English 3 - Lesson 2

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English 3 - Lesson 2

Content

• Preteaching: irregular verbs

• Conversations: dealing with complaints

• Expressing advice

• Weighing options

• It's not what you say, it's how you say it

• Study field differentiation

• After class: progress test + feedback & reflections

Preteaching

Let's play!

1. Scan the code.

2. Don't opt for 'play with friends'.

3. Choose an avatar.

4. Add the computer as your opponent.

5. Start the game!

Content

• Preteaching: irregular verbs

• Conversations: dealing with complaints

• Expressing advice

• Weighing options

• It's not what you say, it's how you say it

• Study field differentiation

• After class: progress test + feedback & reflections

Conversations: dealing with complaints

Cf. Leho

Content

• Preteaching: irregular verbs

• Conversations: dealing with complaints

• Expressing advice

• Weighing options

• It's not what you say, it's how you say it

• Study field differentiation

• After class: progress test + feedback & reflections

You are Hollywood-based therapist. Pick a client.

Expressing advice

1) Use a modal verb

There are two modal verbs we often use for giving advice: ‘should’ and ‘ought to’. Both mean the same thing but work in slightly different ways:

• You should do more travelling.

• You shouldn’t drink so much beer.

• You ought to do more travelling.

• You ought not to drink so much beer.

'Ought to' is the more formal and slightly stronger option.

Give advice using 'should(n't)' and 'ought (not) to'

Britney, you should spend more time with your kinds.

Expressing advice

2) Make it into a question

To make advice less direct, we can use a question to make the person we are advising consider about the advice we are giving them.

• Why don’t you do some more tidying?

• How about doing some more tidying?
  

With the question ‘Why don’t you…?’ we use an infinitive without ‘to’. When we use ‘How about…?’ to make a question, we use a gerund after it.

Give advice asking questions (How about? Why don't you?)

How about + gerund

e.g. How about taking some singing classes?

Expressing advice

3) Put yourself in the person’s position

If someone is asking for your advice, sometimes it’s useful to imagine yourself being in that person’s position. This is a good way to explain your advice, too.

• If I were you, I would travel more.

• If I were you, I wouldn't eat that much sugar.
  

Remember to use an infinitive after ‘would’ and not ‘to’.

To make this negative, put ‘not’ after ‘would’.

Give advice putting yourself in the person's position

If I were you, Kanye, I would let my wife wear whatever she's comfortable wearing.

Expressing advice

4) Make a suggestion

A suggestion or recommendation is another good way of giving advice that isn’t too direct. You can use the words ‘suggest’ or ‘recommend’ as in the example below.

• I would suggest doing more of an effort.

• I would not recommend doing this instead.

Use ‘verb+ing’ after ‘suggest’ or ‘recommend’ to explain your advice to the listener.

To make these negative, put ‘not’ before your ‘verb+ing’.

Give advice making a suggestion

Sheldon, I would suggest signing the relationship agreement with Amy Farrah Fawler.

Will, I would not recommend quitting that anger management program.

Expressing advice

5) Strong advice

Sometimes, you need to make your advice stronger to let the listener know that it’s really important. We can use the expression ‘you had better…’ to do this.

• You had ('d) better start working on your homework.

• You had (d) better not finish this assignment too late.

We use an infinitive after ‘better’ to explain our advice, and add ‘not’ after ‘better’ to make the sentence negative.

Give strong advice.

Justin, you'd better stop taking drugs.

Expressing advice

Exercise

Cf. Leho

10

minute

00

second

add30s

Post your advice here!

Content

• Preteaching: irregular verbs

• Conversations: dealing with complaints

• Expressing advice

• Weighing options

• It's not what you say, it's how you say it

• Study field differentiation

• After class: progress test + feedback & reflections

Weighing options

The better of the best option?

Comparative vs superlative - cf. Leho

! Mind then vs than !

Quiz: can you deduce the grammatical rules?

"John is taller than Aziz."

Which rule explains the comparative form used here?

A

Use "more + adjective" for long adjectives

B

Add "-er" to short adjectives

C

Use "the most + adjective" for long adjectives

D

Add "-est" to short adjectives

"The Lion King movie is sadder to watch than the movie Snow White."

Which rule explains the comparative form used here?

A

Use "more + adjective" for long adjectives

B

Add "-er" to short adjectives (double the final consonant)

C

Use "the most + adjective" for long adjectives

D

Add "-est" to short adjectives (double the final consonant)

"This book is more interesting than the last one."

Which rule explains the comparative form used here?

A

Use "more + adjective" for longer adjectives

B

Add "-er" to short adjectives

C

Use "most + adjective" for longer adjectives

D

Add "-est" to short adjectives

"She is the most talented singer in the group."

Which rule explains the superlative form used here?

A

Use "more + adjective" for long adjectives

B

Add "-er" to short adjectives

C

Use "the most + adjective" for long adjectives

D

Add "-est" to short adjectives

"This is the easiest question on the test."

Which rule explains the superlative form used here?

A

Use "more + adjective" for long adjectives

B

Add "-er" to short adjectives (change y to i)

C

Use "the most + adjective" for long adjectives

D

Add "-est" to short adjectives (change y to i)

How do you express a lower degree comparative?

"The movie was ... exciting than I expected."

A

less

B

fewer

C

lesser

D

fewest

Which irregular form is incorrect?

A

ill - worse - worst

B

little - less - least

C

old - elder - eldest (family)

D

old - elder - eldest (age)

Which form(s) is/are correctly used?

A

I live farther from school than you do.

B

I live further from school than you do.

C

Both further and farther are correct.

D

None of the forms is correct.

Weighing options

Introducing your opinion

• I’m inclined to think that …

• I tend to think that …

• As I see it …

• To me …

• In my opinion …

• As far as I’m concerned …

• I believe that …

• For my part … (Pour ma part …)

• I think it’s worth noting that …

• I have the impression that …

• I have the feeling that …

Weighing options

Making a point

• The point I’m trying to make is that …

• My point is that …

• The crux of the matter is that …

• Another key thing to remember is that …

• To me, that’s absolutely key.

• What I’m driving at is that …

Weighing options

Restating

• All this says is …

• To put that another way, …

• Basically, it comes down to this …

• So, in other words, what I’m saying is that …

• This is not to say that …

Discuss with your neighbour... Take turns switching roles.

Case 1: Customer is torn between a cheap flight with 2 layovers or a direct but expensive flight.

• Task (support): explain pros & cons, find out what matters most, give a clear recommendation.

Case 2: Customer is choosing between a budget hostel in the city center and a 4-star hotel outside town.

• Task: compare convenience vs. comfort, recommend one.

Case 3: Customer wants to book during hurricane/monsoon season because it’s cheaper.

• Task: acknowledge reasons, but make a strong point why it’s risky. Suggest alternatives.

Case 4: Customer is unsure whether to add extra travel insurance (medical + luggage) or not.

• Task: explain costs vs. risks, push gently toward the safest choice.

7

minute

00

second

add30s

Discuss with your neighbour... Take turns switching roles.

Case 1: Customer is unsure whether to invest in printed flyers or online ads.

• Task: compare reach, cost, and target group. Recommend the stronger option.

Case 2: Customer wants to reach young adults (18–25) but thinks about using LinkedIn.

• Task: politely challenge this, recommend a more suitable platform (Instagram/TikTok).

Case 3: Customer is debating whether to launch with a formal written article or a fun visual post.

• Task: pitch your choice and explain why it’s more engaging.

Case 4: Customer has limited budget, must choose between one big campaign or several small actions.

• Task: explain pros/cons, argue clearly for the most effective strategy.

7

minute

00

second

add30s

Content

• Preteaching: irregular verbs

• Conversations: dealing with complaints

• Expressing advice

• Weighing options

• It's not what you say, it's how you say it

• Study field differentiation

• After class: progress test + feedback & reflections

It's not what you say, it's how you say it

In customer service, you will often receive short, sometimes rude or impatient messages from customers. Your job is to respond in a professional, friendly, and positive way – even if the customer isn’t polite.

How do you do this? There are several techniques:

• Use polite modal verbs: could, would, may

• Show empathy: I understand, I’m afraid, thank you for your patience

• Offer alternatives: but we can…, let me suggest…

• Keep a positive focus: what is possible instead of what is not

Infographic > Leho or: https://www.providesupport.com/blog/positive-phrases-and-empathy-statements-for-customer-service/

Respond professionally using one of the techniques (MEPA): "Why is this taking so long?"

I understand the wait is frustrating. Let me check the status for you right away.

Respond professionally using one of the techniques (MEPA):
"Fix this now!"

I’ll do my best to resolve this quickly for you. Thank you for your patience.

Respond professionally using one of the techniques (MEPA):
"I want a refund!" (but you cannot offer any...)

I understand your concern. While we can’t offer a refund, we can offer [alternative].

Respond professionally using one of the techniques (MEPA):
"Your assistance is useless."

I’m sorry my solution hasn’t worked as expected. Let’s find a better one together

It's not what you say, it's how you say it

More exercises? Cf. Leho!

Portfolio assignment (when there's stille time in class).

10

minute

00

second

add30s

Content

• Preteaching: irregular verbs

• Conversations: dealing with complaints

• Expressing advice

• Weighing options

• It's not what you say, it's how you say it

• Study field differentiation

• After class: progress test + feedback & reflections

Study field differentiation

TS: vocab (individual exercises)

MCS: RC (individual prep, buddy comparison)

Conversation time!

Content

• Preteaching: irregular verbs

• Conversations: dealing with complaints

• Expressing advice

• Weighing options

• It's not what you say, it's how you say it

• Study field differentiation

• After class: progress test + feedback & reflections