Speaking Skills: Words of Encouragement
Speaking Skills: Words of Encouragement
In this week's Premier Skills English Podcast, Jack and Rich talk about how we show sympathy and the language we use to encourage others. Jack is sad about Arsenal's start to the season and Rich is not very sympathetic. The focus is on some fixed expressions we use to sympathise and encourage people when they are feeling sad or depressed. They also talk about the importance of intonation in our voices when we want to be sympathetic and encouraging. The task for listeners is to complete three dialogues that use sympathetic and encouraging language. As always, we also have a new football phrase for you to guess. Enjoy!
Transcript
Speaking Skills - Words of Encouragement
Intro:
Jack: I just can’t believe it! We’ve had a terrible start to the season. We’ve lost to Stoke and we lost 4-0 to Liverpool. 4-0!
Rich: 4 - 0, I know. That’s terrible. There’s no point in getting upset about it. All clubs have a bad run of form now and again.
Jack: That’s easy for you to say. Liverpool are playing really well at the moment. I can’t concentrate at work and I’ve got some friends who are Tottenham fans ...
Rich: Ahh don’t take any notice of them. Spurs aren’t doing much better than Arsenal.
Jack: Mmm … we need to start winning soon. I’m not happy.
Rich: It’s only a game, Jack. There are more important things …
Jack: It’s only a game!! I can’t believe you said that … How can you say that? You’re not being very sympathetic.
Welcome
Rich: Hello my name’s Rich
Jack: and I’m Jack
Rich: and welcome to this week’s Premier Skills English podcast
Jack: Where we talk about football and help you with your English.
Jack: What’s happening this week, Rich?
Rich: In this week’s podcast, we’re going to take a look at some of the language we need to be sympathetic and to encourage others, to show sympathy and encouragement.
Jack: That’s right. We’re going to look at some expressions we use when we are being sympathetic and when we’re encouraging others. Let’s take a closer look at this word ‘sympathetic’ because it can be a bit tricky.
Rich: Sympathetic means to be kind or show understanding to a person when something bad happens to them or they feel sad about something.
Jack: The noun is sympathy and we often show sympathy with the phrases and the words we use and the way we sound.
Rich: In Spanish and I think French, too, simpatico or sympathique means nice or friendly. You can say someone is nice - someone is simpatico or sympatique.
Jack: This is an example of a false friend - a word that looks the same in another language but has a different meaning. Sympathetic does not usually mean nice or friendly in a general way.
Rich: To show sympathy or to be sympathetic means to be nice when something bad has happened to someone.
Jack: To encourage someone means to give someone confidence about something.
Rich: You can encourage someone to do something. You can make them feel happier about doing it.
Jack: Or you can encourage someone about something. So if a person is sad because of the way their team has been playing ...
Rich: for example ...
Jack: yes ... you can say things to make them feel better about the situation - that their team will play better in the future.
Rich: You might have already noticed that at the start of the podcast I wasn’t being very sympathetic or encouraging to Jack about Arsenal’s bad form in the Premier League.
Jack: Yes, Rich used some phrases that can be used to be sympathetic or encouraging but from his voice, his pronunciation, you could tell that he wasn’t totally sincere, he wasn’t really being sympathetic.
Rich: Really? You could tell? Sorry about that.
Jack: We have some practice conversations and we are going to ask you whether you think we are being sympathetic or encouraging to each other or not.
Rich: Right, let’s get on with the rest of the podcast.
Topic Focus
Jack: In this section, we’re going to roleplay a situation where Rich is upset about something. You will hear the conversation twice. When you listen we want you to answer two questions. Number one - why is Rich upset. Number two - in which conversation am I more sympathetic and encouraging.
Rich: Right. Let’s go.
Roleplay 1
Jack: Hey Rich. Are you alright? You look a bit down.
Rich: I’m OK. I’m a bit worried that’s all. I’m going to the dentist later and I’ve got to have a root canal.
Jack: Ooh! Nasty! That sounds painful!
Rich: Yes, I think it might be. I’m not sure that I’m going to go. Maybe my teeth will get better by themselves.
Jack: Come on! Pull yourself together!It’s only a trip to the dentist. And anyway, they normally give you some kind of anesthetic to numb the pain.
Rich: Yes, yes I know what you’re saying and it makes sense but I still don’t think I’m going to go.
Jack: Just relax and don’t worry about it. I need to get a check-up, too. We can go together if you like?
Rich: No, no that’s very … er … kind of you but I think I can do it. I need to get my teeth done - it hurts a lot.
Jack: There you go. I’m sure it will be alright. There’s no point in getting all stressed about it. You’ve just got to get it over and done with.
Rich: You’re right, Jack. Thanks for the pep talk.
Sting
Jack: What did you think of the roleplay? What was Rich’s problem? Was I sympathetic? How did I show encouragement? Now, listen again. How is the conversation different this time?
Roleplay 2
Jack: Hey Rich. Are you alright? You look a bit down.
Rich: I’m OK. I’m a bit worried that’s all. I’m going to the dentist later and I’ve got to have a root canal.
Jack: Ooh! Nasty! That sounds painful!
Rich: Yes, I think it might be. I’m not sure that I’m going to go. Maybe my teeth will get better by themselves.
Jack: Come on! Pull yourself together! It’ll be all right. It’s only a trip to the dentist. And anyway, they normally give you some kind of anaesthetic to numb the pain.
Rich: Yes, yes I know what you’re saying and it makes sense but I still don’t think I’m going to go.
Jack: Just relax and don’t worry about it. I need to get a check-up. We can go together if you like?
Rich: No, no that’s very … er … kind of you but I think I can do it. I need to get my teeth done - it hurts a lot.
Jack: There you go. I’m sure it will be alright. There’s no point in getting all stressed about it. You’ve just got to get it over and done with.
Rich: You’re right, Jack. Thanks for the pep talk.
Sting
Jack: In the second conversation, I was much more sympathetic and I encouraged Rich to feel better, telling him that the dentist won’t be that bad. We used the same words but my intonation - the way my voice sounds - was very different.
Rich: So, there are two ways we can show sympathy and encouragement. Through the words and phrases we use and the way we say them. Let’s look at some of the phrases we used in the roleplay and when we were talking about Arsenal at the beginning of the podcast.
Jack: I could have said to Rich ‘Stop being upset’ or ‘grow up’ but those phrases are not very sympathetic or encouraging. It’s better to use phrases like ‘don’t worry about it’ or ‘I know, I understand’.
Rich: Earlier, I said to Jack ‘don’t take any notice of those Tottenham fans’. This don’t take any notice of something or someone is a common way to show sympathy and to show that you support the person you are speaking to.
Jack: We used lots of phrases to mean ‘don’t worry’. Phrases like ‘just relax’, ‘pull yourself together’ and ‘there’s no point in …’ are all used to tell someone to stop worrying or to stop being sad. They are used to encourage people.
Rich: But as you probably noticed in the roleplay, these phrases can be used to show sympathy and encouragement but if you don’t use the right intonation you they can have the opposite effect or you can sound like you are sarcastic or making fun of the person you are speaking to.
Jack: Let’s take one simple example. Listen to this question which one might show sympathy?
Rich: Hi, How are you doing? Everything alright? Hi, How are you doing? Everything alright?
Jack: The first time Rich says this sentence his intonation goes up. He is asking a general question as a general greeting, perhaps in the morning or in the street. Hi How are you doing? In the second question his intonation falls - it goes down at the end of the sentence. The situation is probably different.
Rich: Yes. I know that something bad has happened.We want you to listen to six sentences. Which ones sound sympathetic or encouraging and which ones sound unsympathetic?
Jack: Sentence one: Liverpool lost. What a pity!
Rich: Sentence two: Arsenal lost. Nevermind, you might win next week.
Jack: Sentence three: I know your favourite player is leaving but there’s no point in getting upset about it.
Rich: Sentence four: Your leg has fallen off? That sounds awful. I hope you feel better soon.
Jack: Sentence five: Your car isn’t working? How annoying!
Rich: Sentence six: You’ve lost your favourite bottle opener? You must be really worried!
Jack: The sympathetic sentences were numbers two four and six. Listen to them again and listen how our voices are different and try to copy them.
Rich: Your task this week is to complete the blanks in three short dialogues using phrases that are often used to show sympathy.
Jack: The sentences are ... number one: I’m so sorry that you broke your leg, Rich.
Rich: Yes, no football for a while.
Jack: Well, _________________. Sound effect
Rich: Thanks.
Rich: Number two: Did you win?
Jack: No we lost again.
Rich: ____________
Jack: Number three: Are you going on holiday this year?
Rich: No, I don’t think so. Money problems, you know.
Jack: ____________
Rich: So that’s your task. How can you complete the gaps in these dialogues. Write your answers in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Can you work out this week’s football phrase?
Rich: Have you got a football phrase for us this week?
Jack: Yes, I have, but first, last week’s football phrase. The phrase was international break. The international break is a point in the Premier League season where there are no Premier League matches because many players are away playing for their countries in international tournaments or friendlies.
Rich: Yes, England did very well. They won twice and are one win away from the World Cup in Russia.
Jack: Well done to Khaldoun83 from Algeria, Shobonenok from Russia, Emir from Bosnia, Liubomyr from Ukraine, Ahmed Adam from Sudan and Kwesimanifest from Ghana. You all got the right answer.
Rich: What’s this week’s football phrase?
Jack: This week’s football phrase is a ****** ******. This is a type of goal you score with your head. This is not a normal goal with your head though. It’s a goal where the ball travels very, very fast into the net. It goes so fast from the head to the goal that we use the thing that comes out of a gun to describe this kind of goal. He scored with a ****** ******.
Rich: Pretty difficult this week. Right, that’s all we have time for this week! Don’t forget to write your answers to our questions and make a guess at our football phrase in the comments below.
Jack: And don’t forget to listen to our new round-up show called ‘This Week’. All the action from Matchweek 4 will be on the Premier Skills homepage on Monday.
Rich: Bye for now and enjoy your football!
Vocabulary
How much did you understand?
In the podcast, Rich and Jack used some words and phrases that might be new for you. Do you know the words in bold?
Hey Rich. Are you alright? You look a bit down.
It’s only a game!! I can’t believe you said that! How can you say that? You’re not being very sympathetic.
There were a few more tricky words in the podcast. Do you know what they all mean? Try the activity below, then, listen to the podcast again to hear how we used the words.
Activity 1
Vocabulary
Showing Sympathy and Encouragement
In this week's podcast, Jack and Rich spoke about being sympathetic and trying to encourage someone. Sympathetic means being supportive to someone when they feel sad or down about something, or something bad has happened to them. To encourage means to give someone confidence and try to make someone feel better about doing something. Rich spoke about going to the dentist, something he doesn't like and something that worries him. Jack used some phrases to show sympathy when responding to Rich and also toffered encouragement. Take a look at these phrases from the podcast. Do you know what the nouns in bold mean?
There's no point in getting all stressed about it. You've just got to get it over and done with.
Come on! Pull yourself together! It's only a trip to the dentist.
There are other fixed phrases and idiomatic expressions that are used to show encouragement and to be sympathetic, many of them were used in the podcast. Take a look at the following activity and see if you can choose an appropriate phrase.
Activity 2
Intonation
Showing Sympathy
Using specific phrases to show sympathy is only part of what you should do to respond in a sympathetic way when you are speaking to someone who is stressed or depressed about something. The other important thing is how you say these phrases. Intonation is the way your voice rises (goes up) and falls (goes down) when you speak. To show sympathy your intonation falls and your voice is often quieter than your normal speaking voice.
Activity 3
Listen to the six sentences that Rich and Jack used in the podcast again (listen from 6:32 to 7:51). Sentences 2, 4, and 6 fall at the end and are much quieter. These sentences use the correct intonation and the correct phrases to show sympathy. Can you hear the difference between sentences 2, 4, 6 and 1, 3 and 5? Here are the six examples from the podcast:
-
Liverpool lost. What a pity!
-
Arsenal lost. Nevermind, you might win next week.
-
I know your favourite player is leaving but there’s no point in getting upset about it.
-
Your leg has fallen off? That sounds awful. I hope you feel better soon.
-
Your car isn’t working? How annoying!
-
You’ve lost your favourite bottle opener? You must be really worried!
Task
Show some sympathy
In the podcast, Rich and Jack read out three short dialogues. Your task is to think about each situation and decide what you would say and how you would say it in each situation. Write your answers or mini-dialogues in the comments section and if you can find a partner, practise your dialogues at home. Here are the three dialogues:
-
Jack: I’m so sorry that you broke your leg, Rich.
Rich: Yes, no football for a while.
Jack: Well, _________________.
Rich: Thanks.
-
Rich: Did you win?
Jack: No, we lost again.
Rich: ____________
-
Jack: Are you going on holiday this year?
Rich: No, I don’t think so. Money problems, you know.
Jack: ____________
Write your dialogues in the comments section below and practise at home if you can.
Quiz
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Comment
What do you think?
In this week’s podcast, Jack and Rich spoke about how to show sympathy in English.
Do you show sympathy to a friend when their football team has lost? How?
In your language, what is more important when showing sympathy: the words, intonation or non-verbal communication?
Look at the task above and complete the dialogues.
Remember to write your guess at this week's football phrase, too!
Leave a comment
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Comments
11/11/2021
points
Task
1-Don't worry. We may play fantasy football together. You'll recover soon.
2-You could win next week.There is no point in worrying about it.
3-It doesn't matter. I could lend you what amount you need.
Comment
No. I Show a sarcastic attitude.To make fun. The words and intonation are very important as well as face mimics. Non-verbal communication isn’t common in our culture.
Phrases
• I should pull myself together and not to be demoralized. All in all I was second athlete at the running race.I don't need pep talk. There’s no point in worrying about it.
• After getting narcosis he got numbed now ready for medical operation.
Note
• Sometimes it might have needed to change intonation, like giving a command while speaking to remove fear of person.
11/11/2021 17:38
Tottenham Hotspur
5557
Task
1-Don't worry. We may play fantasy football together. You'll recover soon.
2-You could win next week.There is no point in worrying about it.
3-It doesn't matter. I could lend you what amount you need.
Comment
No. I Show a sarcastic attitude.To make fun. The words and intonation are very important as well as face mimics. Non-verbal communication isn’t common in our culture.
Phrases
• I should pull myself together and not to be demoralized. All in all I was second athlete at the running race.I don't need pep talk. There’s no point in worrying about it.
• After getting narcosis he got numbed now ready for medical operation.
Note
• Sometimes it might have needed to change intonation, like giving a command while speaking to remove fear of person.
20/05/2020
points
This week's football phrase is ( bullet header )
20/05/2020 04:56
Manchester United
6536
This week's football phrase is ( bullet header )
20/05/2020
points
Jack: I’m so sorry that you broke your leg, Rich.
Rich: Yes, no football for a while.
Jack: Well, you will get better very soon don't worry.
Rich: Thanks.
Rich: Did you win?
Jack: No, we lost again.
Rich: You will win next game don't be sad please
Jack: Are you going on holiday this year?
Rich: No, I don’t think so. Money problems, you know.
Jack: No worries. You can have fun in your own city with the kids
20/05/2020 04:54
Manchester United
6536
Jack: I’m so sorry that you broke your leg, Rich.
Rich: Yes, no football for a while.
Jack: Well, you will get better very soon don't worry.
Rich: Thanks.
Rich: Did you win?
Jack: No, we lost again.
Rich: You will win next game don't be sad please
Jack: Are you going on holiday this year?
Rich: No, I don’t think so. Money problems, you know.
Jack: No worries. You can have fun in your own city with the kids
20/05/2020
points
In Turkish the words and intonation are both important to show sympathy and respect
20/05/2020 04:51
Manchester United
6536
In Turkish the words and intonation are both important to show sympathy and respect
20/05/2020
points
Of course I show sympathy to my friends and my brother when their team lost.
I always say stuff like next game you will bounce back or you were the better side but you lost by luck or you have the best players so you will win next week and so on ...................
20/05/2020 04:50
Manchester United
6536
Of course I show sympathy to my friends and my brother when their team lost.
I always say stuff like next game you will bounce back or you were the better side but you lost by luck or you have the best players so you will win next week and so on ...................
26/09/2017
points
Hi!Jack cheer up.Arsenal will be the champion!
26/09/2017 09:35
Arsenal
2337
Hi!Jack cheer up.Arsenal will be the champion!
26/09/2017
points
Hello Sabanoleg
I like your optimism!
Jack
26/09/2017 09:49
Arsenal
22
Hello Sabanoleg
I like your optimism!
Jack
17/09/2017
points
Bullet header
17/09/2017 13:14
Manchester City
12
Bullet header
18/09/2017
points
Well done! You got it right!
18/09/2017 08:22
Liverpool
594
Well done! You got it right!
16/09/2017
points
the phrase is a bullet head :)
16/09/2017 17:58
Liverpool
29
the phrase is a bullet head :)
18/09/2017
points
Spot on! Well done!
18/09/2017 08:22
Liverpool
594
Spot on! Well done!
16/09/2017
points
The phrase is marvelous header.
16/09/2017 08:11
Liverpool
3705
The phrase is marvelous header.
15/09/2017
points
the phrase is bicycle header.
15/09/2017 19:13
Liverpool
3705
the phrase is bicycle header.
15/09/2017
points
1-I hope you get better.
2-Do not worry,focus on your next match
3-i hope things will get better soon.
15/09/2017 19:07
Liverpool
3705
1-I hope you get better.
2-Do not worry,focus on your next match
3-i hope things will get better soon.
15/09/2017
points
All of those things are important.
15/09/2017 19:02
Liverpool
3705
All of those things are important.
15/09/2017
points
No i do not, i always make fun of them.
15/09/2017 19:02
Liverpool
3705
No i do not, i always make fun of them.
15/09/2017
points
The phrase is strong header.
15/09/2017 13:21
Manchester United
325
The phrase is strong header.
15/09/2017
points
Correct me.
In general I show sympathy to my friends, mainly when the is any problem. About football, sometimes we like to make joke or be sarcastic.
Sympathetic is a false friend for portuguese speakers, in portuguese there is a word simpático that means be cool or friendly.
1 - Well, I hope you get better soon.
2 - Don't give up! The next match will better.
3 - It's too bad, in the next year maibe you can go.
One question: going on holiday means vacation??
15/09/2017 02:15
Arsenal
663
Correct me.
In general I show sympathy to my friends, mainly when the is any problem. About football, sometimes we like to make joke or be sarcastic.
Sympathetic is a false friend for portuguese speakers, in portuguese there is a word simpático that means be cool or friendly.
1 - Well, I hope you get better soon.
2 - Don't give up! The next match will better.
3 - It's too bad, in the next year maibe you can go.
One question: going on holiday means vacation??
18/09/2017
points
Hi Rafael
All three answers that you have written sound sympathetic and encouraging. Great! You need to change one or two things to numbers two and three:
Finally, 'holiday' is British English and 'vacation' is American English, but, yes, they mean the same. 'I went on holiday / vacation in August this year.'
Hope that helps.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
:
18/09/2017 08:21
Liverpool
594
Hi Rafael
All three answers that you have written sound sympathetic and encouraging. Great! You need to change one or two things to numbers two and three:
Finally, 'holiday' is British English and 'vacation' is American English, but, yes, they mean the same. 'I went on holiday / vacation in August this year.'
Hope that helps.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
:
13/09/2017
points
Sympathy can be shown using words and intonation. You have to be sincere about it.
Non-verbal communication is more important for me although the others ways are also powerful .
Well, I hope you will recover soon.
Don't fall down. You have just got to get it over and done with.
Never mind, you will go next year.
football phrase , killing header.
13/09/2017 15:40
Manchester City
3988
Sympathy can be shown using words and intonation. You have to be sincere about it.
Non-verbal communication is more important for me although the others ways are also powerful .
Well, I hope you will recover soon.
Don't fall down. You have just got to get it over and done with.
Never mind, you will go next year.
football phrase , killing header.
13/09/2017
points
This week's phrase is a flying header i think.
13/09/2017 10:27
Manchester United
4779
This week's phrase is a flying header i think.
13/09/2017
points
Hi Kwesimanifest
You're close but it's not quite right. We're not looking for a diving or flying header. With this type of header, the player might not necessarily jump at all.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
13/09/2017 14:41
Liverpool
594
Hi Kwesimanifest
You're close but it's not quite right. We're not looking for a diving or flying header. With this type of header, the player might not necessarily jump at all.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
11/09/2017
points
Correct me
I do show sympathy to my friends when their football team has lost. Mostly, when the team I support is the cause of the pain or when the team they're backing (1) been thrashed by a big
ger margin. Also when they are dumped out of a competition. Usually, I say things like: the other team were lucky; surely your team will bounce back; (2) simply, you can't win all the time and this shows what football is all about. There are however some friends who don't deserve even a bit of sympathy because when our team has lost they start making fun of us.The words and intonation? Or non-verbal communication, when showing sympathy in my language? Now, that's a tough question! I think words and intonation are more important
11/09/2017 12:03
Liverpool
2903
Correct me
I do show sympathy to my friends when their football team has lost. Mostly, when the team I support is the cause of the pain or when the team they're backing (1) been thrashed by a big
ger margin. Also when they are dumped out of a competition. Usually, I say things like: the other team were lucky; surely your team will bounce back; (2) simply, you can't win all the time and this shows what football is all about. There are however some friends who don't deserve even a bit of sympathy because when our team has lost they start making fun of us.The words and intonation? Or non-verbal communication, when showing sympathy in my language? Now, that's a tough question! I think words and intonation are more important
11/09/2017
points
Hi Ahmed Adam
I think it can be difficult when to show sympathy and when to make fun when talking to your friends about football. I think it depends how important the match is and how upset your friend is. I love some of the phrases that you have used in your comment; 'thrashed', 'big margin', 'to be dumped out of' and 'bounce back' are all great phrases that you've used correctly and are really common in football. I've made some corrections to your comment above and challenge you again to correct a couple of your own mistakes.
Hope it's helpful.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
11/09/2017 16:15
Liverpool
594
Hi Ahmed Adam
I think it can be difficult when to show sympathy and when to make fun when talking to your friends about football. I think it depends how important the match is and how upset your friend is. I love some of the phrases that you have used in your comment; 'thrashed', 'big margin', 'to be dumped out of' and 'bounce back' are all great phrases that you've used correctly and are really common in football. I've made some corrections to your comment above and challenge you again to correct a couple of your own mistakes.
Hope it's helpful.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
12/09/2017
points
You're right teacher, Rich
1- Should it be "has been thrashed"?
2- I need your help with this, please.
It pleases me that you love the phrases I used and thanks for correcting me.
12/09/2017 11:38
Liverpool
2903
You're right teacher, Rich
1- Should it be "has been thrashed"?
2- I need your help with this, please.
It pleases me that you love the phrases I used and thanks for correcting me.
12/09/2017
points
You're right on the first one. You probably want to end the previous sentence and then say something like: 'or I'd simply say something like ...'
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
12/09/2017 15:51
Liverpool
594
You're right on the first one. You probably want to end the previous sentence and then say something like: 'or I'd simply say something like ...'
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
13/09/2017
points
Thanks a lot teacher, Rich.
That was really helpful
13/09/2017 09:41
Liverpool
2903
Thanks a lot teacher, Rich.
That was really helpful
11/09/2017
points
Hi everyone! It has been a while since last podcast. Thank you teachers, Rich & Jack for coming back with this nice podcast and I would like to say that I do fancy the roleplay you're doing in the podcasts.
Hi teacher, Rich
didn't you notice that you sounded like a fake fan when said to teacher, Jack "it's only a game"!!!
Now, I'm going to start with activity three this time!
1.
Jack: I’m so sorry that you broke your leg, Rich.
Rich: Yes, no football for a while.
Jack: Well, that's a bit annoying, but I'm sure you will return back stronger.
Rich: Thanks.
2.
Rich: Did you win?
Jack: No, we lost again.
Rich: I know it's frustrating but there’s no point in getting upset about it.
3.
Jack: Are you going on holiday this year?
Rich: No, I don’t think so. Money problems, you know.
Jack: never mind, you could go next year.
Football phrase? Well, there's a bit of uncertainty arround this week's phrase, maybe, it could be a "****** ******" hope to hunt it out it from my first go!
11/09/2017 11:04
Liverpool
2903
Hi everyone! It has been a while since last podcast. Thank you teachers, Rich & Jack for coming back with this nice podcast and I would like to say that I do fancy the roleplay you're doing in the podcasts.
Hi teacher, Rich
didn't you notice that you sounded like a fake fan when said to teacher, Jack "it's only a game"!!!
Now, I'm going to start with activity three this time!
1.
Jack: I’m so sorry that you broke your leg, Rich.
Rich: Yes, no football for a while.
Jack: Well, that's a bit annoying, but I'm sure you will return back stronger.
Rich: Thanks.
2.
Rich: Did you win?
Jack: No, we lost again.
Rich: I know it's frustrating but there’s no point in getting upset about it.
3.
Jack: Are you going on holiday this year?
Rich: No, I don’t think so. Money problems, you know.
Jack: never mind, you could go next year.
Football phrase? Well, there's a bit of uncertainty arround this week's phrase, maybe, it could be a "****** ******" hope to hunt it out it from my first go!
11/09/2017
points
Hi Ahmed Adam
I see your avatar is working. Great! But what about changing that Real Madrid shirt for a Liverpool one!!! (just joking)
Yes, you could be accused of being a fake fan (did you get that expression from this podcast?) by using the expression 'it's only a game' but I was just teasing Jack. I knew that it would wind him up!
The dialogues are great. The only collocation that I would change is 'return back stronger'. It's better to use 'come' or 'bounce' (like you've used in your comment above this one!)
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
11/09/2017 16:10
Liverpool
594
Hi Ahmed Adam
I see your avatar is working. Great! But what about changing that Real Madrid shirt for a Liverpool one!!! (just joking)
Yes, you could be accused of being a fake fan (did you get that expression from this podcast?) by using the expression 'it's only a game' but I was just teasing Jack. I knew that it would wind him up!
The dialogues are great. The only collocation that I would change is 'return back stronger'. It's better to use 'come' or 'bounce' (like you've used in your comment above this one!)
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
12/09/2017
points
Well, I might change it if I won a Liverpool shirt from the PSE! (also joking)
Yes, I got it from that podcast. Teasing him? Ha ha, you're lucky that he missed his turn to hit back to you!!!
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for heping us to improve our English
12/09/2017 11:54
Liverpool
2903
Well, I might change it if I won a Liverpool shirt from the PSE! (also joking)
Yes, I got it from that podcast. Teasing him? Ha ha, you're lucky that he missed his turn to hit back to you!!!
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for heping us to improve our English
11/09/2017
points
The week's football phrase is ****** ******
11/09/2017 06:55
Manchester United
2663
The week's football phrase is ****** ******
09/09/2017
points
I think the football phrase is "header"
09/09/2017 15:07
Chelsea
1859
I think the football phrase is "header"
11/09/2017
points
Hi Violinka you've got the second part of the phrase but not the first. Do you want to have another go?
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
11/09/2017 16:03
Liverpool
594
Hi Violinka you've got the second part of the phrase but not the first. Do you want to have another go?
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
08/09/2017
points
Correct me.
The week's football phrase is: ****** ******.
The dialogue.
Jack: well, I hope you will recover soon.
Rich: never mind, next game you may win.
Jack: I will lend you some money, if you want.
08/09/2017 16:20
Liverpool
325
Correct me.
The week's football phrase is: ****** ******.
The dialogue.
Jack: well, I hope you will recover soon.
Rich: never mind, next game you may win.
Jack: I will lend you some money, if you want.
11/09/2017
points
Well done, Khaldoun! You've got the football phrase.
There's not much wrong with your dialogues and they could certainly sound encouraging and sympathetic. The first answer sounds more concise without 'will' and the second sounds better with 'might' - 'you might win next time'. To my ear, 'might' sounds a more sympathetic.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
11/09/2017 16:02
Liverpool
594
Well done, Khaldoun! You've got the football phrase.
There's not much wrong with your dialogues and they could certainly sound encouraging and sympathetic. The first answer sounds more concise without 'will' and the second sounds better with 'might' - 'you might win next time'. To my ear, 'might' sounds a more sympathetic.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
08/09/2017
points
I think that the phase is the ‘****** ******’
08/09/2017 14:22
Watford
4417
I think that the phase is the ‘****** ******’
11/09/2017
points
First again Liubomyr :)
11/09/2017 15:54
Liverpool
594
First again Liubomyr :)