Do you remember?
Quiz
Choose the correct answer(s).
The UK consists of ...
- England.
- Ireland.
- Scotland.
- Northern Ireland.
- Wales.
This is the flag of ...
- England.
- Wales.
- Scotland.
The capital of Ireland is ...
- Belfast.
- Dublin.
- Edinburgh.
How many states are there in the US?
- 50
- 45
- 51
What is the national bird of the US?
- the golden eagle
- the bald eagle
- the white-tailed eagle
What is the colour of the school buses in the US?
- yellow
- blue
- green
How do you say friikartulid in British English?
- crisps
- French fries
- chips
Discuss the results of the quiz with your partner. How many correct answers did you get? What information was new to you?
Other English-speaking countries
Listen and read.
Canada
Canada, the second-largest country in the world, is located in North America. The capital of Canada is Ottawa, but its largest city is Toronto. This country has two official languages: English and French.
You have probably heard that Canada is famous for maple syrup and that ice hockey was first played here, but did you know that it is the country with the most lakes in the world?
Australia
Australia is another English-speaking country, but its accent and words are quite different from British and American English. Just like in New Zealand, here you say “G’day!” to greet someone. Australians also use many informal words: arvo for afternoon, chook for chicken and barbie for barbecue.
Australia is known for its unique wildlife. Because it is an island, there are animals you will not find living naturally anywhere else. What Australian animals can you name?
New Zealand
New Zealand is located about 1,500 kilometres east of Australia. People speak English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language[explanation: sign language [ˈsaɪn ˌlæŋɡwɪdʒ] – viipekeel] here. Māori is also the name of the native people of this country.
Just like Australia, New Zealand has some unique animals. One of them is the kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird. You can see beautiful landscapes here, with snowy mountains, green farmlands, and even volcanoes. The wonderful scenery[explanation: scenery [ˈsiːn(ə)ri] – maastik] is one of the reasons why films like The Lord of the Rings, Avatar and The Last Samurai were shot in New Zealand.
India
As of 2025, India is the country with the largest population in the world. While it became independent in 1947, English remained[explanation: remain [rɪˈmeɪn] – jääma] one of its official languages.
It is a country of variety: people speak many languages and practise different religions here. It is a popular tourist destination as well: people come here to see the famous Taj Mahal, get the best of Indian cuisine[explanation: cuisine [kwɪˈziːn] – köök], and visit festivals like Diwali and Holi.
South Africa
South Africa, one of the 54 countries in Africa, has three capitals and twelve official languages, including English. In 2010, it became the first African country to host the FIFA World Cup, the world’s biggest football competition.
South Africa is famous for its wildlife and sights like Kruger National Park, where you can go on safari.
Kenya
Located in eastern Africa, Kenya is best known for its safaris. For example, Kenya’s Tsavo National Park is home to rhinos, buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, cheetahs[explanation: cheetah [ˈtʃiːtə] – gepard] and hippos.
Kenya is also famous for sports – some of the world’s best long-distance runners were born here. Last but not least, Kenya is an important exporter[explanation: exporter [ɪkˈspɔːtə(r)] – eksportija] of tea, coffee and cut flowers[explanation: cut flower [ˌkʌt ˈflaʊə(r)] – lõikelill].
Exercise 1
Choose the correct country.
 , |  , India |  the Great Barrier Reef, |
 , |  , |  Lake Nakuru, |
Exercise 3
Match the countries to their flags.
Varieties of English
Watch the first part of the video (00:00–00:53). Which varieties of English sound similar?
- French fries
- bell peppers
- chips
- hot chips
- (sweet) peppers
- runners
- capsicums
- trainers
- sneakers
- lollies
- sweets
- candy
Watch the last part of the video and discuss the questions below.
- Which varieties of English have similar spellings? Why do you think this is so?
- Which variety of English do you usually use?
- Which English-speaking country mentioned in the lesson would you like to go to? Why?
