That's English! - Module 9 - Unit 4: Mind your language

This unit deals with body language and other kinds of communication, how important gestures and attitudes are in communicating.

As usual, here we have some questions to start with:

•  What are the advantages of face-to-face communication? Are there any drawbacks?

•  When do you use messages or whatsapps?

•  Is body language important for communication? Give reasons for your answer.

•  Can you think about an anecdote in which you were misunderstood or a gesture that might cause you some trouble?

We also have here a long but really interesting talk about body language in TED: click here. If you want to know a little bit more about this topic, here you have a shorter video: click here. To know a bit more about gestures, here we are a video: click here; but here you are a good summary about how important gestures are while speaking, using examples from "Friends": click hereor even this is nice joke with another series Big Bang Theory: click here

About grammar, we are learning the use of the form it.To have a further explanation it's very useful to go to this link: click hereand then do this exercise. But a very difficult grammar point is the use of verbs with particles: use this linkandthis link for exercisesbut you can find many others if you search on the internet. Remember that it's easier to learn this type of verbs if you think of the particle rather than the own verb: verbs with BACK, with UP, with OFF, with DOWN and so on. Another good tip is to learn it with examples: put that cigarette off; put it off please.

Talking point: Mind your language

In this week's talking point we are going to talk about language. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below so that ideas flow more easily when you meet up with your friends and you can work out vocabulary problems beforehand.

•  In what situations do you use a different language? Give examples.

•  In what situations do you prefer to communicate electronically?

•  When do you prefer face-to-face communication?

•  How do you usually greet the following: friends; family; work colleagues; people you meet for the first time?

•  How do people communicate with their pets?

•  Which non-verbal gestures are commonly used in your country?

•  How has your language changed over the years? Why?

To illustrate the point you can watch the New York Times video Italian hand gestures, a short story.

A) GRAMMAR

- PHRASAL VERBS: 1 count on 2 look into 3 take aback 4 get together 5 give up

6 work out 7 bring up 8 blow up 9 get over

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verbs

1 How does other people’s rude behaviour make you feel: are you … ?

2 Are you good at ... what other people are feeling?

3 Would you be interested in ... your family history?

4 What’s your favourite way of ... with friends?

5 Have you ever ... a sport or hobby? If so, why?

6 Who do you ... when you need help?

Look at the sentences below. Choose the more formal option.

1 Travellers should spend some time looking into / investigating non verbal forms of communication.

2 The traveller in Tibet might be taken aback /shocked when the locals stick out their tongues.

3 In the US, most men normally just shake hands when they meet / get together.

Replace the phrasal verbs in bold with the correct form of the verbs below.

1 Most families try to get together at Christmas.

Most families try to meet at Christmas.

2 When I told my father I had crashed his car, he blew up.

3 Gestures can be a useful way to get over what you mean.

4 Scientists are looking into the reasons behind climate change.

5 Her handwriting is terrible: I can’t work out what it says.

Investigate rely on mention shock meet get angry stop communicate understand

- MAY/MIGHT/MUST/COULD/CAN’T….SPECULATING

We can use these modal verbs (also called modals of deduction, speculation or certainty) when we want to make a guess about something. We choose the verb depending on how sure we are.

1: Talking about the present:

must / might / could / may / can't

·  must+ infinitive

·  might/might not+ infinitive

·  could/could not+ infinitive

·  may/may not+ infinitive

·  can't+ infinitive

For example:
I am waiting for Julie with another friend, David.
I ask: 'Where is Julie?'
David guesses:

·  Shemustbe on the bus. (I'm fairly sure this is a good guess)

·  Shemightcome soon. (maybe)

·  Shecouldbe lost. (maybe)

·  Shemaybe in the wrong room. (maybe)

·  Shecan'tbe at home. (I'm fairly sure this isn't true)

2: Using modal verbs to talk about the past:

must / might / could / may / can't + have + past participle

·  must have+ past participle

·  might/might not have+ past participle

·  could/couldn't have+ past participle

·  may/may not have+ past participle

·  can't have+ past participle

For example:
You: Where was Julie last night?
David:

·  Shemust have forgottenabout our date.

·  Shemight have workedlate.

·  Shecould have takenthe wrong bus.

·  Shemay have feltill.

·  Shecan't have stayedat home.

- Formal and Informal Language

http://fillingthegap.slo.nl/materiaal/building_knowledge/Booklet_formal_vs_informal_English.pdf/

Informal / Formal
Please help me. / I’d greatly appreciate your help in this matter.
Do you have time to meet this afternoon? / Would it be possible for you to meet this afternoon?
Hope that’s okay. / I expect that won’t be too much of a burden on you.
I have a favour to ask you. / I wonder if it would be too much trouble to ask you…
I don’t have enough time for this. / I’m afraid I need more time for this.
I’m writing to you about… / I’m writing to you in connection with…
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. / Sorry for my late reply.
You sent the wrong amount. / There seems to have been a misunderstanding about the transferred amount.
Keep in touch. / Hope we have the chance tomeet again soon.
Informal / Formal
How’s life? / How are you?
Can I give you a tip? / May I suggest…?
I need your help asap. / If it’s not too much trouble, could you help me solve an issue?
Fuck, I forgot again, didn’t I? / I apologize for the delay in replying to your email.
I’d like to find out… / I’d love to hear more information regarding…
Write soon! / I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.
See ya / Regards

D) WRITING

Read this post and write a reply.

I think texting is here to stay and it makes life much easier in some ways :-), but I’m more concerned about the negative effects of other social media like Facebook. It’s easy to get addicted to checking it all day long and getting upset if no one likes your posts: you just can’t help it!

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