|
Ideas
for Practising Functional Expressions |
||
At a Glance
Students will: ü develop fluency with functional expressions
ü practise how
to give/ask for an opinion ü learn
about the cultural aspect of expressing an opinion ü practise listening skills |
Purpose: To develop
fluency with functional expressions;
to practice giving an opinion and asking other people for their opinion;
asking for clarification; and asking
for more information Materials: Handout Functional Expressions 1 and 2. Preparation: (5 minutes) photocopy handouts for students Time: initially, one class period; can be used as a short exercise in following
classes. |
|
|
Teacher’s Notes |
Procedure 1. Introduce the expressions in Functional Expressions 1 and 2. 2. Discuss formality. Note the subtle differences in the various expressions and how tone of voice and body language are a large part of the meaning. 3. Ask the class for an idea to discuss. (day-care, learning a second language, treating a fever…) Generate a sample dialogue: A: How do you feel about (day-care)? B: Well, I think/I feel/it seems to me/… A: Why do you say that? B: Because … Or: A: What do you think is the best way (to treat a common cold)? B: as above 4. Practice a sample dialogue with the class, repeating after the instructor to check for intonation. 5. Conversation Circle: Half the students stand in a circle facing out. The other half of the students make another circle around the first circle, facing inward. Explain that the inside circle will not move but the outside circle will move one person to their right when instructed. 6. Begin the dialogue as in the sample with the outside circle as Part A asking for opinion and deciding on the topic. When the instructor claps, the outside circle moves to the right. This is repeated until everyone meets the original partner. Reverse the inside and outside circles and repeat. Note: Insist that students can only discuss one topic per partner – then they MUST ask for more information about a topic! |
|
