Polite Interruptions

Asking For Permission to Interrupt

1-"Sorry to bother you, but have have you got a minute?"

2-"Sorry to disturb you. I was wondering if I could see you for a moment?"

Possible Answers To Refuse Permission To Interrupt

1-Sorry, this isn't a good time.

2-I'm really up against it at the moment.(under pressure to hit a deadline)

3-I'm afraid I'm (a bit) tied up just now. (be busy, occupied)

4-I'm rather pushed for time at the moment.( be busy, in a hurry)

Mobile Phones

Level: Pre-Intermediate and above
Aim: Students learn to express “likes and dislikes”
Time needed: 40 minutes
Materials: Three chairs
Stage 1
Brainstorm the advantages and the disadvantages of mobile phones. Ask the students if they think mobile phones are useful. Let them discuss this topic in the classroom.
Stage 2
When their discussion ends , teach the following structures which are often used when somebody says he likes or dislikes something in a conversation.

Phrases to say you like something
I really love…
I’m really/ very/ quite interested in…
I enjoy…
I’m really/ very/ quite keen on…
I think… is/ are great/ brilliant/ wonderful

Phrases to say you don’t like something
I really hate..
I don’t like… at all.
I can’t stand…, … really get(s) on my nerves.
I can’t bear
I’m not very keen on.
…drive(s) me crazy.
I think…is/ are really boring/ annoying.

Phrases to say something is OK
I think…is/ are all right.
I don’t mind.

Examples:
I really love mobile phones*. I think they are marvellous.
I can’t stand the ring tones of mobile phones. They really get on my nerves.
I’m not very keen on mobile phones. I think they are unnecessary.

*mobile phone: British English, cellular phone: American English

Stage 3
Choose a presenter among the students. He/ she is going to be a TV show (eg.Today’s Technology)presenter. She must prepare an introduction to his/her programme. Divide the students into groups of two. The first group believes that mobile phones are very necessary and useful. The second group believes that they are harmful and useless.Give the students some time(10 minutes ) and have them write their ideas down . Then ask these two groups to choose their own spokespersons

Stage 4
Place three chairs in the middle of the classroom. One for the TV show presenter and two for the spokespersons. Firstly, the presenter should start the programme by using the introduction he/ she has already prepared. Then he/she should ask each group why they are for or against the cellular phones.

Teacher’s Notes
After the TV show ends, students may change roles and put on another programme.The most important thing is they must use at least one structure above while talking.

Describing Appearances & Characteristics of People

Game 1
Level: Easy to Medium (Low to low intermediate)

Each student is then given one sheet of paper. One student sits at the front of a room. He/she describes a person and the rest of the class draws the person being described.
It is more interesting if the person being described is known by everyone. Once the student has finished describing that person then he/she reveals who it is and each student shows his/her drawing. The laughter from this is hilarious as the impressions tend to make the character in question look funny.
It is a good idea to encourage students to ask the interviewee student questions about who they are describing.