Everyday English Dealing with problems

Dealing with problems

1 Listening: Shall I do that for you? It is Saturday, and Shirin wants to go to the city centre. On her way to the bus stop she meets Rhona’s father, Gavin. a) Listen to the dialogue. What is Gavin’s problem, and how does Shirin help him? b) What can people say when they help someone? Start a list with these phrases and then listen again to find more.

USEFUL PHRASES You want to help someone Can I help? Shall I …? Just take your time. … Someone helps you That’s very kind of you. Could you … for me? You’ve been a great help. …

2 Work with a partner One of you has a problem, and the other wants to help. Make a dialogue. Use the phrases you collected in 1b).

You have a problem with yesterday’s homework. You want to have a voice mail message on your new mobile.

You want to buy a bus ticket into town at a machine.

3 Listening: Sorry! Shirin has finished her shopping and is on her way home. When she arrives at the bus stop, Rhona is already there. a) Listen to the conversation. Shirin says something, and then she is sorry.

What does she say? and Why is she sorry? b) What can people say when they apologize to someone? Start a list with these phrases and listen again to find more.

USEFUL PHRASES You want to apologize I apologize … I’m terribly sorry … I didn’t mean to be rude. Someone apologizes to you Never mind./No problem./ Don’t worry. Be more careful next time./…

4 Role play: An embarrassing situation “Katie never wears cool clothes.” “Sue always wants to borrow money.” “We don’t want Max in our football team.” a) In groups of three to four, prepare a dialogue: One of you is talking to a friend and says something rude about a third person. But the third person hears it. Look at the ideas on the left, and use the Useful phrases from exercise 3. Then act your role play. b) Do you know an embarrassing situation from a magazine or a TV show? Tell the class about it.