miércoles, 15 de junio de 2016

Talking point: Buildings

This week's talking point is buildings. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below so that ideas come to mind more easily the day you get together with your friends and you can work out vocabulary problems beforehand.

Have you seen these buildings before?
What countries do you think they are in?
What do you think they were built as?
What do you think of each building? You can use some of these adjectives: imposing, nondescript, graceful, innovative, tasteless, dated, out of place, stunning

Triumph Palace

The Crooked House

Torre Velasca

Museo Sumaya

Talk about the most impressive building or monument you have ever seen. You are going to tell your partner about it. Choose from the list below the things you want to talk about.
Which city and which country is it in?
When did you first see it?
What is it called?
Why was it built originally?
What is it used for?
Is it modern or old?
Do you know who designed it?
What do you most like about it?
How does it affect the environment?
Is it a popular tourist attraction?

Interaction
There is a derelict warehouse in your community that was built in the early 20th century. You are a member of the local council and you have to help make a decision about how the warehouse or the land itself could be repurposed. Consider the following factors:
The needs of your community
Demolition and rebuilding
The benefits of a new, iconic building
A high-profile architect
Your community’s architectural heritage
The warehouse’s architectural features