This is a lesson plan in which high level students get to grips with functional language and expressions used for complaining and criticising. Download the handout below:
Once you’ve done that, give out the handout and have students start to tackle the dialogue between Bob and his boss. Students should try to paraphrase the expressions and discuss their use.
Further idiomatic expressions and structures are then listed, have students discuss them in pairs and field any questions and doubts they may have.
Students then complete a controlled practice activity:
Complete the sentences with one word:
You could at least call to let us know you’re running late.
If you will keep leaving the heating on, you can’t complain about the gas bill.
Your work has not been up to scratch for some time now and you really need to pull your finger out.
I resent having to listen to your complaints every morning.
The onus is on you to apologise to her, you were way out of line.
You could/might/should have told me you were sick this morning, now there’s no time to organise a substitution.
You had better knuckle down and start making an effort in this relationship, otherwise I’m gone.
I don’t mean to throw Dave under the bus but it was his responsibility to lock up after the show.
Now have students roleplay the scenarios and write up a dialogue for their favourite.
Set the writing task for homework, point out that the tone should be firm but friendly and informal. Encourage the use of as many expressions as possible.
This is a fun lexis lesson for B1+ teens and adults based around the topic of gossip. Students read a dialogue of two people gossiping full of phrasal verbs. Then they try to guess the meaning of the expressions from the context, practice them in gap-fill exercises then write and perform their own soap opera/gossip scenes. Download the handout below:
Introduce the topic of gossip, check students understanding of the word, ask CCQs: what do people gossip about? relationships, secrets, arguments etc.
Gist Reading
Give out the handout, have students read it in pairs and then think of a title for the scene. If students have issues with any lexis, tell them that you will look at it in detail later.
Meaning Match
Have sts work together to match the phrasal verbs underlined in the text with the meanings in box.
Testing/Memorising
After checking sts answers on the board, have sts test each other on the phrasal verbs: one says the definition, the other has to recall the phrasal verb or vice versa.
Gap-fill: Recall prepositions
Students turn the handout over and have to quickly remember all the prepositions.
Controlled practice: New contexts
Sts have to try to use the phrasal verbs in new contexts by completing a gap fill, remind them to be careful of the tense and form of the phrasal verbs. Key:
fell out
pick up
cheating on
ask out
put up with
hang out
get on
looking back
looking forward to
turned up
broke up
Freer Practice
Students work in pairs to write their own, new dialogues, you could show them clips from classic UK soap operas like Eastenders or Coronation Street to give them some inspiration. Have students read their dialogues out in front of the class and vote on the funniest/most scandalous.
Dialogue
Read the dialogue below with a partner, then think of a title for it:
Title: ___________________________
A: Have you heard about Kate and Steve?
B: No, what happened?
A: They’ve broken up.
B: No way! When did this happen??
A: Yesterday. Apparently she’d been cheating on him for months with a guy from her gym.
B: Seriously?? That’s horrible, tell me more.
A: Well apparently she met this guy in her yoga class and they got on really well and started hanging out after class. Then the guy asked her out for a drink and she said yes, but then Sarah saw them in the bar where they went for the date and confronted her about it.
B: Woah! Is that why Kate and Sarah fell out?
A: Yeah, looking back it seems obvious now. So then, last week Steve and Kate were supposed to be going to a concert together, Steve had been looking forward to it for ages. Then on the night of the concert she just didn’t turn up! He was calling her and calling her and she didn’t pick up, because she was out on another date with the guy from the gym!
B: What a bitch! Steve is such a nice guy.
A: I know he shouldn’t have to put up with being treated like that. So anyway, he went straight to her house because he was really worried and he caught her coming out of her flat with the guy!
B: Oh my god! It’s like something out of a soap opera!
A: I know…
Meaning
Replace the underlined phrasal verbs in the text with the words/phrases in the box below:
1. Tolerate
2. Stopped being friends
3. Ended their relationship
4. Spend time together
5. Have a good relationship
6. Be excited about a future event/thing
7. Answer the phone
8. To be unfaithful
9. Request a date
10. Appear/arrive
11. Remembering/thinking about
Memory Test
Can you remember the missing prepositions?
A: Have you heard about Kate and Steve?
B: No, what happened?
A: They’ve broken _____.
B: No way! When did this happen??
A: Yesterday. Apparently she’d been cheating _____him for months with a guy from her gym.
B: Seriously?? That’s horrible, tell me more.
A: Well apparently she met this guy in her yoga class and they got ______really well and started hanging _______ after class. Then the guy asked her _______ for a drink and she said yes, but then Sarah saw them in the bar where they went for the date and confronted her about it.
B: Woah! Is that why Kate and Sarah fell ________?
A: Yeah, looking _______it seems obvious now. So then, last week Steve and Kate were supposed to be going to a concert together, Steve had been looking _________ to it for ages. Then on the night of the concert she just didn’t turn up! He was calling her and calling her and she didn’t pick ________, because she was out on another date with the guy from the gym!
B: What a bitch! Steve is such a nice guy.
A: I know he shouldn’t have to put _______with being treated like that. So anyway, he went straight to her house because he was really worried and he caught her coming out of her flat with the guy!
B: Oh my god! It’s like something out of a soap opera!
A: I know…
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct phrasal verb:
I ____________ with my sister 2 years ago and we’re still not speaking now.
I tried calling my parents but they didn’t ____________.
I think my boyfriend might be ________________ me, he keeps texting some other girl.
I really fancy this girl in my class, I want to _______ her ________, where should I suggest?
There was a crying baby in the seat behind me on the train, I had to _____________ the noise for the whole journey.
I just want to _____________ with my friends this weekend.
I ______________ really well with my Dad’s new girlfriend, she’s really nice.
________________ on my childhood, I think I had an easy life.
I’m really _________________ my holiday in Greece, I can’t wait!
I was waiting for the bus for 2 hours but it never ________________.
I’m so depressed, my girlfriend _____________ with me last night, she says she doesn’t love me anymore.
This is a grammar activity designed for C1 students. Students learn how to express preference using “would rather” and “would sooner” then put them to use in a roleplay. Download the powerpoint, handout and key below:
Use the powerpoint to present the rules, it is designed in a test, teach, test structure. Make sure that students copy down the rules and several examples then have them complete the worksheet and finally put the structures to use in a fun role-play. Students will role play being a married couple having a very civilised argument. Once they have finished have them feedback in open class: “Can the marriage be saved? Or is it on the rocks?” My teenage CAE students found it absolutely hilarious and used the structures in very creative ways.
Handout
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets:
I would rather ____________ a light salad than a steak for dinner. (have)
I would rather he ________________his dirty cups all over the house. (not leave)
Venice was nice but I’d sooner __________________ to Paris. (go)
He’s quite antisocial he’d just as soon ____________ video games all weekend than go to a bar. (play)
I wanted to give the present to granny! I’d rather you _______________ for me to arrive before you gave it to her. (wait)
We had dinner outside but it was too cold. I’d much rather ______________ inside the restaurant. (eat)
Complete the key word transformations using 3-6 words.
My brother is always stealing my chocolate out of the fridge.
RATHER
I’d _______________________________________ my chocolate out of the fridge.
Why did you tell the boss I was leaving?
RATHER
I ____________________________________ the boss I was leaving.
I prefer visiting museums to lying around on the beach all day.
JUST
I ____________________________ than lie around on the beach all day.
The chocolates he gave me were ok but I wanted roses.
RATHER
I _____________________________ me roses instead of chocolates.
The art gallery was sooo boring; I wanted to go to the casino.
RATHER
I _______________________________ to the casino instead of that boring art gallery.
He would prefer to do anything instead of watching a football match.
SOONER
He ___________________________________ anything instead of watching a football match.
Role-play
Role-play the following scenario with your partner:
You are a married couple; you have been married for 23 years. You have just got back from a party at a friend’s house. At the party you both got drunk and did a lot of things to annoy your husband/wife. You are both also annoyed about some things that the other does or doesn’t do around the house. Have a civilised argument using as many “would rathers” and “would sooners” as you can.
SS complete the sentences with the following words:
for
on
blame
wrong
fault (x2)
It was my/his/her/your/their/our fault
He was to blame
She was in the wrong
They were at fault.
I blame the broken window on John.
I blame John for breaking the window.
Show the first slide from the powerpoint and have students discuss who is to blame in small groups. Ss then report back in open class. You might want to assign roles from the different situations to different students to make it a bit more exciting.
This is a speaking activity for intermediate and upwards on the subject of persuading and convincing. It can be used as preparation for FCE and CAE due to its similarity to part 3 of the speaking test.
Split the class into groups of 4 or 5. Use this quizlet set to practice language for convincing and persuading. For higher levels get them to brainstorm the language in pairs first and then board it.
Language from the quizlet set:
Don’t you _________ it would be better to go to Ibiza?
__________ it be better to go to Ibiza?
I think we _________ go to Ibiza.
I suggest/recommend ________ to Ibiza.
We o_________ to go to Ibiza.
I i__________ that we go to Ibiza.
By ______ the best idea is to go to Ibiza
What/How _______ going to Ibiza?
Key:
think
Wouldn’t
should
going
ought
insist
far
about
Students discuss the different situations in the powerpoint in their groups of 4-5. Nominate one person from the group to be the person who the others must persuade (parent, headmaster, boss, editor, friend)
Report back at the end. Who was the most persuasive?
This is an activity to practice various ways of making offers and requests.
First go over the language on the handout for making offers and requests then cut up the situation cards and have students role-play them, simple as that. Here are the handouts:
It is common that English speakers make offers in conversations in order to be polite and helpful. When they do so they use these expressions:
Can I… ?
Shall I… ?
Would you like … ?
How about …?
English learner must be able to make offers as well as accept or reject them. The following are useful expressions to do so.
Can
I
help you?
Shall
get you some juice?
Would you like
a glass of water ?
How about
some pizza?
Examples:
· “Can I help you?”
· “Shall I open the window for you?”
· “Would you like another cup of coffee?”
· “Would you like me to clean the board?”
· “How about a juice? “
Remember:
· Shall, can and will are followed by the verb without to.
Example:
“Can I help you?”
“Shall I bring you the mobile phone?
· Shall is more formal than can.
· Would you like… is followed either by a noun, or by the verb with to.
Example:
“Would you like some tea ?”
“Would you like to drink some coffee?
Responding to offers
Accepting
Declining
Yes please. I’d like to.
That would be very kind of you.
Yes please, that would be lovely.
Yes please, I’d love to.
If you wouldn’t mind.
If you could.
Thank you, that would be great.
It’s OK, I can do it myself.
Don’t worry, I’ll do it.
No, thanks
No, thank you
Examples:
· “Can I help you?”
“No thanks, I’m just having a look.” (With a shop assistant.)
· “Can I help you?”
“Do you know where the post office is.”
· “Shall I help you with your maths problem?”
“Yes, please. That would be very nice of you.”
· “Would you like a cup of tea?”
“No thanks.” Or, “No thank you.”
· “Would you like another piece of cake?”
“Yes please, that would be nice .”
“Yes please, I’d love one.”
· “Would you like me to do the the ironing for you?”
“If you wouldn’t mind.”
“If you could.”
· “I’ll do the washing, if you like.”
“It’s OK, I can do it.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll do it.”
“Thank you, that would be great.”
Asking others to do things – making requests
Asking
Saying Yes
Saying No
Can you…?
Yes, sure.
Well, I’m afraid + reason
Could you…?
Is it all right if you…?
Do you think you could…?
Will you…?
Would you…?
Yes, of course.
Certainly.
Well, the problem is
Sorry, but…
Do you mind -ing…?
Would you mind -ing…?
No, not at all.
Of course not.
Situation cards:
Offers and Requests Situations
You have just broken your leg. You have to stay in bed for 2 months. You have 3 children and 2 dogs. Ask your friends for help.
You have to go away for the weekend for a business trip. You have lots of plants in your house and 3 cats.
Your house is in a bad state: the walls need painting, one window is broken and the front door doesn’t close properly. You have no money for repairs. Ask your friends for help.
You have an important job interview tomorrow morning but your car is at the mechanics being fixed. You also need to take your children to school at the same time as the interview.
You are organising a cocktail dinner party but you can’t cook or make cocktails and you don’t have any CDs or records to play.
You had a big party last night and your house is a complete mess, the carpet is stained with red wine, all the dishes are dirty, there are cans and bottles everywhere and the toilet is broken. Ask your friends (who were also at the party) for help.
You are a little old lady. You have just been to the supermarket, you are carrying a lot of heavy bags and you want to cross the road. Ask a group of teenagers for help.
You are in an expensive restaurant with friends. There is a group of loud football players at the table next to you singing and shouting. The restaurant is also too cold and smells bad. Ask the waiter for help.
You had an accident at work and you have to wear two patches over your eyes for 2 weeks. Ask your friends for help with your daily activities.
You are moving house. You have to transport everything in your old house to your new one. You don’t have a van, ask your friends for help.
You have a new boss at work. You want to impress him/her because you want a promotion. Offer to do some extra work.
You are an old man, you have come to visit your children, you have arthritis and you need help with lots of things.
This is a discussion class for higher levels (high B2 – C2) based around the Logan Laplante’s TED talk video on “hack-schooling” a form of home schooling based round applicable skills and hands-on experience.
The video is 11 minutes long so I set it for homework the lesson before so that students could watch and rewatch as many times as they needed to fully understand it. Alternatively, you could watch it in class if you have time.
Vocabulary
Logan uses some skier/skater American slang, for example:
To be stoked – to be excited about/interested in something
to be bummed out – to be annoyed/disappointed
Other vocab that might need highlighting:
To log out of reality – to escape from reality
mashup – a mixture/fusion of different elements
hacker mindset – a mindset is a set of attitudes a person has
Discussion questions
What was your first impression of Logan?
How old is he?
Is he a typical 13 year old?
What are the 8 keys to happiness? (Exercise/diet and nutrition/time in nature/contribution and service to others/relationships/recreation/religious and spiritual)
What do you think of this idea?
How does he define a “hacker”? (A person who changes and improves established systems)
What is “hack-schooling”? (opportunistic learning that doesn’t follow a curriculum with no fixed structure)
What do you think of this idea?
How and what does Logan learn?
Is it for everyone?
Is it only for people from a privileged background?
“Schools are orientated towards making a living rather than making a life” What do you think of this statement? Do you agree?
Do students today learn applicable skills?
What do you think Logan is going to be when he grows up?
What would your friends say if you pulled your children out of school?
Role-play
Put students in pairs of groups of 3 and have them role play the last question, student A has decided to pull their kids out of school to teach them at home, student B thinks they are crazy!
Debate
“The education system does not prepare students for life.”
Split group in to two groups, 1 in support and 1 against the motion. Follow standard debate structure, 2 minute opening arguments, rebuttals etc.
Before you use these materials… We’ve created a new podcast aimed at B2+ level English students and teachers alike. You can listen for free at our SoundCloud page below. You can download teacher’s notes to accompany them from our Facebook page or from this blog. All comments and feedback welcome! Give us a like and a share 😉
Put “to complain” and “to make a complaint” on the board. Ensure that students understand them both.
Put students in small groups (3-4)
Tell them to think of a time when they made a complaint. Tell them to tell their classmates the story:
Where were you?
Why did you complain?
How did you complain?
What was the result?
Tell students to listen carefully to their classmate’s story because after they are going to tell the rest of the class the same story.
Give the class 5-10 minutes to swap stories. When they have finished each group takes it in turns to tell the rest of the class each complaining story. This helps to recycle the language, also people love telling stories about complaining! Especially if they got some good freebies out of it!
Hand out discussion questions
Put students in pairs (A + B). Students ask and answer discussion questions.
Brief feedback to the rest of the class.
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show to Student B)
1)
What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘complain’?
2)
Are you a complainer?
3)
Who do you usually complain to?
4)
What complaints do you have at the moment?
5)
Have you ever complained in a restaurant, hotel, airplane or train?
6)
How often do people complain to you?
7)
How often do people complain about you?
8)
Do you have any complaints about English?
9)
What are your biggest complaints about your friends?
10)
Do men or women complain more?
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show to Student A)
1)
What kinds of things do you complain about?
2)
When was the last time you complained about something?
3)
Have you ever written a letter or e-mail of complaint?
4)
Do you like complaining?
5)
What is your complaining style – polite or aggressive?
6)
How often do you complain to yourself in public?
7)
Do you think complaining relieves stress?
8)
Do you like to watch when other people complain?
9)
Have you ever got a better service after you’ve complained?
10)
Why might people complain about you?
Hand out Complaining in English
Tell students to read through the sheet briefly in pairs.
Then go through and clear up any vocabulary problems and emphasise the cultural note.
Cultural note
It is important to remember that English is not as direct as other languages. It is important to be polite and follow rules for socially acceptable behaviour. For example, it is normal, when making a complaint, to start by saying “sorry” or “excuse me”, even though you haven’t done anything wrong. Being polite will help you get what you want.
Example:
In a shop
You’re in a shop and the assistant gives you the wrong change.
“Excuse me, I think you’ve given me the wrong change.”
OR
“Sorry, I think this change is wrong, I gave you £10 not £5.”
In a hotel
Customer
“Excuse me, but there’s a problem with the heating in my room”
“Sorry to bother you, but I think there’s something wrong with the air-conditioning.”
“I’m afraid I have to make a complaint. Some money has gone missing from my room.”
“I’m afraid there’s a slight problem with my room – the bed hasn’t been made.”
Hotel worker
Normally the worker will apologise deeply for the problem and promise some immediate action.
“I’m so sorry sir / madam, I’ll send someone up to look at it immediately.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, I’ll get someone to check it for you.”
Hand out role-play cards
There are two complaining role-plays so each student has a go at being the customer and the worker. Encourage students to use as much language from the previous handout as possible.
Complaining roleplay:
Student A: You are staying in a 5 star hotel, there is a famous rock band staying in the room next door, it is 3am and they are having a wild party, throwing televisions out the window and keeping you awake. You have an important business meeting at 9am.
Student B: You are the receptionist in a 5 star hotel, it is 3am a guest has come to complain about noise, there is a famous rock group staying in the hotel, they have paid €1million to have a party in their room. The hotel is full.
Student A: You are checking out of your hotel. When the receptionist gives you the bill it is very high, you have been charged for 2 bottles of don perignon Champagne from the mini bar and 2 “adult” movies on the TV, you didn’t drink any champagne and you didn’t watch the movies.
Student B: You are a hotel receptionist, student A is coming to complain about his / her bill.
