LN1005 Freshman English Name: _____________________

Unit 5-1 --- Urban Development

I. Warm-up
(A) Brainstorming
1. What makes a city livable? Name 3-5 qualities of a livable city and explain why.

2. Is your hometown (city) livable? Give 3 reasons.

Y/N

Y/N

Y/N

(B) Video Time: The world’s best city to live in

https://www.weforum.org/videos/vienna-is-the-world-s-world-s-most-liveable-city
Pre-listening
1. Guess 3 of the world’s best cities to live in. Name 2 qualities that make them livable.

While-listening
1. What is the world’s best city to live in? What does it have to make it the most livable?

2. Put down at least 5 of the most livable cities based on the survey of 2022.

II. To build a livable city

(A) The Kerala model (p. 60-61)
Step 1: [10 mins individual] Listen to the conversation about how a journalist talks about
a city she visited. Take notes by jotting down at least 5 descriptions.
Step 2: Pair discussion: Share what you have heard.
Step 3: Analyze the script. Read the scripts. Analyze how the speaker describes a city with
details and examples. Underlines and number them.
(Transcript) I = Interviewer, J = Journalist (p. 60)
I: I know you like exotic places. Have you been to the Indian subcontinent?
J: Yes, I was in India just recently. I: Were you?
J: Yes, in Kerala in the southwest. Actually, I had intended to go on to visit other parts of
India, but Kerala was so fascinating that I stayed there.
I: Were you on vacation?
J: Well, it was meant to be a vacation, but actually it turned into kind of a work trip.
I: Oh dear.
J: Oh, no. I don’t regret changing my plans. I became so interested in the place that I started
to write an article about it for the newspaper I work for.
I: Really? Is it a travel article?
J: Not really. It’s more sociological, I guess. I’m trying to show what a remarkable place
Kerala is in the developing world. You see, it’s a small state with a big population. The
average income is only about $300 a year, and usually that would mean people having a
fairly poor quality of life. But in fact, Kerala is a kind of model of social development. The
population is highly literate and well-educated, and they seem reasonably well off—
compared to other parts of India, anyway. People in Kerala are healthy, and they live almost
as long as Americans or Europeans. Infant mortality is also very low. And women, who’ve
always traditionally been the head of the household, continue to be very active—and equal
—members of society.
I: That’s interesting. I remember going to Kerala with my wife in the 1990s. My memories of
it are just as a very tranquil and beautiful place, with lovely beaches and lagoons.
J: Well, of course, those are the parts that tourists like to spend time visiting. But “tranquil”
is not necessarily the adjective I would use. Trivandrum, the main city, is absolutely hectic. I
stopped there to visit an Indian journalist I know. According to her, people in Trivandrum
are politically active and very well-informed about the country. They never stop debating,
and there are often strikes or parades of demonstrators. Some medical students started
protesting when I was there. They went on protesting for four days.
I: Well, that doesn’t sound great.
J: No, but it is. It’s a sign of a successful society. The thing is that the whole system seems to
work. That’s because, first, Keralites are naturally tolerant people. You find Hindus, Muslims,
and Christians all living peacefully alongside each other, and you could also include
foreigners in that mix—they’re treated no differently than anyone else. And secondly, the
government has invested a lot in health and education, and continues to invest a lot. The
land is also incredibly fertile and well-organized. Small farmers cultivate every inch of the
land and none is wasted, which I regret to say isn’t always the case in some developing
countries.
I: Well, it sounds like it’ll be an interesting article. Remember to send me a copy when it’s
published.
J: Of course I will.

(B) Green Plan of Singapore

1. See-Think-Wonder

2. Does what they do in the green plan of Singapore sound like a mission impossible for.
you? Name 2 things.

(C) More examples of urban development (NYC, Copenhagen, Paris and Goteborg)
Goal: Organize info, explain & interpret.
Choose from one of the countries below to study & report:
1. Paris' Grand Plan to Become Europe's Greenest City https://youtu.be/3kZ3rWHs9wU
2. Is Copenhagen the World's Most Sustainable City? https://youtu.be/pUbHGI-kHsU
3. New York City's Green Revolution https://youtu.be/Bfj75Wi87tg
4. The World's Most Sustainable Destination - https://www.goteborg.com/en/guides/the-
worlds-most-sustainable-destination
Question: What did they do/ have they done to make their city sustainable?
III. Problems of Urban Development
(A) Pre-reading
1. Name 3 potential drawbacks of urban development.

(B) Read, Write and Discussion

Article: What Are the Pros & Cons of Urban Development?
Usually, the goal of urban development is to create thriving centralized areas that
provide employment opportunities and housing while reducing commuting needs.
Urban development also yields access to local entertainment and a sense of
community. On the other hand, the centralization caused by urban development may
increase traffic congestion and noise, lead to higher crime rates and force poorer
residents out of their homes. And when it fails, urban development may result in
urban decay, a phenomenon whereby a portion of a city falls into disrepair.
Urban Economics
Developing urban areas often results in an influx of new businesses and
increased patronage of existing establishments. Businesses follow population growth,
especially in urban areas. For example, if a company builds or renovates a structure
that houses a large number of employees, this may encourage new restaurants to
move into the area to feed the company’s employees. The success of those
restaurants then encourages other types of businesses, such as dry cleaners, an
automotive repair shop, a grocery and a drug store to consider moving to this location.
As a result, the city’s economy grows.
Transportation Considerations
On one hand, placing many businesses in one location creates a pedestrian
environment and reduces the need for cars. Compared to rural areas and suburbs,
where distance often inhibits walking from one location to the next, urban
development positions business in close proximity to each other. However, cities like
New York are famous for bumper-to-bumper traffic since too many people crowded in
small urban areas creates traffic congestion. Public transportation plays a major role in
the success of many urban development areas.
Building Restoration
 Restoring crumbling or abandoned buildings and adding new structures can
breathe life into what was once a dead and empty area. Abandoned buildings provide
environments for criminal activity, such as drug use. If crime is not sufficiently
contained, consumers will not visit these urban areas, and business owners will close
up shop and move to safer areas in the suburbs. This exodus is a driving factor behind
urban decay.
Residential Housing
In some instances, urban development disenfranchises tenants from their
homes. These are often low-income residents forced to move to another location as a
result of inflating prices or shuttered apartment buildings. Many displaced tenants find
that the new location does not provide the convenient transportation they once
enjoyed. On the other hand, some urban development programs include rebuilding
existing low-income housing and incorporating it with mid-income housing. Of course,
urban areas are prime locations for housing and are generally more expensive than
housing in a rural or suburban areas.
Quality of Life
The quality of life provided by urban development varies from person to person.
For instance, some urban dwellers enjoy the excitement of city life as well as living in
close proximity to stores, museums and bars. They may also enjoy the variety of
people they regularly come in contact with. However, other residents may equate city
living with noise, crime and chaos and prefer the expansiveness of suburban living.

While-reading
 Underline the pros and cons with markers of 2 different colors when reading.
 Name 3 pros and cons of Urban Development that sound the most convincing to you in
this article.
Pros

Cons
  Are there more advantages or disadvantages of urban development? List 2-3 of them.
Pros
or
Cons

(C) A controversial issue

1. Listen to a conversation about a debate of a city. Then finish Part 3 of p. 64.
Person His/ Her viewpoints
First woman (1)
(Pro or con)
(2)
First man (1)
(Pro or con) (2)

Second man
(Pro or con)
Second woman
(Pro or con)

2. Development proposal:
Conversion of a public library and public swimming pool into a new shopping
mall and private gym. The main argument for closure of library and swimming
pool is that they do not get used very often.

Goals: Persuade by reasoning

Procedures:
1. Read the proposal and brainstorm ideas.
2. Pair up. One of you should support the proposal, the other should oppose it.
3. Using at least 3 expressions for debating issues where appropriate.
4. Practice debating.
5. Audio-record your debate (a conversation) of 1-2 minutes
6. Upload it on google drive.
EXPREESSIONS of DEBATING ISSUES (Life 5 p.64)
Making points
- First, ... and secondly, More importantly, ...
- The thing/point/fact is that ...
- I think …/ I don't think
- For me, ... is just one factor.
Responding to a point
- Well, that depends.
- I understand/appreciate that ..., but…
- Actually, I'm not too bothered by/about…
- I'm more concerned that/ about…
- Sorry, but I (don't) think that's …
- That's a very good point.
- Yes, you're right.
- Absolutely.
- I agree completely.
- I don't think most of you have really thought about /considered…
- ... doesn't make any sense to me.