To be polite when speaking English is a very important aspect of the language.
In this lesson we are going to learn some ways to sound less direct and more polite when speaking English:
This is a very useful video to learn how to sound less direct when speaking English:
You may be interested in learning polite expressions in English to refer to several every-day-life situations. Here are some examples of how to use "soft language":
Would you like to learn some expessions to speak politely at work? Then follow the link to this great lesson by BBC Learning English: English at work.
English is very rich in idioms and expressions of all kinds.
In this topic, we are going to learn about some of the most famous ones and this will help us sound more like a native speaker!
Let´s begin with some funny idioms without getting stressed out!
In the following video from ESL English Academy, Faby talks about idiomatic expessions for every day conversations with friends. Remember: this time they are slang or colloquial expressions, not to be used at work or in a more formal context!
You can also listen to Valen from EngVid, explaining 10 very common expessions in English:
Follow this link to learn some more expressions and idioms from BBC Learning English, the English we speak.
How about learning a great idiom from Shakespeare´s times:
Speaking on the phone is one of the most "tricky" tasks for most people learning English or wanting to improve their English skills.
I this entry I will help you become familiar with some of the most frequent expressions used to talk on the phone, especially in a profesional context, where you need to use appropriate formal language.
Let´s begin by learning some of the most common expressions in this very useful video:
You may also want to remember these top telephone tips that are explained in the following video.
To sump up, these are some of the most important tips:
1) Don´t be direct: use expessions such as "may I", "could I" or "I would like".
2) Practice before you have to make an important call.
3) Be careful when spelling key words.
4) Numbers are important. Make sure you pronounce them correctly.
5) Ask for clarification if you don´t understand.
6) Memorise key expressions.
7) Differentiate formal and informal language.
8) Smile!
Let´s now look at some useful telephone phrases in this video:
We all know about the impact of technology and social media in our lives. But first let´s ask ourselves a few questions:
CAN YOU LIVE WITHOUT YOUR MOBILE PHONE?
How often do you look at your mobile phone during the day?
How often do you charge your phone?
How often do you send WhatsApp messages to your friends and people you know?
How long does it take you to look at your mobile phone after you wake up?
Can you think of any other questions you would ask yourself or other people about the use of mobile phones?
Another important question for debate:Should mobile phones be allowed in lessons?
Think of three reasons for and against allowing the use of mobile phones in lessons:
3 Reasons for
3 Reasons against
Let´s now think about internet safety. Watch this video to help you remember some of the risks!!
Some more statistics to discuss:
Let´s now read an article and watch a video to get the most relevant information about how, according to a survey, half of teenagers are addicted to their smartphones: nbcnews
How addicted are you to social networks? do you use Twitter? Want to know more about the "peculiar" use some people make of Twitter?
Connected but alone? Sherry Turkle asks this questions in one of her TED TALKS: As we expect more from technology, do we expect less from each other? Please watch this very intesting talk and discuss the arguments she brings forward:
