B2 -BBC Masterclass: Be polite, how to soften your English

FUNCTIONS ( SUGGESTIONS) DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW ABOUT AND WHAT ABOUT + -ING

WAYS OF MAKING SUGGESTIONS
Watch the video.
Listen to the language focus explanation.

" How about...?" and " What about...?" Are they the same?

REVISION:  ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS

FUNCTIONAL LANGUAGE: OFFERS, SUGGESTIONS.

USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR: OFFERS, SUGGESTIONS. ( Accepting and refusing offers)



Watch this clip from the film " The King's speech" and pay attention to the use of Shall I?

B1 ( BBC ): making suggestions

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1756_how_to_discuss/page2.shtml

B1 ( Speaking + Vocabulary) : Complaining about something you've bought and everyday problems

What's the problem? My computer...

the BBC Learningenglish- Complaining in a shop

You can complain when something you've bought or a service you've used isn't as good as you expected it to be. You can do this in writing or by speaking directly to the person or company. 

In English, we tend to soften our language (often by apologising for disturbing the person we're talking or writing to) before we start complaining. Then we make our complaint and finally we ask for some kind of compensation for our inconvenience or help with our problem. 

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Listen to the episode.

2. Do the activity below.( matching the verb and object) 

3. Read the language point.

4. Do the quizz.

Links: Complaining ( speaking) – episode ( spoken complaints, ways of saying something's not working, asking for action) + language point+ quizz

Ways of saying something's not working or not in good condition: 

OBJECTS: Here's a list of objects that can can break or malfunction.

anything with batteries or that uses power 

a computer 

a lift, a car, a machine,        

a machine where something (e.g. paper) moves through it

a communal or public machine (e.g. a photo-copier, a lift)

glass, china, pottery 

Match the verb list below+ the thing that's not working. ( Check your answers in the language point)

VERBS

1. to break - 2. to break down - 3. to be out of order -  4. to stop working -  5. to crash -  6. to jam -

B1- Intermediate speaking

Paste your Vocaroo embed codes or links as a comment at the bottom of this entry.

What is Vocaroo?
Vocaroo is an online voice recorder you can easily use. For more info click here.

Instructions
1. Go to www.vocaroo.com
2. Hit the record button and speak. After recording your message the application will show the following option:
Happy with this recording? Click here to save >>
3. Click and choose embed.
4. Copy the embed code and paste it on this entry ( click on comment). To know how to paste the Vocaroo link, read the FAQ's below:

Where is the "Post on the internet" option?

It's no longer called "post on the internet". Instead, you have to copy and paste the Vocaroo link under where it says "Sharing options". (See this screenshot here.)

More FAQ's: 

B1 (THE FLATMATES BBC- Language point) : Giving advice

In file 3A we learnt that the modal verb " should " is used to give advice or opinion on a topic. In addition, there are other ways of giving advice. Please visit the links below and do the activities.
Giving advice-
Instructions for self- learning:
There are 3 links below with the activities. Follow the 3 steps and answer the question at the end of this post.

1  Listen to the first video and try to note down as many expressions as you can  used to give advice.
2. Click on number 2 below, listen and check your answers with the trascription. 
3. Finally, read the explanation and do the quizz below.
 
- 1. video ( hidden text)
- 2. video ( with transcription)
- 3. quizz.

QUESTION: What other new verbs do John and Helen use to give advice? ( You can submit your answers on the blog)

A1-B1 ( Speaking): talking about likes and dislikes

http://www.english-at-home.com/speaking/talking-about-likes-and-dislikes-in-english/

HOMEWORK: B1 SPEAKING ( useful expressions): HOW TO.....

Here's a list of the most common functions and expressions we use while we speak.

Do the activities below and try to use it in the classroom for both parts (monologue and dialogue) of the 2nd and 3rd term B1 speaking tests. 

Remember that these language expressions are used in everyday conversation and are important to make yourself understood in different situations.
Let's start by learning the first 6 links ( part 1). Visit the links, do the exercises and write down the most important expressions on your notebook or the speaking copies that I gave you in the first term.

• part 1
• HOW TO DISCUSS ( read: making a point, disagreeing)
• HOW TO USE CONVERSATION LANGUAGE (read: How to agree with someone in an informal conversation- unit 1 New English File )
• HOW TO ASK SOMEONE TO REPEAT SOMETHING
• ASKING FOR PERMISSION ( UNIT 2 NEW ENGLISH FILE PAGE 32 practical English section)
• ASKING A FAVOUR
• 
  
• part 2
• HOW TO GREET SOMEONE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN FOR AGES
• INFORMAL INVITATIONS
• POLITE INVITATIONS
• HOW TO TURN DOWN AN INVITATION
• BORROWING SOMETHING

• part 3
• HOW TO PAY A COMPLIMENT
• HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRITAIN AND THE UK AND GREAT BRITAIN