Speaking Lesson Plan: Giving Advice
Sharmaine Itwaru
February 24th 2009
Teaching Speaking
Schenandoah Wilson
Speaking Lesson Plan: Giving Advice
Class
Profile:
Level:
Level 3
Class
length:
2 Hours
Objective: Giving Advice. Students will be able to give advice for different situations.
Handouts:
#1
#2
#3
#4
Advice Column (Excerpts care of the Bangkok Post Monday, February 22, 1999)
Giving Advice.
What’s Your Problem?
Advice Board Game (copyright www.eslHQ.com)
Materials:
Whiteboard, coloured whiteboard markers, (optional) poster paper with
problems from handout #3, as many pennies as students.
Pre-speaking Activity 20 Minutes:
1. Students are given handout #1 with Advice Column.
2. Students read through scenarios.
3. When students are finished reading, Teacher checks for general comprehension and
new vocabulary. Writes vocabulary on the board. (From this point on, when
speaking to the class, Teacher should be modelling the use of the modal Should.)
4. Ask volunteers to read the problems and advice to the class.
5. Ask class whether they agree with the advice.
Isolated Teaching 45 minutes:
1. Explain that modals Could and Would can be used in the giving of advice.
“You could….”
“If I were you I would…”
2. Ask students what other phrases we use when giving advice:
“Why don’t you…”
“Why not…”
“You ought to…”
3. Introduce modal “Should” and write sample phrases on the board. Be sure to use
different coloured markers to highlight the new modal.
“What should she do?”
“She should…”
“She shouldn’t”
4. Contrast urgency of the modal Should with Could.
5. Distribute handout #2
6. Using examples from activity 1 in handout #2, do drills (using Should/Shouldn’t
only.)
Main Speaking Activity 30 minutes:
1. Divide the class into 4 groups.
2. Distribute Handout #3. Each group has a unique “problem”.
3. Have one member of each group stand and read his or her group’s problem aloud to
the class. Explain new vocabulary.
4. Have the students discuss the problems in their groups and write down their advice on
their handouts. (Let the students know they should try to use as many forms of
“Giving advice phrases” as they can.)
5. Teacher posts problems on overhead projector (use “Teacher’s Copy”) or on poster
paper on the board.
6. Teacher should circulate to check understanding.
7. Teacher asks a volunteer from each group to tell the class their advice for each of the
three problems their group did not have.
8. Teacher writes advice on overhead/poster paper/whiteboard and makes corrections
where neccesary.
Post Speaking Activity 15 minutes:
1. Class works in pairs.
2. Distribute handout #3 (Giving Advice from www.eslHQ.com)
3. Students use coins (heads = 1 space, tails = 2 spaces) to progress along the game
and give advice for each picture they land on. Remind students that they can
advise what the person shouldn’t do, as well as should do.
4. Teacher circulates to assess comprehension.
Assessment 10 Minutes:
Assessment should take place throughout the lesson as outlined in the teaching notes for
the three activities.
Assign Activity 2 on handout #2 for homework. Check comprehension and answer any
vocabulary questions.
Handout# 1
Advice Column
Dear Mary: I'm 22 years old and in college. I had planned to remain single so I could do all the things I
wanted to do before I get older. However, seven months ago I met a wonderful man and he has asked me
to marry him.
I loved him so much that I said "Yes." Of course, I have shared the good news with our family and friends.
Then last month, he told me he had decided he wasn't ready to get married, but he still wants us to date.
I'm hurt and embarrassed to tell everyone the wedding is off. I don't feel the same about for this man as I
did before he called it off. Should I wait and see if this blows over, or dump him now?
Embarrassed in Elkhart
Dear Embarrassed:
Let yourself have a cooling-off period and then see how you feel. There are worse things than being single.
One of them is being married to a man who doesn't really want to be married.
Dear Mary: My 28-year-old daughter has recently moved into my home. She is out almost every night of
the week and comes home anywhere from 11:45 at night till 2:00 in the morning.
I have asked her to be home by 11 or 12:30 at the latest on weeknights, or 12:00 or 12:30 on weekends.
I cannot sleep until she is safely in the house.
Am I right when I request that she come home early?
G.P., Cedar Grove, New Jersey
Dear G.P: It's your home, and your daughter should understand that it’s your rules, but I hope that your
daughter will find another place to live as soon as possible.
Handout #2
Giving Advice
“You could….”
“If I were you I would…”
“Why don’t you…”
“Why not…”
“What should she do?”
“She should…”
“She shouldn’t”
“You ought to…”
Activity 1
Turn the sentences below into advice for someone who is taking the TTC for the first
time. Use Should/Shouldn’t.
1. Know your bus number.
2. Have correct fare.
3. Tell someone where you’re going.
4. Give yourself plenty of time.
5. Take a transfer.
6. Ask the driver if they are going to your stop.
7. Know the name of your stop
8. Move back to let other people on.
9. Stand up to let elderly or disabled people sit.
10. Push and Shove
11. Distract the driver
12. Run in front of the bus to keep it from leaving without you.
Activity 2
Give advice for the following using short sentences. Use any form you feel comfortable with. Use
“Should” and “Shouldn’t” at least twice.
I have a headache
You should take an aspirin
My stomach is sore
I have a toothache
I’m always late!
I’m cold.
I hate my job!
My house is always messy.
I’m bored.
I’m having a hard time in school.
My neighbour is too noisy.
I’d like a pet, but I’m allergic to fur.
Handout #3
What’s Your Problem?
Teacher’s Copy
1. The Secretive Husband
2. The Noisy Neighbour
My sister’s husband is being secretive. He
often is home late at night and doesn’t
explain where he has been. My sister
thinks her husband is cheating on her, but I
know he has been spending a lot of time
planning a secret 10th anniversary party. I
don’t want to reveal his secret, but I also
don’t want my sister to think her husband
is cheating. What should I do?
My neighbour is very noisy. He plays
music and his television late at night when
I am trying to sleep. Last week I asked him
very nicely to keep the noise down at night,
but it is still very noisy next door! What
should I do?
3. The Best Friend’s Vacation
4. The Rude Boss
My best friend is working very hard. She
works at night and goes to school in the
day. She doesn’t have much time or money
to rest. Recently she won a week’s
vacation in Jamaica, but the trip is only for
one person, and my friend has a 10 year old
son. My friend would like me to watch her
son for the week, but her son is very rude,
sloppy, loud and naughty. I love my
friend, but I do not like her son. What
should I do?
My Boss is always telling embarrassing
jokes in front of me. The jokes are usually
dirty - sometimes they are even racist! It’s
obvious that I don’t like these jokes
because I blush, I don’t laugh, and I try to
talk about something else. My Boss just
tells me that I am too serious. What should
I do?
Group 1
The Secretive Husband
The Noisy Neighbour
My sister’s husband is being secretive. He
often is home late at night and doesn’t
explain where he has been. My sister
thinks her husband is cheating on her, but I
know he has been spending a lot of time
planning a secret 10th anniversary party. I
don’t want to reveal his secret, but I also
don’t want my sister to think her husband
is cheating. What should I do?
Your Advice:
The Best Friend’s Vacation
The Rude Boss
Your Advice:
Your Advice:
Group 2
The Secretive Husband
The Noisy Neighbour
Your Advice:
My neighbour is very noisy. He plays
music and his television late at night when
I am trying to sleep. Last week I asked him
very nicely to keep the noise down at night,
but it is still very noisy next door! What
should I do?
The Best Friend’s Vacation
The Rude Boss
Your Advice:
Your Advice:
Group 3
The Secretive Husband
The Noisy Neighbour
Your Advice:
Your Advice:
The Best Friend’s Vacation
The Rude Boss
My best friend is working very hard. She
Your Advice:
works at night and goes to school in the
day. She doesn’t have much time or money
to rest. Recently she won a week’s
vacation in Jamaica, but the trip is only for
one person, and my friend has a 10 year old
son. My friend would like me to watch her
son for the week, but her son is very rude,
sloppy, loud and naughty. I love my
friend, but I do not like her son. What
should I do?
Group 4
The Secretive Husband
The Noisy Neighbour
Your Advice:
Your Advice:
The Best Friend’s Vacation
The Rude Boss
Your Advice:
My Boss is always telling embarrassing
jokes in front of me. The jokes are usually
dirty - sometimes they are even racist! It’s
obvious that I don’t like these jokes
because I blush, I don’t laugh, and I try to
talk about something else. My Boss just
tells me that I am too serious. What should
I do?