this activity is intended to provoke thought on
who the winners and losers are out of this inequality and provide
practice of delivering presentations (prepared thought) to a group.
The last question, on what action could be taken, might trigger a
broader discussion on 'capitalism' or something like that. Students
who get a bit a stuck when preparing to present could talk on which
place they would most like to visit instead.

I got this information on the web and wanted the facts given to be 100%
authentic. In the end it is about 95%: two of the prices were
'approximated'. The city information is paraphrased from online travel
write-ups. I think it still presents quite a clear picture of the strange and
massive difference in the costs of different products internationally which
you and your students may find interesting.

© Andrew Drummond and Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2004

Downloaded from the lesson share in www.onestopenglish.com
 Paris -- Kuala Lumpur -- Sydney
Rio de Janeiro --Cairo
Think about the cities listed above and speak together in groups saying
(a) …if you have visited any of them.
(b) …which continent each one is in.
(c) …whether each is the capital of its respective country or not.
(d) …what each city is known for or famous for, if you know of anything.
(e) …whether you expect the city to be cheaper or more expensive than your home
country.

Your teacher will give you a short description of each city. See if you can guess
which one is which and write the name of the city in the space provided.

Compare your answers with your partner and explain which words, phrases or
sentences helped you decide which city was which.

Paris -- Kuala Lumpur -- Sydney

Rio de Janeiro --Cairo

The cost of living varies from place to place, have you noticed. Your teacher is going
to give you information on the cost of water, beer, a meal, a football ticket etc. in each
city. This information will give you an idea of how expensive it is to live in each city
and a basis for deciding which is the most expensive city to live in which is the
cheapest. Without looking, what do you expect to find?

Predicted Order Real Order (approximately)

(a) _________________ (a) _________________
(b) _________________ (b) _________________
(c) _________________ (c) _________________
(d) _________________ (d) _________________
(e) _________________ (e) _________________

© Andrew Drummond and Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2004

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 Paris -- Kuala Lumpur --
Sydney Rio de Janeiro --Cairo
Study the facts and prepare to speak:
Look at the information again. Feel free to draw, circle, underline or highlight
anything which is as you expected (e.g. water / cheaper / Rio / than Paris), and
anything which surprised you (e.g. food / Sydney / more expensive / Paris). Make
notes below on anything you want to mention in the discussion:

Not Surprised Surprised

As I expected: It's hard to believe:
_______________________________ _______________________________
As I thought: I am surprised that:
_______________________________ _______________________________
I am not surprised that: I wouldn't have thought:
_______________________________ _____________________________

Speak: share what you have noticed with two other students and see whether you
have made similar or differing discoveries

Make notes on the following questions in small groups then present your ideas
to the class:

1. Can you explain why the same products have such different costs
internationally? Which of the products might be made locally and which
imported?

2. Who benefits most from this inequality? Is there a clear 'winner'

economically?

3. What are the disadvantages for the people a) where the cost of living is
high? b) where the cost of living is low?

4. Is there anything that could be done to make the lives of those struggling
any easier? Is there a clear plan of action that would definitely help?

© Andrew Drummond and Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2004

Downloaded from the lesson share in www.onestopenglish.com
 Paris -- Kuala Lumpur -- Sydney
Rio de Janeiro --Cairo

A. _________________________________
While this is the country's oldest city and also one of its major economic centres, it is not
the capital. As well as fantastic beaches and loads of sun, the city boasts huge
skyscrapers, friendly people and great restaurants. Possessing a great energy, this place
has come a long way since its beginning as a penal colony.
B. _________________________________
This is a loud and heavily populated city. It's an unpredictable place, absolutely full of
people with a real intensity about it: you will either love it or hate it. New tower blocks
stand next to traditional houses made of sun-baked mud, with some of the oldest and
most famous monuments in the world visible from the city centre. Why try and be so
modern when your city is famous for having something so old?
C. _________________________________
Home to almost 2 million people, this lively, colourful capital has been built up from
virtually nothing in 130 years. It is currently home to the tallest building in the world,
comprised of two huge towers as well as many modern buildings crafted with an Islamic
flavour to their design. Tradition has not been forgotten here, though, as is evidenced in
the thriving night markets and street life all over the city.
D. _________________________________
A place of world-class food, museums and architecture and considered the most romantic
city in the world by some, this capital city demands to be photographed, painted and
enjoyed by the young and not-so-young alike. Lights upon the river at night attract
couples from all over the world to honeymoon or rediscover their love for one another.
And for art lovers, it is home to some of finest masterpieces in the world. Visiting all of
the city's museums would take at least a month.
E. _________________________________
Known locally as the 'marvellous city', it attracts visitors looking for a good time.
Famous for its carnival and spectacular location on the coast, this populous city always
has room for a few more visitors in its hotels. The locals are fanatical about sport so head
down to the beach for a game of football in the sand and see if you can spot any
celebrities.

© Andrew Drummond and Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2004

Downloaded from the lesson share in www.onestopenglish.com
Cost of Living Cost of Living Cost of Living Cost of Living Cost of Living

One-litre bottle of One-litre bottle of One-litre bottle of One-litre bottle of One-litre bottle of
mineral water: RM2.80 mineral water: A$1.50 mineral water: E£1.60 mineral water: €0.90 mineral water: R$0.70
(£0.39) (£0.67) (£0.18) (£0.65) (£0.13)
33cl bottle of beer: RM5 33cl bottle of beer: A$2 75cl bottle of beer: 33cl bottle of beer: €2 33cl bottle of beer:
(£0.70) (£0.82) E£6.25 (£0.69) (£1.44) R$1.15 (£0.22)
Financial Times Financial Times Financial Times Financial Times Financial Times
newspaper: RM9 (£0.98) newspaper: A$8.50 newspaper: E£3 (£0.33) newspaper: €2.50 (£1.8) newspaper: R$13 (£2.47)
(£3.49)
36-exposure colour film: 36-exposure colour film: 36-exposure colour film: 36-exposure colour film: 36-exposure colour film:
From RM16 (£2.24) A$5.95 (£2.43) E£25 (£2.75) €7.50 (£5.4) R$12 (£2.28)
City-centre bus ticket: City-centre bus ticket: City-centre bus ticket: City-centre bus ticket: City-centre bus ticket:
RM0.60-1 (£0.09) A$1.50 (£0.62) 25 piastres (£0.03) €1.30 (£0.94) R$1.30 or R$1.50 (air
Adult football ticket: Adult football ticket: Adult football ticket: Adult football ticket: conditioned) (£0.27)
RM60 (£8.40) A$21.50 (£8.61) E£10-15 (£1.32) From €15 (£10.80) Adult football ticket:
Three-course meal with Three-course meal with Three-course meal with Three-course meal with From R$10 (£1.9)
wine/beer: From RM40 wine/beer: From A$23 wine/beer: E£20-35 wine/beer: From €15 Three-course meal with
(£5.6) (£9.41) (£3.03) (£10.80) wine/beer: From
R$20.(£3.8)
Ringgit (RM1) = £0.14; 1 Australian Dollar 1 Egyptian Pound (E£1) 1 Euro (€1) = £0.72;
US$0.26 (A$1) = £0.41; US$0.74 = £0.11; US$0.18 US$1.17 1 Real (R$1) = £0.19;
US$0.34

Paris -- Kuala Lumpur -- Sydney

Rio de Janeiro --Cairo