Visiting Switzerland British English Teacher BW

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GENERAL ENGLISH · GENERAL ISSUES · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
VISITING
SWITZERLAND
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1 Warm up
Look at the questions about Switzerland, select the correct answer and then discuss the questions
below with your partner.
1. What is the capital city of Switzerland?
a. Basle b. Bern c. Zurich
2. What currency is used in Switzerland?
a. Euro b. Swiss Franc c. Pound
3. How many countries does Switzerland share a border with?
a. 5 b. 6 c. 7
4. Fondue is the Swiss national dish, but what is it made with?
a. cheese b. butter c. cream
5. Which world-famous chocolate comes from Switzerland?
a. Toblerone b. Mars bar c. Hershey’s
6. Which renowned figure lived in Switzerland for almost 20 years?
a. Marie Curie b. Stephen Hawking c. Albert Einstein
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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
VISITING SWITZERLAND
2 Visual guide 1
Part A: Watch the short video about nature in Switzerland. As you watch, write down the six outdoor
activities that you see, then ask your partner the following questions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Ask your partner:
1. Which of the activities from the video would you most like to try?
2. What did you think about the video? How would you describe Switzerland?
3 Visual guide 2
Part A: Match the pictures of Swiss landmarks and icons to the words below.
Bern cheese fondue Lake Geneva
Lucerne milk chocolate mountain railway
Mt. Matterhorn Swiss Alps Swiss watches
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
7. 8. 9.
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Part B: Work in pairs and put the words from above into the correct sentences.
1. I am a real cheese lover, so the thought of really excites me.

2. The are one of the most famous mountain ranges in the world.
3. My friend prefers the dark kind, but I have always been a fan of .
4. I think is one of the most beautiful capital cities I’ve visited.
5. If you want to be on time, then I think a is the best one for you.
6. Dave has always been a train spotter, so he was thrilled to take a trip on the .
7. Climbing to the top of would be a once in a lifetime experience.
8. The banks of are a great place to breathe in the clean, fresh air.
9. is a beautiful Swiss city that is great for an afternoon stroll.
Discuss the following questions with a partner.

1. Do you know anything else about Switzerland? Tell your partner.
2. Are there any similarities between Switzerland and where you come from?
3. Would you like to travel to or live in Switzerland in the future?
4 Listening for detail

Part A: You are going to listen to a person giving a short history of Switzerland. First, match the words
to the definitions.
1. sitting out (phr. v) a. something that you force yourself to do

2. self-imposed (adj.) b. something or somebody that is big and heavy
3. prolonged (adj.) c. officially asked to write or produce a piece of work
4. commissioned (v) d. staying in one place and waiting for something
negative to finish
5. hefty (adj.) e. continuing for a long time

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Part B: Listen to the recording and try to answer the questions below.
1. Which country is approximately the same size as Switzerland?
2. What type of organisations use Switzerland as a base?
3. Is it expensive to live in Switzerland?
5 Listening for speciőc information
Listen to the recording again and try to match the dates and places to specific information about
Switzerland, then ask your partner the questions that follow.
1815 2002 2020 800,000

9 million Bern over the past 100 years Zurich
a. : population of Switzerland
b. : the largest city
c. : the capital city
d. : the year that Switzerland last participated in a foreign war
e. : when Switzerland became one of the richest countries in the world
f. : the year that Switzerland became a member of the UN
g. : the year of the Credit Suisse study
h. : number of millionaires living in Switzerland
Answer the following questions.
1. Which of the facts above are the most surprising? Why?

2. Did you know about any of the facts about Switzerland before this lesson?

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6 Extra facts - top 10

Look at the table of the top 10 most expensive places to live in Europe. Try to complete the table
with your partner. Discuss the questions that follow.
Country City
1. Switzerland a.
2. UK b.
3. Switzerland c.
4. Switzerland d.
5. Denmark e.
6. Norway f.
7. Norway g.
8. Iceland h.
9. Sweden i.
10. Luxembourg j.
1. Which of the places above have you heard of?

2. Which place would you like / hate to live in? Why?
7 Pre-reading: vocabulary
Part A: Match the following vocabulary to the definitions.
1. gleeful (adj.) a. the pointed top of a mountain
2. peak (n) b. a vehicle that is pulled up a mountain or hill by a cable
3. vibe (n) c. atmosphere or a feeling of a place (informal)
4. cable car (n) d. making you want to do something strongly
5. yearning (n) e. very tired, usually after working hard or doing something for a long
period
6. tantalising (adj.) f. something that you want to have more of, usually food or drink
7. moreish (adj.) g. happy because of something you have done or experienced
8. buffs (n) h. a strong desire for something
9. weary (adj.) i. people who know a lot about a certain topic

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Part B: Now fill in the gaps using a word from Part A. You may need to change the form of the word.
1. It takes four hours to walk up the hill but just 15 minutes by .
2. Once I had one slice of cake, I couldn’t stop eating it because it was so .
3. I spent almost 10 years living in France and I love the multicultural of Paris.
4. I was when I finally got home because the journey had taken over 12 hours.
5. The children looked when they saw their mum waiting for them after school.
6. Getting to the was not that difficult anymore as she had climbed up there at least
100 times in the past.
7. My friends are all history , and they can answer almost any question that you ask
them.
8. I saw someone cooking Jamaican jerk chicken on TV it looked so .
9. I have been working away for many years and I have a to return to my hometown.
8 Skimming for general understanding

You are going to read about food from different parts of Switzerland. Match the following paragraph
titles (1-8) to the article on page seven. Two of the titles are not needed.
1. Train to the top

2. Eating and learning
3. Toblerone treats
4. Tourist attraction
5. The charm of the valleys
6. Famous mountain
7. A land of pleasure
8. Chocolatey secrets

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The world according to Switzerland

Did you come for the mountains or the chocolate?
A. Despite its size, Switzerland is one of the most identifiable countries in the world. A country
that possesses breath-taking scenery, delicious milky chocolate and watches that have the reputation of being the
best in the world. It regularly welcomes over 10 million gleeful tourists every year, so isn’t it time you gave this
wonderful, landlocked country a try?
B. The chances are you came to Switzerland to visit the mountains, but with so many to choose
from which ones should you try to get your feet wet? First off why not check out one of the most recognisable
mountains in the world, Mt. Matterhorn. Despite the border of Switzerland and Italy running right along its peak,
the Matterhorn seems to maintain a particularly Swiss vibe. There are two main ways to get yourself up to a better
vantage point, the first being the quaint Gornergrat Railway and the second being a cable car which can take you
all the way up to Klein Matterhorn, which is the highest cable car station in all of Europe.
C. If the Matterhorn doesn’t tickle your fancy, then how about a place that the locals have nicknamed
"The Queen of the Mountains". Situated in central Switzerland not far from bustling Zurich, the officially named
Mount Rigi has proved a delight for all who have travelled there, and for train enthusiasts there are nine different
mountain railways that will allow you to see all of the area’s natural beauty with minimum effort from your legs.
D. For those amongst us who have a yearning for something sweeter than sweet then you have
come to the right place. Switzerland is a country where everywhere you look you can see the creamy delights
of beautiful, milk chocolate and if variety is what you are after then open the door to Blondel. Hidden away in
Lausanne’s charming old town you can find the renowned chocolatier Blondel, who offers a mind blowing 120
tantalising, chocolatey creations.
E. If, on the other hand, you fancy learning a little bit while you continue to get your fill of the
exceptionally moreish chocolate, then how about stopping by the sensibly titled: Swiss Chocolate Adventure.
Located in German speaking Lucerne, the Swiss Chocolate Adventure will take you on a multimedia tour that
is perfect for Chocolate buffs. Discover where the cocoa beans came from and how they are transformed,
manufactured and distributed. To make things even more thrilling, you get to do all of this from the comfort
of a special praline-shaped car.
F. Switzerland can offer you pleasure on so many levels, and for both your eyes and your taste
buds it can really feel like heaven. So how about you spend your mornings hiking and travelling up those gorgeous
mountains and when your legs feel a little weary then visit some of those uniquely Swiss towns and give yourself
a treat with a mouthful of the most delicious chocolate in the world.
Sources: bbc.com; lonelyplanet.com; expedia.com; theguardian.com

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9 Reading comprehension
Read the sentences and decide if they are true, false or not given. Give reasons for your answers.
1. Nine million tourists visit Switzerland each year.
2. Mt. Matterhorn covers part of the Swiss/ Italian border.
3. The Gornergrat Railway is the oldest in Switzerland.
4. The trains on Mount Rigi can help you protect your legs.
5. Lausannes’s Blondel is easy to find.
6. Homemade Toblerones are available on every street corner.
7. The majority of people in Lucerne speak German.
8. Switzerland can offer enjoyment for all your senses.
10 Talking point
Look at the questions and discuss them with your partner.
1. Do you know anybody who has been to Switzerland? If not, would you like to go there someday?
2. What was the most interesting thing that you read in the article? Which of the places would you
like to go to first?
3. Which of the mountains would you most like to visit? Do you like to go hiking?
4. Would you like to try all the chocolate described in the article? Do you have a sweet tooth?
5. Do you think you would like to visit the Swiss Chocolate Adventure and learn about chocolate?
6. Are there any similarities between Switzerland and your country? What are the main differences?

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11 Language in context
Read the phrases in bold below. Can you guess the meaning from the context?
In the article the writer uses the following phrases:
• "...with so many to choose from which ones should you try to get your feet wet?"
• "If the Matterhorn doesn’t tickle your fancy then how about a place that the locals have nicknamed
"The Queen of the Mountains"?
Now in pairs talk about these questions below.
1. When was the last time you got your feet wet trying something new?
2. Do you think you could get your feet wet and try singing classes?
3. What type of movies tickle your fancy these days?
4. Does anything from the McDonalds menu tickle your fancy? Why/ Why not?
12 Extension task - things to do in Zurich

Look at the three texts below. Each one is an interesting fact about Swiss life. Divide text A, B & C
with two of your classmates and complete each one with the vocabulary in the box. Once you have
read your text summarise it to your partners. Use different vocabulary as this will develop your ability
to paraphrase.
arty / flattened / buzz / lively / historic / cobbled
A) Zürich’s old town
1
Zürich’s old town is a charming area of the city, made up of streets, trendy
2
shops and monuments, it can keep you more than entertained for a day or
two. One of the best places to head for is Niederdorf, a popular promenade in the old town.
Due to its pedestrianised nature, it allows you to walk around freely and without worry of
3
being by an overly eager motorist.
In the daytime, Niederdorf is a paradise for shoppers, and you will find many independent
4
storeowners hoping to entice you with their one-of-a- kind goods. By
night, however, the neighbourhood is completely transformed, and the atmosphere is filled
5 6
by guests in DJ-fuelled bars and the of excitement around
Swiss street performers.

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inhabitants / emphasis / stroke / blooming / site / wish list
B) Lake Zürich
One of the best ways to get to Lake Zürich is by taking the hour-long boat tour from Limmat
1
river. This way you get to see the of the city before you arrive. Lake Zürich
has grown in popularity and is now a popular destination for both locals and tourists.
The "rose town" at the eastern end of the lake is one of the most beautiful places to visit.
2
The public gardens there contain over 15,000 rose bushes, and for the little
3
ones, "Knie’s Children’s Zoo" should be high up the . The zoo has become
4
incredibly popular as they put an on meeting the animals, and visitors can
5 6
touch, and get up close and personal with the wild .
inventive / adjacent / permanent / handicrafts / reminiscent / vivid
C) Swiss National Museum
Located right next to Zürich Main Station, The Swiss National Museum is an absolute goldmine
1
for history lovers. From the outset, the architecture is of a fairy-tale castle,
2
although the modern style of the building may surprise some visitors.
Once inside the building, guests have the chance to view the largest collection of Swiss
3
cultural artefacts in the world. The collection includes , sculptures, paintings
and everything in between. However, if you are keen to learn more about Zürich specifically,
4
then the exhibition Simply Zürich might be the one for you. Presenting the
5 6
history of the city in an and unique way, entrance to Simply
Zurich is free of charge.
Look at the questions below and talk to your partner.
1. Do you like visiting the old parts of towns and cities? Why are they so interesting?
2. If you went to Lake Zürich, would you rather see the flowers or the animals?
3. Are you a museum goer? What is the best museum you have ever been to?

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TEACHER MATERIALS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
Transcripts
4. Listening for detail
Speaker: Switzerland is a mountainous country in the centre of Europe, roughly the same size as
the Netherlands and with a population of around 9 million people. The capital city is Bern,
the largest city is Zurich and within those and other cities, several languages are spoken.
Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian & Romansh. Romansh is
a romance language which is traditionally spoken in south eastern region of Grisons and
became an official language in 1996.
Speaker: The country has long been famed for its neutrality. Sitting out each of the world wars, it has
a self-imposed policy which states that they should not become involved in any political or
armed conflicts with other nations. In fact, since 1815 Switzerland has not participated in
a foreign war. In recent years this neutrality has been questioned due to their close links to
Europe, the fact they became a member of the UN in 2002 and that they are the location
for the headquarters of many multinational banks and corporations.
Speaker: Over the past 100 years Switzerland has gradually become one of the wealthiest countries
on earth. This is partly due to the strength gained from their neutral positioning but also
periods of prolonged political stability have had an influence. A study commissioned by
Credit Suisse in 2020 discovered that 800,000 millionaires live in Switzerland, and in a
country of just 9 million that is quite a significant proportion. However, the increased
wealth of the country has brought with it hefty living costs, and Switzerland has been
described as the most expensive place to live in Europe.
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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 Switzerland. They then share their knowledge with their partners.
1. b. 2. b. 3. a. 4. a. 5. a. 6. c.
2. Visual guide 1
5 mins.
This stage provides students with a quick introduction to Switzerland and allows them to see what the country
looks like should they be unaware.
1. swimming 2. fishing
3. hunting 4. cycling
5. canoeing 6. ziplining
3. Visual guide 2
10 mins.
Part A
This stage provides students with images of Swiss culture. Ask the students to match the words to the pictures
and then ask them to discuss the questions below.
Some useful facts about Switzerland are:
Population - Roughly 9 million.
Weather - Climate is moderate with no excessive heat or cold.
Switzerland is a direct democracy, and the Swiss people also have the right to vote on specific issues.
Important places - Bern (Capital), Zurich, the Alps, St Moritz, Lake Geneva.
Switzerland has 48 mountain peaks that are at least 4000m tall.
Swiss wildlife: red deer, chamois, ibex, snow vole.
The currency is the Swiss Franc.
1. Swiss Alps 2. Mt. Matterhorn 3. mountain railway
4. milk chocolate 5. Lucerne 6. Bern
7. Lake Geneva 8. Swiss watches 9. cheese fondue
Part B
Students work in pairs and put the words from Part A into the correct sentences.
1. fondue 2. Swiss Alps
3. milk chocolate 4. Bern
5. Swiss watch 6. mountain railway
7. Mt. Matterhorn 8. Lake Geneva
9. Lucerne
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4. Listening for detail
Part A
5 mins.
Ensure students can correctly pronounce the target vocabulary. Ask them to complete the task by themselves
firstly and then compare answers with a partner.
1. → d. 2. → a. 3. → e.
4. → c. 5. → b.
Part B
5 mins.
Tell students that they are going to listen to the audio and ask them to answer the three questions. Then, they
should try to match the vocabulary to the definitions below.
1. "...roughly the same size as the Netherlands..."
2. "...many multinational banks and corporations..."
3. "...the most expensive place to live in Europe."
Audio sources: lonelyplanet.com; bbc.com; theguardian.com; Britannica.com
5. Listening for specific information
10 mins.
Play the audio clip again and ask students to match the dates and places to specific information about Switzerland.
The students compare with their partners and then discuss which fact they find the most surprising.
Note: There are four official languages in Switzerland: German, French, Italian & Romansch
a. 9 million b. Zurich c. Bern
d. 1815 e. over the past 100 years f. 2002
g. 2020 h. 800,000
6. Extra facts - top 10
5 mins.
Ask students to discuss which place goes in which gap. Review the answers, and then ask them to discuss which
place they would like to live in and which they would not.
a. Geneva b. London c. Zurich d. Bern
e. Copenhagen f. Oslo g. Stavanger h. Reykjavik
i. Stockholm j. Luxembourg City
7. 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. → g. 2. → a. 3. → c.
4. → b. 5. → h. 6. → d.
7. → f. 8. → i. 9. → e.
Part B
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1. cable car 2. moreish 3. vibe

4. weary 5. gleeful 6. peak
7. buffs 8. tantalising 9. yearning
8. 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.
Paragraphs not used: Toblerone treats, The charm of the valleys
A. Tourist attraction B. Famous mountain C. Train to the top
D. Chocolatey secrets E. Eating and learning F. A land of pleasure
9. Reading comprehension
10 mins.
Students now read the article in more detail and answer the questions individually. They can then check in pairs
before whole class feedback
1. F - "...over 10 million gleeful tourists every year..."
2. T - "...the border of Switzerland and Italy running right along its peak..."
3. Not Given
4. T - "...with minimum effort from your legs."
5. F - "...hidden away..."
6. Not given
7. T - "...German speaking Lucerne..."
8. F - "...for both your eyes and your taste buds it can really feel like heaven."
10. Talking point
10 mins.
Students discuss subjects from the article and video and share their opinions with each other about Switzerland,
they also link it to their own country.
11. Language in context
10 mins.
Ask the students to discuss what they think is meant by the terms:
to get your feet wet - to start taking part in a new activity
to tickle your fancy - to interest or attract somebody
Once you have clarified the meaning with the students ask them to discuss the conversation questions. Deepen
understanding for them some personal examples using the target language.
12. Extension task - things to do in Zurich
15- 20 mins.
The task below can be done in class or set for homework.
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First, ask the students to complete the text using the words from the word bank. Then put the students into
groups of 3 and provide each student with either text, A, B or C. The students read through their own text and
then tell their group what their paragraph was about.
Make sure the students use their own words when they are telling their classmates about their paragraph.
Text A
1. cobbled
2. historic
3. flattened
4. arty
5. lively
6. buzz
Text B
1. site
2. blooming
3. wish list
4. emphasis
5. stroke
6. inhabitants
Text C
1. reminiscent
2. adjacent
3. handicrafts
4. permanent
5. vivid
6. inventive
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HEAAADERLOGORIGHT

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

QrrkoD Scan to review worksheet

1. What is the capital city of Switzerland?

a. Basle b. Bern c. Zurich

2. What currency is used in Switzerland?

a. Euro b. Swiss Franc c. Pound

3. How many countries does Switzerland share a border with?

4. Fondue is the Swiss national dish, but what is it made with?

a. cheese b. butter c. cream

5. Which world-famous chocolate comes from Switzerland?

a. Toblerone b. Mars bar c. Hershey’s

6. Which renowned ﬁgure lived in Switzerland for almost 20 years?

a. Marie Curie b. Stephen Hawking c. Albert Einstein

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Ask your partner:

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1. I am a real cheese lover, so the thought of really excites me.

Discuss the following questions with a partner.

4 Listening for detail

1. sitting out (phr. v) a. something that you force yourself to do

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 3/10

1. Which country is approximately the same size as Switzerland?

2. What type of organisations use Switzerland as a base?

3. Is it expensive to live in Switzerland?

5 Listening for speciőc information

1815 2002 2020 800,000

b. : the largest city

c. : the capital city

d. : the year that Switzerland last participated in a foreign war

e. : when Switzerland became one of the richest countries in the world

f. : the year that Switzerland became a member of the UN

g. : the year of the Credit Suisse study

h. : number of millionaires living in Switzerland

Answer the following questions.

1. Which of the facts above are the most surprising? Why?

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6 Extra facts - top 10

1. Which of the places above have you heard of?

1. gleeful (adj.) a. the pointed top of a mountain

2. peak (n) b. a vehicle that is pulled up a mountain or hill by a cable

3. vibe (n) c. atmosphere or a feeling of a place (informal)

4. cable car (n) d. making you want to do something strongly

7. moreish (adj.) g. happy because of something you have done or experienced

8. buﬀs (n) h. a strong desire for something

9. weary (adj.) i. people who know a lot about a certain topic

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1. It takes four hours to walk up the hill but just 15 minutes by .

8. I saw someone cooking Jamaican jerk chicken on TV it looked so .

8 Skimming for general understanding

1. Train to the top

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The world according to Switzerland

Sources: bbc.com; lonelyplanet.com; expedia.com; theguardian.com

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1. Nine million tourists visit Switzerland each year.

2. Mt. Matterhorn covers part of the Swiss/ Italian border.

3. The Gornergrat Railway is the oldest in Switzerland.

5. Lausannes’s Blondel is easy to ﬁnd.

6. Homemade Toblerones are available on every street corner.

7. The majority of people in Lucerne speak German.

8. Switzerland can oﬀer enjoyment for all your senses.

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 8/10