New lesson plan: Models of Requests

Roche Myburgh

Models of Requests - Intermediate level

Models of Requests
Intermediate level

Description

In this lesson Ss will learn about the modals if request Could and Can. They will learn about the differences in formality and politeness between the two modals and how to decide on the appropriate setting to use each of these. The lesson will take the form of a guided discovery as I will set the contex for the students and use marker sentences to guide them to discovering the meaning for themselves. The discovery process will take the form of controlled, semi controlled and freer exercises.

Materials

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Main Aims

To provide clarification of language used for Making requests in the context of An office setting

Subsidiary Aims

To provide accuracy speaking practice in a Formal or polite requests in the context of The office

Procedure (40-52 minutes)

Warmer/Lead-in (2-4 minutes) • To set lesson context and engage students

British people are very polite in the office. Can you think of some ways that British people would ask for something?

Exposure (6-8 minutes) • To provide context for the target language through a text or situation

The students will listen to audio recording 1.42 while completing exercise 1 and pair checking their answers. CCQs Is the man making a request for something, or demanding something? (Making a request) Is Can I a polite way of making a request? (Yes) Is Could I also a polite way of making a request? (Yes) The students will then complete exercise 2 in pairs and pair check their answers. CCQ Is Could I just polite, or is it polite and formal? (Polite and Formal) When you speak to your friend, do you call him Sir? (No) Would you use Could I for a friend, or for the manager? (The manger)

Clarification (8-10 minutes) • To clarify the meaning, form and pronunciation of the target language

The students will complete Exercise 2, to develop an understanding of when to use Can I/can you and when to use Could I/Could you and paircheck to see whether everyone has the same answers. When that is complete, the students will complete Exercise 3 and paircheck. The goal here is for the students to discover the connection between could I/you and a higher degree of formality compared to Can I/You CCQ Is Could I more formal than Can I? (Yes) Should I say Can I to my manager when I make a request? (No)

Controlled Practice (8-10 minutes) • To concept check and prepare students for more meaningful practice

The students will now be grouped together and complete exercise 4 in their groups. The goal here is for the students to demonstrate a grasp of Can I/you as being polite, but less formal, as opposed to Could I/you which is polite but more formal. CCQs If I make a request with Could I, am I speaking to my manager, or to my office friend? Manager. If I make a request with Can you, am I speaking to my manager, or to my office friend? Office friend. Is a request using Could I more formal, or less formal? More formal.

Semi-Controlled Practice (6-8 minutes) • To concept check further and prepare students for free practice

The students will now complete exercise 5 in their groups, they will be asked to create requests that can be used to obtain the answers provided in exercise 5. The goal is to see whether the students can now use Can you/I and Could you/I to formulate complete requests.

Free Practice (10-12 minutes) • To provide students with free practice of the target language

The students will complete exercise 6 in their groups and then proceed to practise asking and answering the requests they have created in groups. If there is time, I will ask each group to write one question on the WB and have another group answer it.