Manuals > General English > Rosetta Stone Advantage > Elementary - Book 2 > Lesson 14
< Previous Lesson | Next Lesson >
By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to plan an event by making decisions
Communication strategies:
The student should be able to plan an event by making decisions using the following strategy:
1) state the problem or the item that needs to be decided
2) ask for a suggestion
3) agree or disagree with the suggestion
e.g.
A) We need to find a good location for the party, but I can't think of any. Where do you think we should hold the party?
B) Why don't we hold it at a local bar?
A) Sure. That sounds great.
Words and rules:
- The student should be able to make suggestions e.g. Let's hold it tomorrow.
- The student should be able to ask for suggestions e.g. What should be do?
- The student should be able to accept or decline suggestions e.g. Sure. Why not?
Appropriateness:
Non-verbal behaviour: Sometimes people will stroke their chin with their finger when they are thinking of solution to something.
Register: If you are planning a party with your friends a casual register will probably be used.
Social rules: Agreeing with someone, then saying "but" is a common way to disagree diplomatically. e.g. I think that's a good idea, but it might be too expensive.
Cultural references: Sometimes people will use rising intonation on or immediately after an auxiliary verb to make their suggestion sound weaker or more polite e.g. We could [^]... go to Tokyo[^]
Track #35
Hi George. Thanks for getting back to me. I think at least twenty people are going to show up, so let’s have the party at a local bar or restaurant. I think Sunday would be the best day.
Track #36
Hi James. Thanks for asking me to help plan the party. I think we should have the party outside because it will be sunny this weekend. Also, Jessica will probably bring her kids, so let’s make sure we have some food that the kids can eat.
Because the lesson touches on the topic of parties, you are welcome to introduce some of the following vocabulary if you like.
1) to throw a party (v)
2) to have a party (v)
3) to have a good time (v)
4) to decorate (v)
5) to get together (v)
6) to surprise someone (v)
7) to make a toast (v)
8) to have fun (v)
9) to turn ## years old (v)
10) to celebrate (v)
Option 1:
Difficulty ★★
Type:
Warm-up discussion (Let’s start)
Purpose: Steering the student into the goal of the lesson before opening the book.
Method:
Before you open the book, talk to the student about the last party they went to, and what they usually arrange before having a party.
Extra questions you might like to ask in the lesson
Asking for suggestions
- Who do you want to invite?
- Who would you like to invite?
- Who should we invite?
- Who shall we invite?
- Who can we invite?
Asking for reasons
- How come?
- Why?
- Why do you think so?
- Why's that?
A speaking hint you might like to use
Cause and effect
By stating a reason using cause and effect we can give a more persuasive opinion.
> Feel free to use this speaking hint in the “Let’s Practice” / “Let’s Speak” sections of the lesson
e.g. Where should we go?
Suggestion: Why don't we go to the restaurant across the road? It's very close, if we go somewhere too far, some people might not come.
Let’s start
Party occasions
- It’s your birthday
- It’s Easter
- It’s Christmas
- You graduated
- You are celebrating something
- Someone is leaving the company
- Someone has joined the company
E.g.
- Occasion:
Easter party
- Activities:
Easter egg hunt / Egg painting
/ Lunch
- Location:
My house
- Time / date:
12:00 - 16:00
- Guests:
10
Family + daughters friends
Let’s try
Listening 1:
How many will attend the party? At least twenty people are going to show up.
Where should they have the party? At a local bar
or restaurant.
When should they have the party? Sunday
Listening 2:
Where should they have the party? Outside.
Why? Because it will be sunny this weekend.
Whose kids will probably come? Jessica.
Let’s practice
Occasion: Stacy’s birthday party
Who: Bill, Jane, Tim, Kenji, Sue, Linda
When: either Saturday or Sunday
Where: Mike’s house
Activities: everyone likes sports
Expected outcome
A) Hey James. I need to play a party for next week. Can you help me?
B) Sure. What’s the occasion?
A) It’s Stacy’s birthday party.
B) OK. Who should we invite?
A) Well, we definitely have to invite Bill and Carol James.
B) Yeah. And let’s invite Tim, Kenji, Sue, Linda too.
A) Sure. Good idea. When do you think we should hold the party?
B) How about Wednesday?
A) I don’t know about that. It’s during the week. I don’t think many people will be able to come.
B) OK then, let’s hold it on Saturday or Sunday then,
B) Yeah. I think that would be better.
A) Where should we hold the party?
B) Mike said we can use his house.
A) Great. Let’s have the party there. It can be a surprise.
B) OK, now we just need to decide on some activities for the party.
A) Well, everyone likes sports, why don’t we organize a sports trivia game?
B) Sure. That sounds fun.
Let’s speak
Planning someone’s party
More or less the same role-play as the one in "Let’s practice"
A) As you know it’s Tom’s birthday next week. And we said we would organize a great birthday party for him, so let’s start planning it today.
B) OK great. When do you think we should hold the party?
A) I think we should hold it a week after his birthday. He will probably want to spend his actual birthday with his family.
B) Yeah. Good point. Friday the 27th would be a good day then.
A) Sure.
B) OK. Where do you think we should hold the party?
A) There is a great bar near his house, let’s hold the party there. They have a special party plan
B) Sounds like a plan.
A) Who do you think we should invite?
B) Let’s ask around and see who’s free, but we should invite Mark, Peter, Sam, Kate, Carl, Lennie.
A) Oh, and don’t forget Mika and Aya.
B) Sure, let’s invite them too. What food and drinks do you think we should serve?
A) The regular party plan they have is all you can eat and all you can drink.
B) Sure. That’s perfect.
A) What activities do you think we should arrange?
B) How about a pub quiz but with questions about Tom?
A) Haha, yeah, that sounds fun.
B) Great. I’ll make the reservations, you invite the people.
A) Sounds like a plan.