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Giving advice and accepting advice or rejecting it
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Giving advice
I would advise you to DO...
Personally, I think your best course would be to DO...
(slightly formal)
It might be a good idea if you DID... (tentative)
Your best bet would be to DO...
I suggest you DO...
Why don't/can't you DO... (direct)
I think you should DO...
(If I were you) I'd DO... (direct, informal)
Accepting advice
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That sounds a good idea.
(certainly) like Thank
seems good advice. you.
That's certainly a possibility. (slightly tentative)
Right do
I’ll that. Thanks, (direct: informal)
Yes. try
Rejecting advice
can
I’m not sure I do that. You see
‘d be able to + EXCUSE
Isn't there anything else I can/could DO...?
I'm sure that's excellent advice, only + EXCUSE (tentative)
I'm afraid that's not really possible/out of the question. (direct)
ROLE PLAYING
COLLEGE LIFE/ITS YOUR CHOICE
Situation
A group of students earned some money during their summer holidays. At a special meeting they discuss the best way to spend the money.
There are the proposals to be discussed:
1. a trip to St. Petersburg
2. purchase of some equipment to launch a disco club
3. distribution of the money among the students
Cast list
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Helen/Eugene
Jane/Andrew students, members of the summer team
Lucy/Peter
Nina/Alex
Lecturer B., a young lecturer, the students' tutor
Ann/Michael, a member of the student committee
Mary/Nick, representing a student newspaper
Pauline/Paul, a British student on an exchange visit to Moscow
What you must decide
Which two of the proposals would most benefit everybody concerned and the English department? A vote must be taken.
Role cards
Helen/Eugene Aged 19
You were one of the team. You are a great traveller. You are happy as in summer you worked in a new place and now you look forward to a trip to St. Petersburg. If all the group doesn't want to go to St. Petersburg you'd like to have your share of the money and go there alone (though it is less preferable as you usually get lost in new places and don't make friends easily).
Jane/Andrew Aged 22
You were one of the team. You worked last summer to earn some money to get married but it's a secret yet. So you prefer to have your share of the money. If somebody is really very keen on dancing there are a lot of disco clubs in the city. The most you agree with is a trip to St. Petersburg as you were there as a child many years ago.
Lucy/Peter Aged 21
You were one of the1 team. You enjoyed your summer work very much. You think that a disco club is just the thing for you as you believe that dancing is the best way to relax and to enjoy yourself. Your second choice is the distribution of the money among the students. No trip to St. Petersburg for you as you've been there more than once.
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Nina/Alex Aged 21
You were one of the team. You are sure all the money ought to be spent on the equipment for a disco club. All the students will benefit by it. You also know that Jane/Andrew is saving money for the wedding trip but you must keep it secret. Being a devoted friend you speak in favour of the distribution of the money among the students.
Lecturer B. Aged 28
You are a young lecturer, the students' tutor. As a comparatively young person you share their enthusiasm about a disco club. But you think that being a tutor you should argue for a trip to St. Petersburg. You feel that you are expected to help with the arrangements. (You would like to go to St.Petersburg as well.)
Ann/Michael Aged 23
You are a member of the student committee. You did not work with the group this summer as you were ill and you envy them. You try to learn more about their work. You support a purchase of some equipment for a disco club. You believe that a trip to St. Petersburg is not a bad idea but needs a lot of organisation. You conduct the discussion and the vote at the end of it.
Mary/Nick Aged 22
You write for the student newspaper. You have been asked to cover the meeting. In the course of it you try to find out more about the students' summer work (place, the kind of job, environment, etc.). You think that next summer you would go with the group too. Involve the British student in the discussion.
Paul/Pauline Aged 21
You are one of the British group cm an exchange visit. Students in Great Britain don't get any grant during their vacations. You do work every summer but it's your own business. You have to look for a job and you are happy to take up anything that will turn up. You tell the students about it when asked.
Possible follow-ups
1. Do you think the students' summer work should be related to their future profession? Whatever your answer, give your reasons.
2. Write up this role-play as a newspaper article.
3. Prepare a talk by a visiting student from Great Britain on students' life (unions, clubs, societies).
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