An ESL Teacherýs Handbook For South Korea

A conversation with more than two people Many times you meet someone but you can’t get past hello. You didn’t memorize enough or you didn't develop your skill enough. Let’s try to go one more step. Problem Often when you meet someone your brain forgets what to do next. So you blurt out some memorized form of conversation. Imagine this — You have learned some new phrases in English class and are now meeting some other people. Practice this together and then in groups of three. Hello: How U doin’? Me 2: Great and you? Hello: My name is Hello! What’s yours? Me 2: Me 2. Hello: Really? Me 2: Yes, and this is my friend Really. Really: Nice to meet you. Really! Hello: Me 2. What are you doing today with Really? Me 2: Well, I would like to go for coffee. Hello: Really! How about you? Really: Well, I will just follow Me 2. Sounds silly I know. What is the problem with this conversation? Are there any new phrases? Review ……….. the sequence Make a question (Q) — answer the question (A) — What does the third person do or say? Question — Answer — ? — Question — Answer — ? Notes The sequence remains the same but the third presents a problem. Discuss the idea of what does the third person say or do. Do they just say, ”ok”? How does the question change? Do you just ask “and you”? Three or more people change the conversation a little but not a lot. It takes more work to include the other people. It takes some repetition with a small twist. In this exercise the students should introduce a third person, or be introduced to a third or more party. I put my students in teams of 4 to do this introducing each other as a friend of the other. You can do this in 3 + 1 or 2 + 2, etc. In a conversation, when you first meet someone, use their name when you ask them questions. This will help you remember them. In a conversation, ask questions which will give you information (thinking rule #1). If you ask “Do…” questions you will get a yes or no answer. So use the name first and then ask about their relationship or job. Problem — In Korea too many children and people ask for name and country but never go farther. This is because information questions are just memorized. This can sometimes be thought of as rude. If this happens a few times it is ok. But because it happens too often it is considered rude. Solution --- Asking about a relationship to your friend or their relationship to you is better and takes more thinking time. Let us get started Situation – Two friends are meeting at Starbucks Coffee. One friend is bringing a friend who does NOT know the other. Big Bucks Coffee Shop S1: Hello. Q – Sam! Who did you bring with you? S2: A -- Hi John! This is my friend Sue. Sue this is my friend John. S1: Hi Sue, Q -- __________________  Teachers — Questions should be made so that a short response can be made and then a new question to a new student. Respond with words like —That’s great, Terrific, Wonderful, That’s too bad, Oh, no! You’re kidding, Oh, really. I see, etc. Use them only once. --- Stay away from the standard Q’s like, “What’s your name?” How many different good questions can we think about to ask Sue in the dialogue above? 1. _________________________________________________________ 2. _________________________________________________________ 3. _________________________________________________________ 4. _________________________________________________________ 5. _________________________________________________________ Example -- Asking about their friend~~  Who is he/she? or Who is your friend?  What does your friend do? Introducing your friend~~ This is my friend ____. (Sue) or This is _____ my friend. (Sue) or I’d like you to meet my friend. _____ this is John. (Sue) Example -- Q= question A =Answer S1: Hello. Q – Sam! Who did you bring with you?  S2: A -- Hi John! This is my friend Sue. Sue this is my friend John.  S1: Hi Sue, Q -- What does your friend do?  Notes Discuss the following questions. Then discuss what “Sue” would say next. Write a couple of examples and complete the conversation at Big Bucks Coffee Shop. Let us Continue the conversation Which is the best of each? I have put a  for the best to use above. Asking has a  and I would recommend that as a second question. Which ones do you use most in your own language or culture? ________________________________________________________ How does this compare with how you use English? ________________________________________________________ How often do you have to introduce your friend to someone else? ________________________________________________________ S1: Hello. Q – Sam! Who did you bring with you? S2: A -- Hi John! This is my friend Sue. Sue this is my friend John. S1: Hi Sue, Q -- What does your friend do? S3: I am an Executive Assistant at Kwando Motors. Q – How long have you known Sam? S1: A - ___________________________ Q-- _____________________________ Change the topic now by asking a better question. Notes It is easy to change a topic. Just ask a question which requires an answer in a different direction. You can keep control of a conversation by using good questions. Changing conversation topics is not considered rude if you use good questions.