5th Class: I could do with a break

5th Speaking class

Speaking strategy: making recommendations

It’s well worth …ing

Don’t bother …ing

You should definitely…

It’s not really worth …ing

I recommend that you…hire a car

I wouldn’t… if I were you

Speak up:

Imagine you are in your hometown and a tourist asks you some questions.

How long?

-How long does it take to arrive at Palencia?

Where/ leave from?

-Where does Nº7 bus leaves from in Valladolid?

What time/ leave?

-what time shall we set off tomorrow?

What/ included?

-What is included on the breakfast menu?

GET READY

1. Who do you prefer to travel with?
1. With family
2. With friends
3. Alone
4. With your partner
2. Which is the best way to travel?
1. With a tour, where everything is organized for you
2. Just booking hotels and transport in advance
3. With no fixed plan, make all the arrangement yourself on route

 HOTEL BOOKING

F1:          (phone ringing) Majestic Hotel, can I help you?

M1:        Yes, I’d like to find out about your room rates in July, please.

F1:          One moment, please. I’ll put you through to reservations.

F2:          (click) Reservations, can I help you?

M1:        Yes, I’m enquiring about room rates in July, please.

F2:          Yes, of course, sir. Do you have specific dates in mind?

M1:        Yes, we’re thinking of coming up the weekend of the 6th of July and staying for about a week, going back on Saturday the 13th or Sunday the 14th.

F2:          I see, sir. And for how many people would that be?

M1:        Well, there’s myself, my wife and our two children. They’re 9 and 5.

F2:          Well, there are various options. (Typing) We could do a double for you and your wife, and a room with two singles for your children. Not adjacent though.

M1:        Is it not possible to have a family room for all of us?

F2:          Yes, that is a possibility. Just let me check those dates for you. It is a very busy time of year, as I’m sure you realise!

M1:        Yes, I appreciate that.

F2:          Mmm (typing), ah. Well, I can offer you a family room for the nights of Saturday the 6th through to the night of Thursday the 11th, but I’m afraid there are no family rooms for the second weekend. They’re all booked already, I’m afraid.

M1:        Oh dear. Er, so that would mean either leaving on Friday or moving to two rooms for the last one or two nights, would it?

F2:          Yes, I’m afraid so... but I see we do have a suite available for all the nights you’re interested in. That would give you two separate bedrooms, a sitting room, bathroom of course, and the one we have available also has a large balcony and a terrific sea view.

M1:        Oh! That sounds wonderful. But what about the price? Can you do any special deals on that?

120-90-60 GAME

Skills: speaking/ listening

Time: 15 min

Level: intermediate to advance

Material required: nothing

1st week

Give the students a topic that they know a lot about. For example good or bad points about their schools, university or hometown. Give your students 3 to 5 minutes to prepare, depending on their level. But, emphasize that they should just write one or two words for each point.

With a partner, the first student has to give their speech and talk continuously for two minutes, while the partner listens. Then they switch roles.

After that, the students have to find a new partner and the activity repeats, except they have to include all the same information as before, just in 90 seconds. Then we repeat with other partner and they have to repeat all the information in just 60 seconds.

Emphasize to your students that they must include all the same information they included the first time, they’ll either have to say things more concisely or speak faster.