Sa-wa-dee

(= hello)

Kop-koon
(= thanks)

Sanook
Where in the world in Thailand? Have you ever eaten Thai food? (= fun)
Who are its neighbours? Can you name any dishes?
What’s the population? What typical ingredients are used?

Thailand is popular for its islands and What kind of leisure activities could you do
beaches. Do you prefer the beach or the on holiday?
mountains? Are you into sunbathing? Brainstorm in group and make a list.

Sightseeing always includes a visit to one Floating markets are still around but have
or more picturesque temples. become more of a tourist trap. Explain.
Can you name some important temples? Do you know any tourist traps?

Pick a
photo and
say or
write as
much as
you can
about it. Thai boxing is a popular sport. Would you go The tuk-tuk is the most iconic means of
and watch Thai or foreign fighters punch transport in Thailand.
and kick each other into a pulp? How else do people get around?

When is the Thai New Year? The Thai king is the longest reigning
How do Thais celebrate it? monarch in the world (2010).
What do you know about him?
How does it compare to your country?
Thailand is one of the world’s top There are many snakes in Thailand,
rice exporters. Do farmers still both harmless and venomous.
use water buffaloes nowadays? Can you name some?
What about your country? How is antidote made?
Project
Plan a 3-week trip
to the ‘Land of
Smiles’ (Thailand’s
nickname).
Make an itinerary
with places to
visit, hotels to
stay at and things
to see and do.
How much would
In Lopburi there is an annual Monkey Buffet your low-budget
Festival. What happens there? trip cost? (include
Can you name any other Thai festivals? airfare, hotels,
Does your country have strange festivals? food etc.)
What are the main
religions in Thailand?
What does ‘make
merit’ mean? How do
people do this?
What are the
biggest cities in
Thailand?
What kind of
jobs do people
do in Thailand?
What’s the
currency and
what is it worth?
There are many historical parks
in Thailand with interesting ruins.
Where could you go if like this
kind of sightseeing?
How many elephants are left in
Thailand?
Thailand has regularly been in the news for
the wrong reasons the last few years.
It is sometimes associated with drugs,
corruption, tourist scams, military coups,
human trafficking and child pornography.
Rebellion in the Deep South and political
demonstrations of red and yellow shirts in
the capital have tarnished the country’s
friendly tourist image as well.
What were all the protests about?
On the whole, however, Thailand is still a
pretty safe and relaxed place compared to
most other destinations.
Would you want to visit Thailand?
 Teacher Notes
 This answer key is deliberately kept concise since the idea of these Conversation Corners
is to talk rather informally and share information, not being given all the information by
the teacher. BTW, the conversation should focus on expressing opinions as well as giving
correct answers.
 Another way of using this worksheet effectively for students who are not familiar with
Thailand is to give then this sheet the lesson before and assign a photo to each student
(or group of students) and have them prepare a short presentation about their topic. The
next lesson they present this to the whole class.
 Have a dictionary at hand (or an Internet connection) if possible so students can look up
new vocabulary.

Where in the world in Thailand? Have you ever eaten Thai food?
In Southeast Asia. Answers may vary.
What are its neighbours? Can you name any dishes?
Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar are Som tam (spicy papaya sald), tom yam kung (spicy soup
neighbouring countries. Further afield are with chillies, lemongrass and prawns), red curry, green
China and Vietnam. curry, pad Thai (fried noodles Thai style).
What’s the population? What typical ingredients are used?
About 65 million. Coconut milk, lemongrass, chillies, fresh herbs such as
mint, basil etc., fish sauce, oyster sauce, …

Thailand is popular for its islands and
beaches. Do you prefer the beach or
the mountains? Are you into
sunbathing?
Answers may vary.
What kind of leisure activities could you
do on holiday?
Scuba diving, snorkeling, sunbathing, beach
volleyball, (big game) fishing, windsurfing,
sailing, parasailing, banana boat ride, hiking,
trekking, going to a spa, having a massage,
taking a cooking or meditation course, etc.

Sightseeing always includes a visit to

one or more picturesque temples.
Floating markets are still around but have
Can you name some important temples?
become more of a tourist trap. Explain.
Bangkok: Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the
The experience of going to a flowating market
Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho, Wat Arun
isn’t really authentic anymore. Everyday,
(Temple of the Dawn). Wat
hundreds of tourist buses bring tourists to
Benchamabhopit (Marble Temple), Wat
these places where they can flock together
Saket (Golden Mount).
and buy overpriced souvenirs.
Chiang Mai: Temple on top of Doi Suthep.
Do you know any tourist traps?
Gem scam, ‘Lucky Buddha’ tuk-tuk ride with
visit to tailor shop, ‘broken jetski’ scam,
airport taxi scam, etc.

Thai boxing is a popular sport. Would you

go and watch Thai or foreign fighters
The tuk-tuk is the most iconic means
punch and kick each other into a pulp?
of transport in Thailand.
Answers may vary.
How else do people get around?
Bus, songthaew (shared taxi), train,
motorbike, taxi, motorbike taxi, car,
plane, ferry, riverboat,
 What are the
When is the Thai New Year? The Thai king is the longest reigning biggest cities in
Aka Songkran festival - 13-15 April monarch in the world (2010). Thailand?
How do Thais celebrate it? What do you know about him?
Bangkok
Throw lots of water at each other, Married to Queen Sirikit. Bhumibol
Chiang Mai
party, get drunk. Adulyadej ascended the throne on 9 June
How does it compare to your country? 1946. He is revered among Thai people. Nakhon Ratchasima
Answers may vary.
What kind of jobs
do people do in
Thailand?
There are many snakes in farmers
Thailand, both harmless and tourist industry jobs
Thailand is one of the world’s top
venomous.
rice exporters. Do farmers still services
Can you name some?
use water buffaloes nowadays? factory workers
Poisonous
There aren’t that many buffaloes
King cobra
used anymore. Most farmers now What’s the
Kraits
use two-wheeled tractors aka
Sea snakes currency and what
mechanical buffaloes.
Vipers is it worth?
Non poisonous 1 USD = +/- 30 baht
Python
In Lopburi there is an annual Monkey Rat snake
Buffet Festival. What happens there? Wolf snake
Monkeys can feast on an extensive buffet
of veggies and fruits. How is antidote made? There are many historical parks
Can you name any other Thai festivals? Snakes are ‘milked, the venom is in Thailand with interesting ruins.
Loy Krathong Festival injected into horses; the horse is Where could you go if like this
Songkran Festival (Thai New Year) so big it doesn’t die but makes kind of sightseeing?
Rocket Festival antibodies to combat the venom. Ayuthaya Historical Park
Boat Racing Festival The antidote is made from the Sukothai Historical Park
horse’s blood. Si Satchanalai Historical Park
Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park
Phimai Historical Park
Phanom Rung

How many elephants are left in

What are the main religions in
Thailand?
Mainly Buddhist. In the South, there
are a considerable number of muslims.
What does ‘make merit’ mean?
Merit is a concept in Buddhism. It is
that which accumulates as a result of
good deeds, acts or thoughts and that
carries over to later in life or to a
person's next life.
How do people do this?
Offer flowers, candles, money in a
temple. Release animals into the wild
(e.g. fish or birds).
Thailand?
2500-3000 domesticated
fewer than 1000 in the wild
Thailand has regularly been in the news for
the wrong reasons the last few years.
It is sometimes associated with drugs,
corruption, tourist scams, military coups,
human trafficking and child pornography.
Rebellion in the Deep South and political
demonstrations of red and yellow shirts in
the capital have tarnished the country’s
friendly tourist image as well.
What were all the protests about?
The yellow shirts protested against the
then Thaksin government. The red shirts
protest against its replacement.