CLP Lesson Plan Day 11

Teacher/s: Ivy Liu

Level: Lower Intermediate 3 Date/Time: October 16, Wednesday
Goal:
- Students will be able to use indirect expressions to ask questions politely in authentic contexts.

Objectives (SWBAT): (think all 3 aspects – knowledge, skills, strategies)

Students Will Be Able To…
1. develop discourse skills of asking indirect questions and make natural response by asking and
answering as a tourist and tour guide and by role-playing in four given contexts. Eg. May I ask… I was
wondering …
2. develop grammatical knowledge of the sentence order in the clause of an indirect expression and
that “if” precedes a yes-no question instead of a wh-quesiton. Eg. “I was wondering where I can find a
toothpaste,” not “I was wondering where can I find a toothpaste.” Eg. “Do you know if the store opens
tomorrow?” not “Do you know if what time the store opens?”
3. develop metacognitive strategies by preparing for 1 minute before each round starts in the 4-
situation-role-play activity.

Theme: Indirect Questions

Materials & Technology:
● Textbook: Life 3 Unit 10de
● PowerPoint
● 4 Papers on the Wall
● Handout #1: Expressions Form
● Handout #2: Roman Catacombs Tour Info (for tourists)
● Handout #3: Roman Catacombs Tour Info (for tour guides)

Activity 2: Indirect Questions, Meaningful Input, Output, Fluency development 60 min

2.1 Pre-Stage: T-S, S-S
l Play the audio 47. Let’s listen to a conversation. Pay attention to some expressions the
man used to ask questions and respond to the woman’s answers.

Who is the man? Where is he? At the information desk/tourist center. What’s the woman’s
job? What questions did the man ask?

Distribute handout.
Play it again. Listen more carefully about the way the man frame his questions and his
response to the woman’s answers. Mark the expressions you heard. If you heard it, check it
on the list.
Compare your answers with your partners.

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T Provide the answers.

l Discuss in pairs.
1. Which ones are for asking questions? Which ones are for responding to the woman’s
answers?
2. What expressions do you use? In what situations do you use them?
3. Which expressions are more indirect? Why do people use indirect questions?
-Being careful and polite/you think they may not have an answer to your question (I was
wondering if you sell batteries here) / power relationship/ stranger

l Let’s look at this question. Is it correct? “Do you have any idea how many steps are
there?”
What about “Do you have any idea how many steps there are?”
The order in the clause is like the order in a statement.

Let’s look at another one.

“May I ask when does it open?” Is it correct? What’s the correct sentence?
One more example without “if.”

“Can you tell me if there is much walking?” What does “if” mean/imply?
Unsure; chances/ possibilities
Eg. We’re not sure if we're going to change offices. It hasn’t been decided yet.
If + yes/no question or If + wh-question? The former.

l What are some ways to start an indirect question? Circle them out.
May I ask…? Do you have any idea…? I was wondering… I’d like to know…
Do you know…? Can you tell me…?

In the list, there is one or two indirect expressions for each question. Now use another
indirect expression to create a question. For example, for “is it open today?” I can create
“I’d like to know if it is open today.”
(Extra work for advanced students- Change direct into indirect questions
How much is the lipstick? Where can I find a toothpaste? Are you attending the conference
tonight? Did you see my car key?)
Check your creations with your partners. Make sure they are correct.

2.2. During Stage: T-S, S-S

l What’s this? Catacombs in Rome. Now you’re going to work in pairs. One of you is a
tourist who’s going to visit the catacombs. The other is a tour guide. You’ll have
different handouts. The tourist should ask indirect questions to find out the missing
information. Use different expressions each time.

Distribute handouts.
Information for Visitors
Underground: Metro A line
Bus: 1) ______________

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Parking is available 1 km from the entrance
Hours: 2) ______________
Tickets: Adults: 3) _________ Children: 10 euros
Time: 40 minutes
Notes to Visitors
This tour involves a lot of walking. 4) ______________ are required.

What questions did you ask?

T shows the questions on ppt and provide CF.

l Let’s do a role play. I’ve put four papers on the wall. On the papers, there’re four
different places- a restaurant/ airport/ shopping mall/ supermarket. You’re at these
places. Each of you will have a role at each place. If the place is a hospital. One
person is a nurse. The other is a patient. The patient can’t find the doctor. So she’s
going to ask the nurse about it. The conversation can be something like this:
(Demonstrate with the paper)
P: Hi, I’ve been waiting here for a long time, but the doctor hasn’t showed up. May I ask
when the doctor will come back?
N: I don’t know actually. But I guess he will come back soon.
P: In this case, I’ll go to get some water first. Do you know where I can find a vending
machine?
N: Sure. You may go this way …
A: has some specific purpose.
B: provides some natural response.
A: Ask 2 questions (at least 1 indirect question). Make the conversation flow.

Ø Round 1- in pairs. Bring your handout. Go to different corners. (One group can have
2 questioners if the 9th student comes that day) Read the instructions and you have 1
minute to prepare.

Ø Round 2- All the ladies who asked questions just now, you are 1s. The others are 2s.
All the 1s move clockwise. 1s, You’re going to answer the questions now. The 2s, you
ask questions this time. Use a different indirect question.

Ø Round 3- All the 2s, move anti-clockwise. You answer the questions this time. The 1s,
don’t look at your handout. Use a different indirect question. Keep talking for 2 min.
Set timer.

Four situations
1. Restaurant; customer/waitress
You need a baby highchair. You finger is bleeding and needs a bandage; No bandage+
provide a solution
2. airport; traveler/airport staff
You didn’t see your suitcase in the baggage claim. You want to go to the restroom.
3. shopping mall; customer/ shop assistant
You lost your purse and think you may leave it in this store; You did not see the wallet.

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4. supermarket; customer/shop assistant
You want to 1. buy something but it is not on the shelf 2. check if there is a discount for
something else; shop assistant: provide a solution

2.3 Post-Stage: S-S

What questions did you ask? Write 1 question that you asked on the board.
T gives delayed CF.

Tangible Outcome & T. feedback/peer feedback:

Ss listen to a conversation in which a tourist ask questions about a tour at the information
desk.
Ss learn indirect expressions and when to use them. Eg. May I ask… I was wondering …
Ss practice indirect expressions by changing given direct questions into indirect questions
and create their own.
Ss practice indirect expressions by asking and answering as a tourist and tour guide.
Ss practice indirect expressions by role-playing in given contexts.

Transition to wrap up:

In indirect expressions, is the clause a question? No. It should be a statement. Eg. Do you
have any idea where can I find a vending machine? Is it correct? No. Do you have any idea
where I can find a vending machine.

Wrap-up (e.g: Exit ticket, review of language foci)

HW: Workbook P61 Section 1
-Ask students what they have learned and re-state some important points, such as how to
organize an English essay.
-Give corrective feedback about students’ language use.
-Students fill out Exit Ticket, answering 3 questions, “What did you learn today?,” “What do
you want to learn in the next class?,” and “What questions or concerns do you still have? (if
applicable).”

Anticipated Problems & Suggested Solutions:

Problem: Odd number for activity 2 during stage.

Solution: One group can have 2 questioners if the 9th student comes that day

Problem: Students cannot carry out conversation immediately in activity 2 during stage.
Solution: Read the instructions and you have 1 minute to prepare.

Contingency Plans (what you will do if you finish early, etc.):

Review the key of indirect question- order in the clause, question with if;
Have Ss fill out speaking evaluation form.

Post-Lesson Reflections: