Giving Advice – Transcript + Language

Transcript

Katy: Hi guys, I need your help with a problem I’m having. I want to give up smoking but I’m finding it very difficult. What should I do?

Joanne: Well, if I were you, I’d try to stop smoking gradually. You know, smoke 10 cigarettes today, then 9 tomorrow, 8 the next day until you’ve stopped.

Katy: Hhmmm, I don’t think that’ll work. I tried it last year and it was too difficult.

Ian: I think you should buy an electronic cigarette. My girlfriend has one and she loves it!

Katy: I’m not sure. I think they’re bad for me too.

Joanne: Ok well, why don’t you try nicotine chewing gum or patches? My sister used them to give up.

Katy: Ok, that’s a good idea.

Ian: Or you could try hypnosis, my friend Sarah is a hypnotist, I could give you her number.

Katy: Hhmm, maybe not. I think I’ll try the nicotine chewing gum. Thanks for your advice guys.

Language

Put the expressions in bold (1-10) in the correct box (A-D)

1.  What should I do?

2.  If I were you, I’d try to stop smoking gradually.

3.  I don’t think that’ll work.

4.  I think you should buy an electronic cigarette.

5.  I’m not sure. I think they’re bad for me too.

6.  Why don’t you try nicotine chewing gum or patches?

7.  Ok, that’s a good idea.

8.  You could try hypnosis.

9.  Hhmm, maybe not. I think I’ll try the nicotine chewing gum.

10.  I recommend giving up gradually

A.  Asking for advice. / B.  Giving advice. / C.  Accepting advice. / D.  Rejecting advice.

Grammar

Look at the expressions in the language exercise, how does the grammar work?

1.  If I were you, I’d try to stop smoking gradually.

If I were you, I’d + BASE FORM (stop/go/have/buy etc.)

2.  I think you should buy an electronic cigarette.

I think you should + ______

3.  Why don’t you try nicotine chewing gum or patches?

Why don’t you + ______

4.  You could try hypnosis/going to a hypnotist.

You could try + ______

5.  I recommend giving up gradually.

I recommend + ______

Now practice the dialogue in groups of 3, one person is Katy, one is Ian and one is Joanne.

Writing a new dialogue

Write a new dialogue with your group, you HAVE TO follow the structure below.

A: Hi guys, I need your help with a problem I’m having. (Explain problem)______. What should I do?

B: Well, if I were you, I’d (gives advice) ______.

A: (rejects advice) ______.

C: (gives advice) ______.

A: (rejects advice) ______.

B: Ok well, (gives advice) ______.

A: (rejects advice) ______.

C: (gives advice) ______.

A: (accepts advice) ______. Thanks for your advice guys!