Contents

UNIT 1

GETTING ACQUAINTED

Module 1 Family Life

P review

1. Look at the picture and answer the questions below.

1. Who are those people in the picture?

2. Do they know each other?

3. Why do you think so?

4. How are they related to each other?

5. Can you predict their relationships?

6) Is it difficult for you to start a talk with an unknown person?

2. Which of the following happens to you for the first time when you meet someone?

1. I talk too much because I am nervous.

2. I don’t speak at all because I can’t think of anything to say.

3. I smile a lot so that the other person likes me.

4. I act in exactly the same way as I would with a person I know.

3. Can you remember when and where you met some of the following people for the first time?

A very good friend A girlfriend/ a boyfriend

A groupmate A teacher

LANGUAGE SKILLS 1: STARTING A CONVERSATION

A. When you start a conversation try to reply in a way that develops the conversation. Match the question with an appropriate reply.

How are you?	Thanks. I bought it from Harrods.
Nice to see you again.	Yes, I think we last met two years ago in Manila.
It's been a long time, hasn't it?	Yes, awful. I think it's rained every day since I arrived.
Nice weather today, isn't it.	Fine thanks. And you? You're looking well.
Terrible weather isn't it.	Yes, I did thanks. It was very useful.
That's a nice shirt/blouse.	Yes, it is, isn't it? Not like the coffee you get in Italy.
This coffee's a bit weak.	Yes, lovely. I hope it stays like this for the weekend.
Did you get that mail I sent you?	Nice to see you too. How are you?

B. Now try to go around a class, greet and start a conversation.

LANGUAGE SKILLS 2: INTRODUCING YOURSELF & PEOPLE

C. Practice introducing yourself, friends and groupmates. Remember to smile (and use handshakes where appropriate).

• After you have been introduced to someone, it is polite to ask a few general questions to get acquainted. For example:

• Where are you from, Carol?

• I'm from Connecticut.

• Connecticut, which part?

• Hartford, the capital. How about you, Ben?

• Nebraska - a place called Bellevue. It's near Omaha.

• How do you know Alan (A)?

• He is my friend from college.

• When meeting someone for the first time, it is not appropriate to ask certain types of questions. Do NOT ask: A person's age, Birth date, Salary, Weight, Marital status. You may ask general questions about the situation. For example:

• How do you know Alan (the person who introduced us)?

• Are you a student at this university?

• Is this your first time here?

• What do you do for a living?

• How long have you been working for (company)?

LANGUAGE SKILLS 3: CLOSING A CONVERSATION

D. How would you close a conversation in the following situations?

• You are in a hurry to leave. What do you say?

• You really don't want to leave, but you can see the other person needs to go.

• You’ve just met someone at a party, but you have to leave the party early.

• You are "seeing someone off" at the airport/train station.

E. A host (H) and a guest (G) are sitting in the airport lounge after a successful business meeting. Role-play the dialogue according to the model given below.

G: Start a 'leaving' dialogue

H: Reply to the guest

G: Say why you must leave

H: Show interest in the guest’s plans

G: Give more information

H: Make a final reference to business

G: Thank the host for his/her help

H: Reply - say it's been a pleasure

G: Make a second reference to leaving

H: Wish the visitor a good trip and send your regards to someone

G

Revise new vocabulary after one hour. Revise it again after one day and again after one week. Most people need to see or hear new vocabulary at least six times before they can remember it!

Tell your classmates about the different ways that you revise vocabulary.

: Refer to the next meeting and say goodbye.