Speaking 1: Can you help me?

on

 

Can you help me?

Objectives

  • To make polite requests
  • To use intonation to sound polite

 



 Can you help me?

ENGAGE

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1

Look at the pictures. What do these people need? Write the correct phrases next to the pictures.

a place to sit    a pen    help with work   to go to the bathroom  

to hear a question again    to open a window

1
a pen
2
3
 

 

 

4
5
6
 

 

 



go to the bathroom

American English                British English

go to the bathroom /            go to the bathroom / 

         restroom                                 toilet       

 Can you help me?

PREPARE 1

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Match the pictures with the conversations. Write the correct letter A to F.

1

E

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

6

 




 Can you help me?

PREPARE 2

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Complete the questions with the words below. Listen and check.

borrow    can    could    excuse    please    repeat

1

Excuse
 me. Can I sit here?

2

Could I go to the bathroom, ?

3

I don't understand this question. 

 you help me?

4

Can I  a pen, please?

5

I'm sorry. I don't understand. Could you  the question, please?

6

 I open the window?



Polite requests

We use can and could for polite requests. The meaning is the same, but could is a bit more polite. We sometimes use could in more formal situations, like talking to a teacher.

I'm sorry. I don't understand. Could you repeat the question, please?

 

We use can in less formal situations, like talking to a friend.

Can I borrow a pen, please?

 

We also use excuse me and please to sound more polite.

Excuse me. Can I sit here?

Could I go to the bathroom, please?

 Can you help me?

PREPARE 3

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Listen to the requests and answers. Which speakers sound polite? Choose A or B. Check your answers. Then practice saying the requests and answers with polite intonation.


A: 

B: 

1  Excuse me. Can I sit here?

A
B


A: 

B: 

2 Could I go to the bathroom, please?

A
B


A: 

B: 

3 Could you repeat the question, please?

A
B


A: 

B: 

4 Of course!

A
B


A: 

B: 

5 Here you are.

A
B

Polite intonation

To sound polite when you make requests, your intonation must not be flat. Go down and then up at the end. For example:

 Could you repeat the question, please?

You can also use intonation to sound polite in your answer if someone asks for your help. For example:

 Here you are.

 

 




 Can you help me?

PRACTICE

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Make and respond to polite requests.

1

Imagine you are in these situations. Think about what to say:

a)  You need a pencil and you don't have one. Ask your classmate.

b)  You are cold and you want to close the window. Ask the teacher.

c)  You don't understand the homework. Ask a friend to help you. 

d)  Your classmate wants to borrow your dictionary, but you are using it.
Answer him / her.

e)  Your classmate asks to use your phone. Answer him / her.

2

Practice making and responding to requests.

3

Record yourself on your own device.

4

Save the audio file with your name.

Remember!

Use expressions for making and replying to requests, and polite intonation. See the Use this and Tip boxes for help.


Polite intonation

To sound polite when you make requests, your intonation must not be flat. Go down and then up at the end. For example:                                                    

Could you repeat the question, please? 

 

You can also use intonation to sound polite in your answer if someone asks for your help. For example:

Here you are.

Polite requests

Asking  
Excuse me.
Can I… ?
Could I… ?
Can you… ?
Could you… ?
… please?

 

Replying
No, I'm sorry.
Yes, OK.
Yes, of course!
Yes. Here you are.

 Can you help me?

REFLECT 1

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Listen to your recording. Did you do the things in the checklist? Record yourself again if necessary. Send the file to your teacher.

Checklist
Did you...

use polite intonation?

 

Which expressions for polite requests did you use?
Asking

Excuse me.

Can I… ?

Could I… ?

Can you… ?

Could you… ?

… please?

 

Replying

No, I'm sorry.

Yes, OK.

Yes, of course!

Yes. Here you are.



 Can you help me?

REFLECT 2

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Choose the answers that are correct for you.

I can...    
I can make polite requests.
I can use intonation to sound polite.