Unit 2  English around the world

t: you did quite well. there are really some slight differences between american english and british english, so in order to avoid misunderstanding, it is necessary for us to know about some differences between american english and british english.

step iii  speaking
t: now, i think you must know about why the misunderstanding occurred between joe and nancy. then turn your book to page10. let’s do speaking—part two. in the following box there are several useful expressions. these sentences are all about the language difficulties in communication. when we express our requests and orders, we use them. here i give you a few minutes to remember these sentences.
can you spell that, please?
could you repeat that, please?
what do you mean by ...?
could you speak a bit slowly, please?
sorry, i didn’t follow you.
i beg your pardon?
how do you say ... in english?
how do you pronounce...?
what does ... mean?
can you say that in a different way?
t: now please work in small groups to make up dialogues about other language difficulties in pronunciation, spelling, grammar, uncertainty, misunderstanding, etc. and act out in class, using the useful expressions above.

sample dialogues
situation 1:
taking a message: a is visiting b, but b is not in, c takes a message for b.
a: is b at home?
c: sorry, she isn’t in. she went out just now.
a: oh, could you do me a favor to take a message to her? i am her workmate.
c: i’d be glad to.
a: could you please tell her we have decided to go out for an autumn outing. please ask her whether she’d like to join us. my phone is 7500924.
c: could you repeat that, please?
a: it’s 7500924.
c: ok. i have taken it down. i’ll tell her about it the time she comes back.

situation 2:
answering the telephone: lucy is trying to call mary, but mary is not in. tom takes a message.
tom: hello! this is tom speaking.
lucy: is mary in?
tom: she is not in. can i take a message for you?
lucy: it’s very kind of you. henry potter vi is going to be put on in the cinema at 3:00 pm this afternoon. i have got two tickets. if she wants to, please tell her to send an e-mail to me at noon. the address is .
tom: could you speak a bit slowly, please?
lucy: . have you got it?
tom: ok. bye.

situation 3:
the teacher tells the monitor about the task this afternoon. and the monitor tells it to the rest of the students.
t: this afternoon we’ll do some cleaning in our classroom at 4:00 pm. could you please tell the students about it?