Lend a Hand

Freshman Oral English

Unit 1: Socializing on Campus
Class CEFR Level: A2-B1
Week 11, Lesson 1
Fall Semester 2015
Instructor: Sulamith M. Hfer

Icebreaker: Household Chores (10 min.)

Materials

Welcome students, introduce this lessons topic and ILOs.

Tell students to look at the household chores on p. 61 (Talk Time 1). They
should choose one they have to do when theyre at home and write it on a
piece of paper. Collect the papers, redistribute them, and then have them
mingle and talk to their classmates to find the author of their paper.

PPT

Handout with dialog

(Attachment A)

Handout with function

(Attachment B)

Alternative:
They should choose one they have to do and one they never have to do when
theyre at home. Then they should mingle with their classmates and see, if they
can find 5 people who chose the same two chores.

Mirrors

Slips with prompts for

function practice (Pair
Activity Attachment C)

Alternative for lower levels:

Reduce the number of chores to those youre sure your students already know.
(Display them with your PPT or on the blackboard.)

Sheets of paper (one per

group 8 per class)

Preparations
Review & Check-Up (5 min.)

Before Class write on the board:

Homework: Partners dream home

Idiom: N/A
Pronunciation: Unvoiced Th
Function/Grammar: N/A
Feedback: Skit

ILOs

Homework

Goals
Students will be able to talk about
household chores.

Idiom: Lend a Hand (5 min.)

Meaning:
Fig. to give someone some help, often but not necessarily with the hands.

Intended Learning
Outcomes (ILOs)

Examples:
1. Could you lend me a hand with this piano? I need to move it across the room.
2. Could you lend a hand with this math assignment?
3. Could you lend me a hand with these books?
4. He's always willing to lend a hand in the kitchen.
5. I'd be happy to lend a hand.

TSWBAT

Pronunciation: Voiced TH Sound (25 min.)

Hand out mirrors. Introduce the sound and explain how it is formed with the
mouth. Make sure they use the mirrors to check whether their tongue really
sticks out. (Mirror alternative: cell phone selfie function)
Provide examples with words that contain the target sound.

Lend a Hand

explain how to form the

target sound - Voiced TH
and correctly produce it when
talking about fashion
preferences.

use the function of making

polite requests and
responding to such in
connection to household
chores.

/d/
day
dare
doze
ladder
breed

//
they
there
those
lather
breathe

/z/
closing
bays
breeze
tease

//
clothing
bathe
breathe
teethe

Pronunciation
- Unvoiced TH Sound

Sound Discrimination
Read the following sentences to your students and have them decide which of
the two options is the one you chose.
Have student read the sentences to you.
1. The sign said (Closing/Clothing).
2. We waited until (day/they) came.
3. The child was just (teasing/teething).
4. Try to pronounce (Ds/Zs/these) more clearly.
5. Theyre (breeding/breathing) like rabbits.
6. Did you see the (letter/leather)?

Put the tip of your tongue

between your front teeth.

Blow out air between your

tongue and top teeth.

Use your voice.

Function
Making Polite Requests
1. Can I ?
2.
3.
4.
5.

Dialog Practice:
Read the dialog and have students repeat after you. Then have them read the
dialog again with a partner. Have them find and list all the information that is
true about Kathy and Seth.

Could you ?
Could I ask you to ?
Would you be able to ?
Would you mind -ing ?

Polite Requests Asking for

Permission
a) Do you mind if I ?

Dialog: The Jacket in the Window

Heather
Id like to buy that jacket in the window.
b) Do you think I could ?
Salesclerk Well, there are three jackets in the window. Do you want the
c) Is it okay/all right if I ?
one with the feather collar?
Heather
No. The other one. The leather one.
d) I wonder if
Salesclerk The one with the zipper?
Heather
No, not that one either. That one over there. The one thats on
Responding to Polite Requests
sale.
A. Certainly.
Salesclerk Oh, that one. Now, heres this leather jacket that I think youd
B. Of course.
like.
C. Id be glad to
Heather
But this one is more expensive than the one in the window.
Salesclerk Its a better jacket than the other one. The leather is smoother.
D. Sure.
Heather
Id rather get the one in the window, though. I think that one is
better for cold weather.
Refusing a Polite Request
Salesclerk Well, fine, if thats the one you want. But dont take anything
i. Well, Im afraid + reason.
out of the window until three oclock on Thursday.
ii. Well, the problem is
Conversation Practice:
iii. Sorry, but
Provide an image of four jackets (e.g. see PP p. 163). Tell students to work with
a partner. They need to compare the four jackets using words listed and
following this pattern:

Review

Example:
A

Which jacket do you think is ___________ than the others?

one with the belt
leather jacket
I think
is
one with the
____________ than the others.
the
looks
zipper
jacket for $130

better
warmer
dressier

more attractive
more comfortable
more expensive

Voiced Th sound

Making and responding to

polite requests

Preview
Final Exam prep

more stylish
more practical
more casual

Homework
P. 62 Talk Time 3

Lend a Hand

Practice making polite requests

with your partner. Use the
examples (1 & 2, bottom of page)
with the function and turn them
into polite requests. Write your
homework on a single sheet of
paper (it will be collected next
class).

If any time is left, students can practice the words from the second chart on p.
60 (Connections).
Break

Mini Lesson: Function Making Polite Requests (15

min.)
Introduce the function. Tell students to copy it into their notebooks. Go over
the function and give examples for each.

Activity 1:
Display the following requests and explain how they move from less formal to more formal.
Less formal

More formal

Can I borrow your pencil?

Could you lend me a jacket?
Is it OK if I use your phone?
Do you mind if I use your CD burner?
Would it be OK if I picked it up on Friday night?
Would you mind if I borrowed your digital camera?
Would you mind letting me use your laptop?
I wonder if I could borrow some money.
I was wondering if youd mind lending me your car.

Have students turn to p. 62 Talk Time 2 and order the requests according to politeness.
Activity 2:
Tell students to work with a partner. Provide a number of requests and have them apply the function to each of these.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

You want to use your roommates computer.

A: Is it OK . . . ?
B: You can use it, but please save my work first.
Your neighbor has a car. You need a ride to the train station.
A: . . .
B: Id be glad to. What time?
You want a friend to help you move on Saturday.
A: . . .
B: Im really sorry. Im busy the whole weekend.
You want to borrow your cousins DVD of Spider-Man.
A: . . .
B: Actually, I already lent it to Serena. Sorry!
You would like a second piece of your aunts cherry pie.
A: . . .
B: Yes, of course! Just pass me your plate.

Pair Activity: Making Polite Requests (5 min.)

Provide a number of prompts on slips of paper, one for each student. Mingling with their classmates, students need to
turn the prompts into requests, which can be responded to, or refused. Encourage them to use different patterns each
time. Once they finish their exchange, students trade their slips, and using the new prompt (which was their partners
before), they find a new partner and repeat the exercise.

Group Activity: Making Polite Requests (25 min.)

1.
2.

Put students into group of 4-5.

Have them assign leaders, timekeepers, writers, and 2 speakers per group.

Lend a Hand

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Pass out sheets of paper (1 per group).

Tell students to write their names and group number at the top of the page, as this group activity is for a grade!
Students need to collect at least 5 request, using the chores from p. 61 (Talk Time 1). They need to use the function of
making polite requests to write the full request and an appropriate answer for each.
In the end, speakers share one request and one answer with the class.
After presenting, you will collect the papers from the reporters. Every student in the group will get the same grade
based on the paper they submit. Every student who doesnt fully participate will lose points.

Useful websites:
http://www.esl.net/pdf/interchange_3ed_studbk_lev3_unit3.pdf?lbisphpreq=1

Lend a Hand

Attachment A
Dialog: The Jacket in the Window
Heather
Id like to buy that jacket in the window.
Salesclerk Well, there are three jackets in the window. Do you want the one
with the feather collar?
Heather
No. The other one. The leather one.
Salesclerk The one with the zipper?
Heather
No, not that one either. That one over there. The one thats on sale.
Salesclerk Oh, that one. Now, heres this leather jacket that I think youd like.
Heather
But this one is more expensive than the one in the window.
Salesclerk Its a better jacket than the other one. The leather is smoother.
Heather
Id rather get the one in the window, though. I think that one is
better for cold weather.
Salesclerk Well, fine, if thats the one you want. But dont take anything out
of the window until three oclock on Thursday.

Dialog: The Jacket in the Window

Heather
Id like to buy that jacket in the window.
Salesclerk Well, there are three jackets in the window. Do you want the one
with the feather collar?
Heather
No. The other one. The leather one.
Salesclerk The one with the zipper?
Heather
No, not that one either. That one over there. The one thats on sale.
Salesclerk Oh, that one. Now, heres this leather jacket that I think youd like.
Heather
But this one is more expensive than the one in the window.
Salesclerk Its a better jacket than the other one. The leather is smoother.
Heather
Id rather get the one in the window, though. I think that one is
better for cold weather.
Salesclerk Well, fine, if thats the one you want. But dont take anything out
of the window until three oclock on Thursday.

Dialog: The Jacket in the Window

Heather
Id like to buy that jacket in the window.
Salesclerk Well, there are three jackets in the window. Do you want the one
with the feather collar?
Heather
No. The other one. The leather one.
Salesclerk The one with the zipper?
Heather
No, not that one either. That one over there. The one thats on sale.
Salesclerk Oh, that one. Now, heres this leather jacket that I think youd like.
Heather
But this one is more expensive than the one in the window.
Salesclerk Its a better jacket than the other one. The leather is smoother.
Heather
Id rather get the one in the window, though. I think that one is
better for cold weather.
Salesclerk Well, fine, if thats the one you want. But dont take anything out
of the window until three oclock on Thursday.

Lend a Hand

Attachment B
Making Polite Requests
1. Can I ?
2. Could you ?
3. Could I ask you to ?
4. Would you be able to ?
5. Would you mind -ing ?

Polite Requests Asking for Permission

a) Do you mind if I ?
b) Do you think I could ?
c) Is it okay/all right if I ?
d) I wonder if

Making Polite Requests

1. Can I ?
2. Could you ?
3. Could I ask you to ?
4. Would you be able to ?
5. Would you mind -ing ?

Refusing a Polite Request

i. Well, Im afraid + reason.
ii. Well, the problem is
iii. Sorry, but

Polite Requests Asking for Permission

a) Do you mind if I ?
b) Do you think I could ?
c) Is it okay/all right if I ?
d) I wonder if

Making Polite Requests

1. Can I ?
2. Could you ?
3. Could I ask you to ?
4. Would you be able to ?
5. Would you mind -ing ?

Polite Requests Asking for Permission

a) Do you mind if I ?
b) Do you think I could ?
c) Is it okay/all right if I ?
d) I wonder if

Responding to Polite Requests

A. Certainly.
B. Of course.
C. Id be glad to
D. Sure.

Refusing a Polite Request

i. Well, Im afraid + reason.
ii. Well, the problem is
iii. Sorry, but

Polite Requests Asking for Permission

a) Do you mind if I ?
b) Do you think I could ?
c) Is it okay/all right if I ?
d) I wonder if

Making Polite Requests

1. Can I ?
2. Could you ?
3. Could I ask you to ?
4. Would you be able to ?
5. Would you mind -ing ?

Responding to Polite Requests

A. Certainly.
B. Of course.
C. Id be glad to
D. Sure.

Responding to Polite Requests

A. Certainly.
B. Of course.
C. Id be glad to
D. Sure.

Refusing a Polite Request

i. Well, Im afraid + reason.
ii. Well, the problem is
iii. Sorry, but

Responding to Polite Requests

E. Certainly.
F. Of course.
G. Id be glad to
H. Sure.

Refusing a Polite Request

i. Well, Im afraid + reason.
ii. Well, the problem is
iii. Sorry, but

Lend a Hand

Attachment C

1. Lend me some money for a milk tea.

2. Take these books back to the library for me.
3. Let me wear your leather jacket to the party this weekend.
4. Let me borrow your cell phone to call my friend in London.
5. I want to look at that newspaper youre reading.
6. Take care of my pet rabbit while Im on vacation.
7. Turn down the music. Its too loud.
8. Close the window. Its too cold.
9. Turn on the light. Its too dark.
10. Bring me lunch when you pick up yours at the cafeteria.
11. Clean the window.
12. Help me with my homework.
13. Put away your clothes.
14. Get some hot water for our dorm.
15. Wash my towels.
16. Make my bed.
17. Let me borrow your computer to watch a movie.
18. Lend me some money, so I can go to KTV this weekend.
19. Help me carry these books.
20. Stop talking. I want to sleep.
21. Lend me your camera for my trip to Beijing.
22. Let me use your computer to play computer games.
23. Mop the floor.
24. Buy me some fruit when you go to the store.
25. Let me use your pen.
26. Let me use your textbook.
27. Open the window. Its too hot!
28. Turn off the light.
29. Stop talking. I need to concentrate on my homework.
30. Let me use your phone. I want to look up something on the internet.
31. Let me borrow your book.
32. Let me have some of your soup.
33. Let me borrow 50 RMB.

Lend a Hand