Everyday English

1.- Introduction to lesson

In this lesson, we are going to look at everyday English (English that is spoken between friends which is not necessarily grammatically correct but which is in constant use). When looking at everyday English, we will also examine question tags.

 

2.- Your turn…

Answer the following questions out loud giving as much information as possible.

  • Do you speak differently when you are at school/work to when you are with your friends and family? Explain how.
  • What topics of conversation arise when you are talking in an informal situation?
  • Do the think men and woman talk about the same things? How do we differ?

 

3.- Teacher Talk Time

3.1.- Listen to your teacher answer the above questions.

  1. What topics of conversation does she think woman talk about?
  2. What topics of conversation does she believe men talk about?
  3. Do you agree with her answers?

 

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3.2.- When answering the questions, your teacher says the following. But what does she mean? Match the word/s with a definition.

a. I tend to swear a bit
b. I try not to be very colloquial
c. I like to get together with my friends
d. The conversation then moves onto gossip
e. They stick to talking about sport
f. If you’re lucky they’ll talk about what they’ve been up to.

 

Definitions

a. Use words which can be considered offensive/rude
b. Use words which are very informal
c. To meet up with
d. Informal conversation which usually talks about the behaviour of other people
e. To keep to / continue
f. To talk about past/present/future experiences

 

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1)To swear
2)Colloquial
3)To get together with
4)Gossip
5)To sick to
6)To be up to
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3.3.- Tapescript

1. Do you speak differently when you are at school/work to when you are with your friends and family? Explain how.

Of course, when I’m at work I’m very correct and polite. I try not to swear and I try not to be very colloquial. However, when I’m with my friends and I’m very passionate about what I’m talking about, I tend to swear a bit and use a lot of colloquial expressions.

2. What topics of conversation arise when you are talking in an informal situation?

I like to get together with my friends at least once every two weeks. When we’re together we do not stop talking. We’ve always got so much to say. We usually start off talking about what we’ve been doing the past few weeks, our jobs, usually the conversation then moves on to shopping, boys, gossip and more gossip.

3. Do the think men and woman talk about the same things? How do we differ?

I know for a fact that boys are very different when they are with their friends. They hardly ever talk about personal things. They stick to talking about sport, films and maybe if you’re lucky they’ll talk about what they’ve been up to.

 

4.- Listening – Colloquial English

4.1.- You are going to listen to a conversation between Richard and Sophie. Are the following statements true or false?

Sonido

Inicia sesión para hacer seguimiento de tus autoevaluaciones
1)They met by chance
2)Sophie is in hurry
3)Richard and Sophie make plants to meet up later that week
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boda

 

4.2.- Tapescript

Sophie: Hey Richard! How’s it going?

Richard: Hey Sophie. Not bad.

Sophie: What have you been up to lately?

Richard: Not a lot, really. Work, work and more work! This week I haven’t had any time to do anything.

Sophie: You’re not having a good week, are you?

Richard: Not at all. What are you up to these days?

Sophie: This and that. Actually, I’ve just moved house so I’m living in London now.

Richard: Oh, cool.

Sophie: You must come over for dinner some time.

Richard: Would love to.

Sophie: It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?

Richard: Yes, beautiful day. Look, I must dash – I’ll call you.

Sophie: Ok. See you.
 

 

4.3.- Complete the table with some of the phrases from the conversation and some additional ones.

  • How’s it going?
  • Not bad
  • What are you up to these days?
  • Fine
  • Look, I must dash.
  • I’ll call you
  • See you.
  • How’s life?
  • Take care
  • Great
  • What have you been up to lately?
  • Better go now.
  • How are things?
  • I’m afraid I can’t talk now.

(Para ver la solución hacer doble click en la tabla; un click vuelve a posición original)

cuadro1

 

5.- Language Focus – Question Tags

Look at the following sentences from the dialogues which show you two examples of question tags.

  • It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?
  • You’re not having a very good week, are you?

 

So, what is a question tag?

A question tag is a short question which is added to the end of a statement. There are two ways a question tag can be formed:

 

a) Positive statement + negative tag

It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?
Positive ............Negative

 

b) Negative statement + positive tag

You’re not having a very good week, are you?
Negative .........................................Positive

 

Please note that the pronoun used in the statement is always used in the question tag. For example:

  • You like chocolate, don’t you?
  • We’re going to London, aren’t we?
  • They went to a restaurant last night, didn’t they?

 

6.- Controlled practice

6.1.- Match the correct question tags to the statements.

(Para ver la solución hacer doble click en texto; un click vuelve a posición original)

cuadro2

 

6.2.- You are at a party. Add tags to help start a friendly conversation.

Inicia sesión para hacer seguimiento de tus autoevaluaciones
1)I haven´t seen you before,
2)It´s a lovely house,
3)There aren´t many people here yet,
4)You´re friends from school,
5)We haven´t been introduced,
6)He went to our school,
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7.- Free Practice

7.1.- Read the situation and write a sentence with a question tag.

Inicia sesión para hacer seguimiento de tus autoevaluaciones
1) You see your friends listening to music. There´s a Michael Jackson CD beside him. What do you say to your friend?
2) You look out of your window and see that the sky is blue and the sun is shinning. What do you say?
3) You and your friend have just seen a film. You thought it was the best film you´ve ever seen. What do you say to your friends?
4) You and your brother have been very nasty to your younger sister and should apologize to her. What do you say to your brother?
5) You see a boy at a party that has the same watch on as you. You bought it online. What do you say to they boy?
6) You and your friend are walking through town when you see a friend of yours parked in the middle of the road. You think she´s broken down. What do you say to your friend?
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8.- Your turn…

Do you agree with the following statement? Explain your point of view.

When explaining your point of view, try not to use the verb ‘think’. Use other verbs instead.

  • In the future, there will not be any differentiation between formal and informal English.

Here are some phrases that might help you explain your point of view:

  • I totally agree with this statement because…
  • I believe that…
  • From my point of view…
  • I strongly disagree...
  • I’m convinced that…
  • I must admit that…

 

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