English Unlimited HTL 3, Schulbuch mit Audio-CD und CD-ROM

112 Unit 9: Living and working together 8yn5ui Goals make polite requests and ask polite questions talk about acts of kindness and bravery criticise past actions and suggest alternatives speculate about the past give a talk and take questions Talking to strangers Do you find it difficult to talk to strangers? Which topics are easy to talk about? Which topics should you avoid? Listen to Ben and answer the questions. 1 In his experience, is it easier to talk to strangers in England or in Austria? Why? 2 What places and situations does he mention? 3 Can you think of easy conversation openers in a private context? Discuss the questions. 1 In Austria, how often do people talk to strangers in these situations? in a queue in the street on public transport in shops 2 Do you think things have changed in the last 10 years? 3 Do you ever speak to people in these situations? Why? Why not? Listen to five short conversations, A–E. Which conversation is about: 1 global warming? 2 a purchase? 3 a piece of luggage? 4 a technical device? 5 somebody’s native country? a LISTENING 1 Ben is a communication trainer from England, living in Austria TCD 3/01 b c a 2 TCD 3/02 How do the strangers respond in each situation? Talk together, then listen again. b Would you mind (1) if I opened the window? (2) ask ing him? People often begin a conversation with these polite expressions, but usually continue with direct questions: A: Could I ask you to do something for me? B: Sure. A: Can you fill that in for me? Could I ask you (3) a favour ? (4) to do something for me? (5) to look after my case? Could you tell me (6) your views on that, please? (7) a little about it? What does each speaker ask the other person to do? Look at the highlighted expressions from the conversations. Which questions 1–7: 1 ask for an opinion or information? 2 do you say before you ask someone to do something? 3 ask someone to do something? What? 4 ask for permission to do something? b a VOCABULARY 3 Polite requests and questions Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv