Help! I need somebody
Help! Not just anybody.
Everyone needs help from
time to time and most people are willing to give it in a time of need. Most of
the time of course the help needed is for something minor. But sometimes the
help may be a matter of life or death. The expressions below are generally used
for minor assistance. For any thing really, really major- the need for help is
usually readily apparent and would not require someone to ask- such as in a
fire or a serious car accident. Look at these expressions that can be used for
asking for minor assistance.
English Expressions
As with help, people
need advice from time to time. Your family or friends may need advice about
relationships, financial investments, or how to deal with an irritating
co-worker. Look at the expressions can be used when asking for advice.
Expression
|
Response
|
When asking for advice
|
When giving advice
|
What do you think I should do?
That’s a good idea.
|
Why don’t you (.... take a taxi
instead, it's faster.)?
|
What would you do in my shoes?
Maybe you’re right.
|
Have you thought about (.... getting some
medicine at the pharmacy)?
|
Do you have any ideas about what
to do?
Thanks for the advice.
|
I think you should ( .... see a doctor).
|
What would you suggest?
That might work. I hadn’t thought
of that.
|
Have you considered ( .... the local markets?
Sometimes they have great deals).
|
Can you think of anything that
might help?
Thanks, I'll try that.
|
One option may be to (.... call you embassy).
|
English Dialogue
Students should work
together in pairs and read the following dialogue, one student reading one
part, the other student reading the other. Note the expressions
used in the dialogue and the progression of the conversation. The dialogue
can be used as a model to have similar conversations.
Barry: Could you give me
a hand this weekend?
Larry: Doing what?
Barry: Landscaping my
yard.
Larry: That sounds like a
big job.
Barry: It might be, it
depends on how I decide to do it.
Larry: You don’t know
yet?
Barry: I can’t make up my
mind. I’m vacillating between desert landscape with cacti or lush green
grass with lots of flowers. What do you think it should be?
Larry: Well, a desert
landscape has a lot less maintenance, but nothing beats a nice green lawn.
Barry: Thus my dilemma.
What would you do?
Larry: Let me ask you
this- how much time will you spend out there.
Barry: With my schedule,
probably not much.
Larry: Then I would go
with the desert. Keeping up a grass lawn is a lot of work.
Barry: Yea, I think
you're right.
After reading,
close your book and tell your partner a summary of the dialogue.
Then switch and have your partner tell his or her summary. Start
like this: This dialogue is about a man asking for
help with ...This may seem silly, since you both already know what the
dialogue is about, but the purpose is to practice using your English, not to
give information or test your reading skills.
Conversation Activities
1. Pair work- discussion
When was the last
time you helped someone or someone helped you? Tell your partner
about it using some of the ideas for discussion
below. Your partner should ask questions to get more
information.
- what was the help for
- where did it happen
- when did it happen
- how often do you offer assistance
2. Pair work- discussion
When was the last
time you gave someone advice or asked for advice? Tell your partner
about it using some of the ideas for discussion below. Your partner
should ask questions to get more information.
- what was the advice for
- was it good advice
- who did you ask/who asked you
- did you follow the advice- why or why not
3. Pair work- role play
The situation: Seeking help on the street. Be sure to
express your gratitude. Working with a partner, role play
the situation, using the information below
The roles: you, your partner
Moving a heavy box
Directions to the subway Where the jeans are in a store using a cell
phone Fixing a flat Using an ATM (instructions are
in a foreign language)
Lesson Plan: At the Airport
Traveling by air can be
a lot of fun. It can also be very confusing dealing with travel agents and
airline personnel. If traveling to a foreign country, a traveler has to
interact with customs and immigration officials. There are several common
expressions that are used when dealing with airlines, travel agencies and
customs. Look at the examples below.
Expression
|
Response
|
Would you like economy
or first class tickets?
|
Economy class.
|
When would you like to depart?
|
On Friday the 14th of next month.
|
Will that be round trip or one
way?
|
Round trip please.
|
Do you have any luggage to check
in?
|
I have two suit cases and a travel
on bag.
|
May I have your ticket please?
|
Here you go.
|
Do you have anything to declare?
|
No, I don't
|
English Dialogue
Students should work
together in pairs and read the following dialogue, one student reading one
part, the other student reading the other. Note the expressions used in
the dialogue and the progression of the conversation. The dialogue can be used
as a model to have similar conversations.
At a travel agency
Agent: May I help you?
Nancy: Yes, I need a ticket to Paris.
Agent: One way or round trip?
Nancy: Round trip.
Agent: When will you be leaving?
Nancy: Next month, the 2nd. I prefer a morning
flight.
Agent: Do you want any particular airline?
Nancy: No, but I do want to go business class and have
a direct flight.
Agent: When will you be returning?
Nancy: I want to return on the 15th of next
month.
Agent: Let me check the computer. Yes, there is a
flight available on Blue Skies Air Ways. The tickets will cost $1645.
Nancy: Sounds good, book it.
Agent: Thank you. You can pick up your tickets at
this office on the 28th.
Nancy: Thanks.
At the airport check-in
Nancy: Hello
Agent: Hello. May I have your ticket and passport?
Nancy: Yes, here they are.
Agent: How many pieces of luggage will you be checking
in?
Nancy: Just one, I also have one carry on bag.
Agent: Your luggage is two kilos over the limit. You
will have to pay an extra charge of $100.
Nancy: No problem. Is cash OK?
Agent: Certainly.
Nancy: Here you go.
Agent: Thank you, have a nice flight.
Nancy: Thanks.
At
Customs
Agent: Welcome to Paris. Do you
have anything to declare?
Nancy: No.
Agent: Could you open your bag please?
Nancy: Sure, is everything OK?
Agent: Yes ma’am, enjoy you stay in Paris.
Nancy: Thanks.
After reading, close
your book and tell your partner a summary of the dialogue. Then switch and have
your partner tell his or her summary. Start like this: These
dialogues are about people traveling. At the travel
agency Nancy...This may seem silly, since you both already know what the
dialogue is about, but the purpose is to practice using your English, not to
give information or test your reading skills.
Conversation Activities
1. Pair Work- discussion
Have you ever
flown on a plane? Tell your partner about it using some of the ideas
for
discussion below. Your partner should ask questions to get more
information.
·
when and where you went
·
how long the flight took
·
the quality of the service from the flight
attendants
·
how the flight was: (smooth or turbulent,
relaxing or nerve-wracking)
·
did you enjoy it
·
do you like to fly
2. Pair work- role
play
The situation: At a travel agency asking for information for a
flight.
Working
with a partner, role play the situation, using the information below
The roles: A travel agent, a customer
Destination: Seoul
|
Destination: San Francisco
|
Airline: Blue Skies
Skies
|
Airline: World Wide Airlines
|
Departure time: Saturday 1:30 AM
|
Departure time: Saturday 9:00 am
|
Flight length: 16 hours
|
Flight length: 12 hours
|
Layover: San Francisco, Tokyo
|
Layover: Direct flight
|
Price: Coach- $950
Business class-
$1650
First
class- $1900 P
|
Price: Coach- $1050
Business class-
$1650
First
class- $2000
|
Preferred seating : Aisle, Window
|
Preferred seating: Aisle Window
|
Destination: Chicago
|
Destination: Moscow
|
Airline: National
Airways
|
Airline: Great Northern Airline
|
Departure time: Sunday 8:30 am
|
Departure time: Sunday 1:45 pm
|
Flight length: 24
hours
|
Flight length: 18 hours
|
Layover: London, New York
|
Layover: Paris
|
Price: Coach- $1150
Business class-
$1550
First
class- $2400
|
Price: Coach- $1250
Business class-
$1450
First
class- $2500
|
Preferred seating
Aisle Window
|
Preferred seating
Aisle Window
|
