Unit 11 Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?
Part 1: Teaching design (第一部分：教学设计)
Structures: Indirect questions
Target language: Excuse me. Do you know where I can exchange money?
Sure. There’s bank on the second floor. Take the escalator to the second floor and turn right. The bank is next to the bookstore.
Vocabulary: escalator, drugstore, restroom, furniture, department store, shampoo, advantage, disadvantage, exchange money, hang out
Learning strategies: Listen for specific information, Cooperating
SECTION A
Goals
●To learn to use Indirect questions
●To learn to tell about places
Procedures
Warming up by learning grammar
Hello everyone. I am a strange here in this city. Could you tell me how to
get to the supermarket?
All right, I am telling a lie to you. I am not new here. I said so just to help you learn to use the Indirect questions.
Now turn to page 87 first and look at the three sentences in the Grammar Focus.
Do you know where I can buy shampoo?
Could you tell me how to get to the post office?
Could you please tell me where I can get a dictionary?
Have you noticed the word “where” and “how” used in the sentences. The questions introduced by them are called the Indirect questions.
Now in pairs make similar sentences with “where” and “how”.
Do you know where I can go hiking in the mountain?
Could you tell me how to have a good time in a big city?
Could you please tell me where I can find a good English teacher?
1a Matching things with places
On page 86 is a picture of a city. A visitor is asking someone questions about things to do at certain places. Now look at the picture and match each thing with a place.
Where to…?
C buy shampoo
D get some magazines
E make a telephone call
G get a dictionary
D get some information about the town
C buy some writing paper
E buy some stamps
B save money
1b Listening and completing
It is difficult to get around in a new place. Now listen to the recording and complete the dialogue in the picture on page 86.
Tapescript
Conversation 1
Girl1: Excuse me. Could you tell me where I can buy some stamps?
Boy1: Yes. There’s a post office on Center Street.
Girl1: Oh. Can you tell me where Center Street is?
Boy1: Sure. Go past the bank. Center Street is on your right.
Girl1: Thanks a lot.
Boy1: No problem.
Conversation 2
Girl2: Excuse me. Do you know where I can save money?
Boy2: Sure. There’s a bank on Main Street.
Girl2: Oh. Could you please tell me how to get there?
Boy2: Yes... Go straight ahead. The bank is on your left.
Girl2: Thank you.
Boy2: You’re welcome.
Write your words here in the speech bubbles.
A: Could you tell me where I can buy some stamps?
B: Yes. There’s a post office on Center Street.
A: Excuse me. Do you know where I can save money?
B: Sure. There’s a bank on Main Street.
Read the tapescript and try to underline all the useful expressions used and circle the Indirect questions.
1c Doing pairwork
In 1a there are many phrases describing activities. Now use them to make up conversations to talk about your own city. (The Indirect questions are circled.)
A: Excuse me. Can you please tell me where I can buy shampoo in this city?
B: Sure. There’s a department store over there.
A: Excuse me. Can you please tell me where I can get some magazines?
B: Sure. There’s a post office around the corner.
A: Excuse me. Can you please tell me where I can make a telephone call?
B: Sure. There’s a post office one hundred meters down the street.
A: Excuse me. Can you please tell me where I can get some information about the town?
B: Sure. There’s a library opposite of the hospital.
A: Excuse me. Can you please tell me where I can get some writing paper?
B: Sure. There’s a department store close to the bus station.
A: Excuse me. Can you please tell me where I can buy some stamps?
B: Sure. There’s a post office beside the library over there.
A: Excuse me. Can you please tell me where I can save money.
B: Sure. There’s a big bank beside the café on the main library over there.
2a Listening and numbering
Do you like shopping? If you do come and listen to the directions for going shopping around a new city.
Tapescript
Boy1: Excuse me. Can you tell me where I can buy some shampoo?
Boy2: Yes. There’s a drug store on the second floor. Um. Let me think... Take the escalator to the second floor and then... then you turn left. Let’s see... Then go past the bank. And um... The drug store is between the furniture store and the bookstore. You should be able to get shampoo there.
Boy1: OK, great. Thanks a lot.
Boy2: You’re welcome.
While listening please number the directions in the order that you hear them.
Take the elevator to the second floor.
2 Turn left.
1 Take the escalator to the second floor.
Turn right.
4 The drugstore is between the furniture store and the bookstore.
3 Go past the bank.
Read the tapescript for the Indirect questions and the useful expressions. Circle the Indirect questions and underline the useful expressions.
2b Listening and drawing
Do you like drawing. Now listen to the recording again to draw a line on the picture on page 87 to show how the boy walks to the drugstore.
2c Doing pairwork
What else do like to buy? Then make conversations in pairs using the other places in the picture on page 87.
A: Excuse me. Do you know where I can exchange money?
B: Sure. There’s a bank on the second floor. Take the escalator to the second floor and turn right. The bank is next to the bookstore.
A: Excuse me. Do you know where I can buy music CD?
B: Sure. There’s a Music Magic shop on the first floor. Don’t take the escalator. It is next to the escalator room.
A: Excuse me. Do you know where I can get a dictionary?
B: Sure. There’s a bookstore on the second floor. Take the escalator to the second floor and turn right. The bookstore is next to the bank.
A: Excuse me. Do you know where I can buy some candies?
B: Sure. There’s a drugstore on the second floor. Take the escalator to the second floor and turn right. The bank is next to the bookstore.
A: Excuse me. Do you know where I can buy a desk?
B: Sure. There’s a furniture store on the second floor. Take the escalator to the second floor and turn right. The bank is next to the drugstore.
Now read aloud the conversations again to Circle the Indirect questions and underline the useful expressions.
3a Reading and listing
On page 88 is an article about going to a mall. Now read it to list the advantages and disadvantages of going to a mall. While you read, Circle the Indirect questions and underline the useful expressions.
They’re all at the mall.
After school, a lot of young people go to the mall. We decided
to talk to some students about why they go there.
Interviewer: Why do you go to the mall?
Yu Yue: I go to the mall because my friends hang out there. But I don’t really like it.
Interviewer: Oh? Why not?
Yu Yue: The air isn’t fresh. I prefer being outside. Also, it’s usually crowded.
Interviewer: And how about you?
Li Jun: Oh, I love the mall. There’s always something happening. There are a lot of free concerts there. It’s also just fun to watch people.
Hu Peng: I like the mall, too. I like to go in the music store and listen to CDs. I also like to look at books in the bookstore.
Yu Yue: Well, when I go into stores I always spend too much money！
Advantages disadvantages
There’s always something happening. The air isn’t fresh.
There are a lot of free concerts there. It’s usually crowded.
It’s also just fun to watch people. when I go into stores I always spend too much money！
I like to go in the music store and listen to CDs.
I like to look at books in the bookstore.
3b Doing groupwork
Where do you usually hang out with friends? What are the advantages and disadvantages of hanging out at your house, at a mall or at your school? Now in groups talk about them.
A: Where do you usually hang out with your friends?
B: We usually go to my friend, Qiu’s place.
A: Is that a good place to hang out?
B: Well, it has advantages and disadvantages. It’s kind of small. But Qiu’s mom is a wonderful cook, so we always have great snacks.
A: Where do you usually hang out with your friends?
B: We usually go to the bookstore.
A: Is that a good place to hang out?
B: Well, it has advantages and disadvantages. It’s very big and the air is fresh, too. And we can just read books there. We don’t have to buy books. So we always have a good time there.
A: Where do you usually hang out with your friends at weekends?
B: I usually stay at home.
A: Is that a good place to hang out for the weekends?
B: Well, it has advantages and disadvantages. My room is kind of small. But I have a computer there. I go online reading and watching. It is a wonderful place. So I always hang in at home.
4. Directions challenge
Now we are going to challenge one another. Write directions from your school to three certain places. Read the directions to each other and guess the places.
A: Go out the front door and take a right. Walk about three blocks. Go past the park, and turn left onto Oak Street. Then it is the…?
B: Then it is the bookstore.
A: Go out the back door and take a left. Walk about two blocks. Go past the post office, and turn right onto Chang’an Street. Then it is the…?
B: Then it is the Teachers College.
A: Go out the side door and take a right. Walk about three blocks. Go past the bus station, and turn left onto Flag Street. Then it is the…?
B: Then it is the lake.
Closing down by looking and saying
To bring the period to an end let’s look at the picture and talk about things happening in it.
SECTION B
Goals
To learn to talk about places in the city
To learn to read about places
Procedures
Warming up by thinking about How to ask for directions when traveling
BEST PROCEDURE:
◆Get the name and address of the place you wish to visit.
◆Talk to the Hotel Manager or someone that can read and write. If they get weak looking, or they hesitate to read, do not embarrass them, go to the next person. The probably cannot read.
◆After you have found hopefully someone that speaks your language or English you can start to ask questions...
1a Putting words
On page 89 is a list of words and a box with places. Now go over them and put in words beside the place, the most important quality words first.
Places Qualities
1. restroom Clean→safe→uncrowded
2. museum Fascinating→interesting→beautiful
3. restaurant Delicious→uncrowded→inexpensive
4. park Big→interesting→clean
5. subway Convenient→safe→
6. mall Uncrowded→inexpensive→
1b Doing pairwork
You are familiar with the words in 1a. Now use them to talk about your city.
A: The Fine Arts Museum is really interesting.
B: Yes, and it’s beautiful, too.
A: The Computer Room is really big.
B: Yes, and it’s convenient, too.
A: The Dining Hall is really clean.
B: Yes, and the food is cheep, too.
A: The Bus Station is really safe.
B: Yes, and it’s uncrowded, too.
A: The Central Square is really fascinating.
B: Yes, and it’s not far away, either.
2a Listening and writing
Some tourists are going around your city. They are asking about things. Now listen to them talking and write what they ask about.
Conversation 1
Boy1: Could you tell me where there’s a good place to eat?
Clerk: Of course. There are a lot of good restaurants in Sunville. What kind of food are you looking for?
Boy: Vegetarian.
Clerk: I’d try Green Land. They have delicious salads.
Conversation 2
Girl: Do you know if there are any public restrooms around here?
Clerk: Yes. You’ll find some at the corner of Market and Middle Streets.
Girl: Ummm... are they clean?
Clerk: Oh, yes. They’re very clean.
Conversation 3
Mother: Could you tell me if there is a good museum in Sunville?
Clerk: Well, we have several. What kind of museums do you like-history? Science? A children’s museum?
Father: How about history? I like history museums. They’re fascinating.
Girl1: Oh, Dad! History museums are boring. Let’s go to a science museum.
Boy2: Science? We always go to science museums. I don’t like science museums. I want to go to a children’s museum. They’re more fun.
Girl2: Well I’m too old for a children’s museum. Why don’t we go to an art museum?
Clerk: Why don’t you go to the computer museum? There are a lot of fun things for children there. You can learn all about the history of computers, as well as learn about science.
Family: That’s a great idea! Let’s go to the computer museum. How do we get there?
Do you know what the tourists are asking about?
The tourists ask about…
Conversation 1 Restaurants
Conversation 2 public restrooms
Conversation 3 a good museum
2b Listening and writing
Now you are to listen to the conversations for the second time. Listen for where the man says the tourists should go.
The tourists should go to…
Conversation 1 Green Land
Conversation 2 The corner of Market and Middle Streets
Conversation 3 The computer museum
To make a better use of the listening exercise we shall go on to read the tapescripts. While you read, Circle the Indirect questions and underline the useful expressions.
2c Doing pairwork
For fun and for learning let’s role play the conversations between the man and the tourists. Who will be the man? All right, it’s you, Zhao Hongtao.
A: Can you tell me where there’s a good place to eat?
B: Of course. What kind of food do you like?
A: I like vegetarian food.
B: There are a lot of good restaurants in Sunville. Why not go to Green Land. They have delicious salads.
A: Can you tell me if there are any public restrooms around here?
B: Yes, there’s one at the corner of Market and Middle Streets.
A: Are they clean?
B: Oh, no. They’re very dirty.
A: Could you tell me if there is a good museum in Sunville?
B: There’s a computer museum at the corner? There are a lot of fun things for both children and parents.
A: That’s a great place! Let’s go to the computer museum. How do we get there?
B: Take Bus 11.
3a Reading and filling
Go to page 90, please. Read the article on the left and fill in the charts on the right. While reading try to underline all the useful expressions and circle all the connectives
Eat, have fun and learn in Watertown！
Watertown is a great place for the family to take a vacation.
Teenagers will want to visit the world’s largest water slides and eat at Uncle Bob’s. A different rock band plays at Uncle Bob’s every night. Kids will enjoy the Clown City Café. They have organized games and the staff dress up as clowns.
There’s also a lot for parents in Watertown. If they love good food, they can find it at the Farmer’s Market where the food is both delicious and cheap. While the children have fun, parents can take the dance lessons on the beach. And everyone can learn something in Watertown. There are three museums！Teenagers love the Sports Museum and kids enjoy the Science Museum. Parents will spend many happy hours walking through the History Museum.
After reading fill in the chart on page 90 on the right.
Kids Teenagers Parents
Eat Uncle Bob’s Farmer’s Market
Have fun Clown City Café Water slides Dance lessons
Learn Science Museum Sports Museum History Museum
3b Completing a tour guide
On page 90 is an unfinished tour guide to Sunville. Now turn back to 2a and 2b for information to finish it.
SUNVILLE has something for everyone. If you’re looking for museums,
you will find several here. History museums are fascinating to parents.
But kids may find them boring. In a science museum you can learn lots of
things. Children’s museums are more fun. An art museum is interesting to
people who like arts. If you go to the computer museum you will find a
lot of fun things for children there. They can learn all about the history of
computers, as well as learn about science.
IN SUNVILLE there are a lot of good restaurants, too. They are nice places to eat. You can find vegetarian food and meats, too. Green Land
offers delicious salads.
Public restrooms around SUNVILLE are clean and beautiful. You’ll find some easily at the corner of Market and Middle Streets.
3c Write a guide to your city or town
MY HOMETOWN: TAIYUAN
Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi Province, lies in the north basin of Middle Jin (Jin is another name for Shanxi Province) and crosses the River Fen. The city area administers three districts, one subdivided city and five counties. The history of the city can be traced back to over 2,400 years ago. It was established in 497 BC, the end of the Spring and Autumn Period (the slavery Period in China) and was named Jinyang, the northern bank of the Jin River. In Chinese, the northern bank of waters is called yang. In 982, Song Taizong, Zhao Kuangyi, the second emperor of the Song Dynasty burned and flooded Jinyuan City. After that, he ordered one of the officials, Pan Mei to build Taiyuan City in Tangming Town, north of Jinyuan City. Thus, came the present Taiyuan City. Taiyuan, in Chinese, means the greatest plain. In fact, it is dominated by rugged hills and hilly areas. Only one-fifth of the whole area is plains. Taiyuan is surrounded by mountains in the east, west and north; only the southern part is alluvial plains. Taiyuan abounds in various minerals, especially coal and iron, so honors the name, "the home of coal and iron." Taiyuan is of continental climate at temperate zone. It is dry and cold in winter, hot and rainy in summer, dusty and windy in spring, cool and comfortable in autumn. The annual average temperature is 9.5 Degree Celcius.
4 Doing groupwork
One of the group member is to role play the information booth worker, and the others are the tourists. The tourists are asking about your city.
Tourist: What is Taiyuan?
Information booth worker: It is the capital city of Shanxi Province.
Tourist: Where is Taiyuan?
Information booth worker: It lies in the north basin of Middle Jin (Jin is another name for Shanxi Province) and crosses the River Fen.
Tourist: How many districts are there in Taiyuan?
Information booth worker: The city area administers three districts, one subdivided city and five counties.
Tourist: How old is the city?
Information booth worker: The history of the city is as old as 2,400 years. It was established in 497 BC, the end of the Spring and Autumn Period (the slavery Period in China). What was its old name?
Tourist:
Information booth worker: It was named Jinyang, the northern bank of the Jin River. In Chinese, the northern bank of waters is called yang.
…
Closing down by going around Taiyuan
At the end of the period I will take you on a trip to Taiyuan. Come with me.
SELF CHECK
1 Fill in blanks with the correct word given in its correct form.
Beautiful, safe, delicious, convenient, fascinating
1. I live right next to a supermarket. It’s very convenient.
2. I find stamps fascinating. I’ve been collecting them for many years.
3. Mr Tan makes the best noodles in town. They’re delicious.
4. Put your wallet in a safe place.
2. Looking and writing
There is a map on page 91 in the middle. Look at it and ask five questions. Answer them as a local person might do.
1. Excuse me, could you tell me where the bank is?→ It’s between the Fifth Avenuet and the Garden Road on the west side of the Central Street.
2. Excuse me, could you tell me where the movie theatre is?→ It’s at the corner of the Fifth Avenue and the Central Street. You can find it on your right.
3. Excuse me, could you tell me where the restaurant is?→ There are three restaurants in the city. The best one is nearest from here. It’s between the Fifth Avenue and the Road, just by the Central Street.
4. Excuse me, could you tell me where the library is?→It’s at the west end of the Garden Road opposite to the best restaurant in the city.
5. Excuse me, could you tell me where the shopping mall is?→It’s the tallest building in the city. It’s located west of the Central Street between the Fifth Avenue and the Garden Road.
Just for fun!
Reading poems is fun. So go on reading this little poem by James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916).
A BOY'S MOTHER
MY mother she's so good to me,
Ef I was good as I could be,
I couldn't be as good-no, sir!-
Can't any boy be good as her!
She loves me when I'm glad er sad;
She loves me when I'm good er bad;
An', what's a funniest thing, she says
She loves me when she punishes.
I don't like her to punish me.-
That don't hurt,-but it hurts to see
Her cryin'.-Nen I cry; an' nen
We both cry an' be good again.
She loves me when she cuts an' sews
My little cloak an' Sund'y clothes;
An' when my Pa comes home to tea,
She loves him most as much as me.
She laughs an' tells him all I said,
An' grabs me up an' pats my head;
An' I hug her, an' hug my Pa
An' love him purt' nigh as much as as Ma.
Reading: Could you please lend me your pen?
Before you read, listen to the recording for the general idea of the passage.
While you read, underline all the expressions and circle all the connectives.
Asking for information or help is a very common and necessary activity, especially when we visit a foreign country, so knowing how to ask for information politely is important. In English, “Where are the restrooms?” and “Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?” are similar requests - both are correct English, but the first could sound rude. It’s important to use correct language, but sometimes this alone is not enough- we need to learn how to be polite when we make requests.
In English, just like in Chinese, we change the way we speak when talking with different people. The expressions you use might depend on whom you are speaking to or how well you know them. If you said to your teacher, “Where is my book?”, this might sound rude. But if you said, “Excuse me, Mr West. Do you know where my book is?”, your question will sound much more polite. On the other hand, it might be all right to say “Where is my book?” in some situations, perhaps with people
you know well.
And you would not usually say, “Peter, lend me your pen.” A very direct order like this can sound rude in English. Usually in English polite questions are longer and include extra language such as ‘Could you please…?’ or ‘Can I ask…?’ It sounds more polite to say, “Peter, could you please lend me your pen?” Sometimes, we might even need to spend some time leading in to a question or request. For example, if you stop a stranger in the street, we might first say, “Excuse me, I wonder if you can help me” or “I’m sorry to trouble you but,” before asking them for help.
It might seem that speaking politely is more difficult than being direct, and in a way this may be true. However, in order not to offend people, learning about language etiquette is just as learning grammar or vocabulary. And doing this will also help you become better at English, or any other language you wish to speak.
Part 2: Teaching Resources (第二部分：教学资源)
I. How to ask for directions
When you don't know where you are, or when you don't know
how to get to a place, you can ask directions. Talk to the first
person that you see. Ask that person where you should go.
I don't like maps. I prefer to just stop and ask directions.
I think we're lost. Let's pull over and ask directions.
II. How to ask politely
BAD GOOD
Where are the corn chips? Could you tell me where the corn chips are, please?
There's no milk left. Is there any more milk, (please)?
How does this work? Can you show me how this
works? (e.g. a coffee grinder)
Slice it thicker/thinner. I'd like it sliced thicker/thinner, please.
Give me a pound of that. Will you give me a pound of that, please? Can/could I have a pound of that, please?