An exercise for lower-intermediates. Help to use basic verbs, and to build long sentences.
We can see five people:
Andrew, Fiona, Helen, Mark and Tina
We see what they eat (dinner), their job (occupation), what they do in their free time (hobby) and what that do on Saturday and Sunday (the weekend).
For example, Andrew likes to drink beer, Tina like to do karate
What do they do ?
Name // dinner // occupation // hobby // weekend
Andrew
steak and chips spaghetti
brewer
football & beer
sports & cinema DOESN’T like shopping
Fiona
tuna salad soups
accountant
reading driving
visits family & shopping DOESN’T like sports
Helen
sushi Korean BBQ
marketing
yoga & keep fit craft beer
exercises & cinema DOESN’T like loud clubs
Mark
fish and chips kebabs
civil servant
cars and bikes sports
fixing cars & drinking beer DOESN’T like loud clubs
Tina
pasta pizza
dentist
karaoke clubs
shopping and meeting friends DOESN’T like beer or sport.
Andrew likes to watch football but his girlfriend does not (doesn’t)Fiona is an accountantHelen likes to eat sushiMark likes to ride a bicycleTina likes to do karate
Make sentences
Use so does with positives, neither does with negatives.
EXAMPLE:
Mark eats chips and so does Andrew.
Helen doesn’t drink beer neither does Tina.
Tina likes shopping …
Mark doesn’t like loud clubs …
Make questions
EXAMPLE:
Who likes beer ? Who eats Italian food (pizza, pasta, spaghetti) ?
This level of English is for students who live, or plan to live, in English-speaking countries.
I advise my students to learn Standard English, as that will help them to communicate with other non-native speakers. Clarity in both pronunciation and meaning is paramount (of most importance).
However, that is NOT how everyday people speak in everyday situations. Therefore, here’s a set of examples and new vocabulary that you will need. Furthermore, you will feel more confident, using the language and vernacular of those around you.
Dialogue practice
phrasal verbs / collocations / idioms / adverbs
vocabulary:
fond – to like something.
more than likely = very probably, about 90% sure.
sip – to drink a very little.
rival – competitors
A: Hi, how’s it going with you ?
B: It’s going incredibly well today. I want to celebrate. Fancy a beer ?
A: I’m not so fond of beer, I prefer coffee. How does that sound ?
B: Brilliant ! Highlands or Coffee bean ? Which one ? I can’t make up my mind.
A: Is Highlands far ? They are Vietnamese, a rival to the American company.
B: It’s quite far. We ‘ll have to take a taxi. More than likely it will rain.
A: Let’s get a move on before it rains cats and dogs.
B: Too right ! We’ll have to give up getting a taxi once it rains. Let’s go !
At the coffee shop
A: Watch out! The coffee’s incredibly hot. Just sip it. What are you up to now ?
B: Just texting the office. They seem rather busy.
A: You should take a break. Tell them to just do their best.
B: Hold your horses… there ! Finished. Piece of cake.
A: You want some cake ?
B: No, hahaha. ‘Piece of cake’… means no problem. Having said that …
A: Right ! The cakes look amazingly tasty. Shall we … ?
They buy two gloriously large cakes
A: Let’s dive in ! Wow … I must admit, this is remarkably good. How’s yours ?
B: I think it’s too big for me. Let me try some … oh, blimey, that’s awful !
A: Yes, afterwards, we’ll need to work out.
B: A minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips !
A: Do you have a minute ? I’d like to go over something with you.
B: Sure, what’s on your mind ?
A: Which video do you think is better for the students ? We need to inspire them.
B: This one looks good … oh, hold on … the vocabulary is very difficult … good !
NOW … YOUR TURN
Write a short dialogue scene about planning a holiday
An extended scenario that can be used for three speakers, or two, whatever the class needs. Here, a student goes to an expensive private language centre to enquire about course requirement and prices.
You will notice a lot of idiomatic speech as well as expressions. These are designed to show you how to use them in everyday conversation … have fun !
Dialogue Practice
A student comes to the office to get some information about courses
Objective: practice expressions and pronunciation of contractions.
Student Good evening, I’m looking for an English course
PEC 1 You’ve come to the right place !
PEC 2 How may we assist ? What exactly are you looking for ?
Student Well, I’d like to improve my pronunciation, as well as my grammar.
PEC 1 Seems to me that you are already quite good at English.
Student You’ re most kind, but one can always better oneself.
PEC 2 We’ve an interesting class starting soon … it’s upper-intermediate.
Student Yes, I’d prefer to hit the ground running. When does it start ?
PEC 1 Hold on, let me check …..
telephone rings
PEC 2 Hello, PEC … oh, hold the line please, she’s busy. OK, she’ll call back soon.
PEC 1 There’s a class commencing the day after tomorrow .
Student Or maybe a private lesson ?
PEC 2 I can check … bear with me … yes, with teacher John. He’s passionate about teaching.
Student Sounds good. May I ask the fee ?
PEC 2 Certainly …. she writes the price down on paper and hands it to the student.
Student Blimey ! I’ll have to think it over and get back to you. I must work now.
As always, I use these exercise to introduce idioms and expressions, as well as demonstrating how adverbs and adjectives can be used in everyday conversation.
Speaking practice:
Pat Well, I’m exhausted. I need a damn fine cup of coffee and a big piece of pie.
Sam There’s a Highlands over the road, or we can go to Coffee Bean or Milano.
Pat I’d prefer Tran Nguyen but it costs an arm and a leg. Highlands is also incredibly expensive.
Sam But great quality and superb cakes. Come on, I’m starving, I need coffee now !
Pat OK, hold your horses hahaha. After we can meet up with Thay Paul.
Sam Sounds good. Now … shall we have chocolate cake or fruit cake … ?
costs an arm and a leg = very expensive
hold your horses = please be patient and wait
Inside Highlands
Highlands Coffee, a Vietnamese coffee chain
Sam Hi, I’ll have a large cappuccino, please. What do you fancy ?
Pat Tough decision. I’m going for the cheesecake and a slice of blueberry pie.
Sam Oh, me too. Big slice, no, only joking, I have to watch my weight.
Pat I think you look great. Lets also get some chocolate cake and we can share.
Sam Brilliant. Oh, did I show you my recent photos ? Here, on my phone.
Pat Let me see … oh, so funny. Who’s that ? The man next to Niall ?
Sam That’s Jimmy, he’s in Niall’s band. He plays drums and drinks like a fish !
Pat And that’s you, a selfie. You look adorable. Butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth !
A very sweet young lady – butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth
drinks like a fish = drinks a lot of alcohol
Butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth ! = looks very sweet and nice … but can be very naughty
Don’t invite him to your party – he drinks like a fish !
For these exercises, refer to the previous blog (‘Holiday of a Lifetime’). Put class into small groups and assign a city to each one. The groups have to make a presentation, using advertising-style language: hyperbolic adjectives, expressions, phrases. Furthermore, they must really ‘sell’ the holiday, so they can practice their intonation and stress skills.
The blurb contains the selling points, while the practicalities has information. The style should change for these two parts – the teacher can demonstrate.
Students are encourages to add their own information and to make use of classroom facilities such as internet, Google images etc to enhance their presentation.
To make it more competitive, the students have to vote on which holiday sounds most impressive.
Thay Paul's Notes 