L2-U1 Making friends

Level 2Course 2A

Unit 1 - Making friends

• Read an article about small talk.
• Write a How-to article using correct punctuation.

• Start conversations with people you don't know.
• Use actually to give new or surprising information.

• Talk about your favorite things.
• Use responses with too and either to show what you have in common.

• Ask questions to get t o know your classmates using the simple present.

In this unit, you learn how to...

can do!

Lesson D

Lesson C

Lesson B

Lesson A

Start

Start

Start

Start

4. favorite things

3. free time

2. home and family

1. school or work

Where do people make friends? What questions can you ask a new friend about these topics?

Before you begin...

Getting to know you

LA

Write one more question in each section of the questionnaire. Then interview a partner and take notes.

Pair work

Getting started

Stress and intonation

Speaking naturally

Listen and repeat the questions and answers above. Notice the stress on the important content word. Notice how the voice raises, and then falls, on the stressed word.

What's your name? Is it Leo?Yes, it is. My name's Leo Green.No, it's not. My name isn't Leo. It's Joe.Where are your partens from? Are they from Peru?Yes, they are. They're from Lima.No, they're not. My parents aren't from Peru.

Are you from a big family?Yes, I am. I'm one of six children.No, I'm not. They are only two of us.Are you and your friends full-time students?Yes, we are. We're English majors.No, we're not. We're part-time students.

Present of be

Grammar

Present of be and simple present (review)

What does your brother do? Does he go to college?Yes, he does. He goes to the same college as me.No, he doesn't. He works at a bank.Where do your parents live? Do they live nearby?Yes, they do. They live near here,No, they don't. They don't live around here.

Do you have any brothers and sisters?Yes, I do. I have a brother.No, I don't. I'm an only child.Do you and your friends get together a lot?Yes, we do. We go out all the time.No, we don't. We don't have time.

Simple present

Grammar

Present of be and simple present (review)

Common errors

What do you usually do on the weekends?

How much time do you spend with your family?

What's your favorite season? (1)

What's your favorite band?

Do you ever go out on weeknights?

Listen to Miranda's answers to these questions. Number the questions 1 to 6.

What's the question?

Listening and speaking

Do you have any pets?

What do you usually do on the weekends? (6)

How much time do you spend with your family? (5)

What's your favorite season? (1)

What's your favorite band? (2)

Do you ever go out on weeknights? (3)

Listen to Miranda's answers to these questions. Number the questions 1 to 6.

What's the question?

Listening and speaking

Do you have any pets? (4)

Things in common

LB

Building language

Listen. What do these friends have in common? Practice the conversations.

A Dogs are so noisy, and they always wreck things. I'm just not an animal lover, I guess.B Well, I'm not either. I'm allergic to dogs and cats.

A I love shopping. I can shop for hours! Too bad I can't afford anything new.B I know. I can't either. I'm broke.A Yeah, I am too.

A I don't watch much television.B No, I don't either.A I mean, I watch pro football.B Yeah, I do too. But that's about it.

Building language

Listen. What do these friends have in common? Practice the conversations.

3. A I don't like animals. B No, I don't __________.4. A I can't have a pet. B I can't __________.

Figure it out

Complete the responses so the speakers agree. Use the conversations from the last page to help you.

1. A I'm a football fan. B Yes, I am __________.2. A I love shopping. B Oh, I do __________.

3. A I don't like animals. B No, I don't either.4. A I can't have a pet. B I can't either.

Figure it out

Complete the responses so the speakers agree. Use the conversations from the last page to help you.

1. A I'm a football fan. B Yes, I am too.2. A I love shopping. B Oh, I do too.

Activity

People also respond with Me too and Me neither (or Me either).

I can shop for hours!I can too.I can't afford anything new.I can't either.

can

I watch pro football.I do too.I don't watch much television.I don't either.

Simple present

I'm allergic to cats.I am too.I'm not an animal lover.I'm not either.

Present of be

Grammar

Responses with too and either

In conversation

Building vocabulary

Brainstorm! How many other words can you think of each topic? Make a class list.

play sportseat outsleep latego to a club

the newstalk showscartoonsdocumentaries

fruitvegetablesfishice cream

a sweatera dressa suita jacket

FOOD

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

CLOTHES

TV SHOWS

It's cold tonight.

LC

things you see around you

someone's appearance

your problems

the weather

Conversation strategy

Starting a conversation

What are good topics to talk about when you meet someone for the first time?Choose the topics.

your salary

your health

your family

where you live

Listen

What topics do Eve and Chris talk about?

Eve Ooh, it's cold tonight.Chris Yeah, it is. But actually, I kind of like cold weather.Eve You do? Really? ... Boy, there are a lot of people out here tonight.Chris Yeah, it gets pretty crowded on weekends.Eve Do you come here a lot?Chris Yeah, I do, actually.Eve So are you a big hip-hop fan?Chris Yeah, I am. Are you?Eve Actually, no, but my brother's in the band tonight.Chris Oh, really? Cool.... By the way, my name's Chris.Eve Nice to meet you. I'm Eve.

Listen

What topics do Eve and Chris talk about?

A So, you're American?B Well, actually, I'm from Canada.

You can also use actually to "correct" things people say or think.

In conversation

Example

Strategy Plus

Actually

You can use actually to give new or surprising information.

I don't really know anyone here. Do you?

Is it me, or is it really hot in here?

The desserts look good.

This is a great party.

Are you a friend of Tom's?

Listen to six people talk at Tom's party. Which conversation startes are the people responding to? Number the sentences 1 to 6.

Listening AND strategies

This is a great party!

Great music, huh?

I don't really know anyone here. Do you?

Is it me, or is it really hot in here?

The desserts look good.

This is a great party.

Are you a friend of Tom's?

Now listen to the complete conversations. Check your answers. What six things do you find out about Tom?

Listening AND strategies

This is a great party!

Great music, huh?

Making small talk

LD

Reading

What is small talk? When do people use small talk?

Read the title of the article and the introduction on the left. Think of a tip. Then read the whole article. Was your tip mentioned?

Brainstorm ideas for each topic.

Writing

How to improve...

Activity

Read the Help note and the extract from an article below. Correct the punctuation.

Talk about it

Discuss the questions. Find out about your classmates' conversation styles.

• When do you make small talk? What do you talk about?
• Do you think it's odd when a stranger talks to you?
• Are you a talkative person?
• Do you think you talk too much?
• Are you a good listener?
• Are you usually the "talker" or the "listener" in a conversation?
• What topics do you like to talk about?
• What topics do you try to avoid?

Get ready for the self-check!

People actually say Me either more often than Me neither

In conversation

how Eve starts a conversation with a stranger.She talks about the things around them, like the weather and the club, and asks general questions.Find examples in the conversation.

Notice

Use do or does in simple present questions.What do you study?Where does your family live? (NOT What you study?Where your family live?)

Common errors