Speaking and listening – Elementary to Intermediate

Let’s talk about PETS

Conversation cards

Do you have a pet? What are the most popular pets Which animal makes the best
If not, have you ever had one? nowadays? pet?
Talk about it. According to you, why are these Why?
animals popular?

What’s the strangest, scariest What are the pros and cons Which animals should not be
or most unusual pet you have of keeping a pet? (= what is good kept as pets?
ever seen? and bad about) Explain why.
Tell the class about it. Discuss.

Some people let their pet(s) Should people living in an Classify all possible pets you can
sleep in their bedroom or even apartment be allowed to keep a think of in a category grid
on or in their bed. pet? Explain. (mammal, bird, reptile, fish,
What do you think of this? Which pets would be okay? insect, etc.).

Do you think it is right to keep Would you eat rabbit meat? Some people let their pets in the
wild animals in a zoo? Would you go to a dog race? house, others always keep them
Explain you point of view. Would you pet a spider? outdoors (e.g. in the garden).
Would you touch a snake? What’s best?

Exotic pets are becoming Do you think it is okay to use Is it okay to kill animals for
increasingly popular. Why? animals for medical research? their meat, fur – or just for
Can you name some? Do you know What about testing cosmetics? sport or fun?
any endangered species? Which animals are found in labs?

What do you think of cultures ‘Animals should never be kept in ‘We can judge the heart of a
that eat dog meat/horse captivity. They belong in the man by his treatment of animals.’
meat/monkey/insects/snails? wild’. (= in a cage or locked up) What does this mean?
Would you try it? Do you agree? Do you agree?

Match and say if you think it makes a good pet and why.
1 3
2 Pet # OK? Why (or why not)?
cockatoo  
guinea pig  
6 iguana  
4 parrot  
5 pot-bellied pig  
rabbit 7 yes It’s cute and lives in the garden.
7 Rottweiler  
8
Siamese cat  
9 snake  
10
squirrel  
sugar glider  
11 13 tarantula  
12 turtle