4-1 Requesting Change

With a partner, decide who will be Student A and who will be Student B.

On each of your tabs, there is some information for you and your partner to have two similar conversations to the example conversation in Getting Ready to Speak. Read your information carefully before you begin each of the conversations.

During the conversations, try to use a variety of modal verbs and/or modal-like expressions and follow a similar order to the example conversation:

• Introduce the problem/situation (resident)
• Explain the first problem (resident)
• Explain the next problem (resident)
• Request help (resident)
• Offer help/solutions (government worker)
• Remind the citizen of any important actions (government worker)

Now, open your tab and follow the instructions for conversation #1. Once you've finished conversation #1, move on to conversation #2.

Conversation #1

You are at the department of city planning. You live in the Main Street area and you are having problems with a new pop-up plaza that has been put up. The problem is that a street which you usually drive on to get to or from home has been closed because of the pop-up plaza. The street is now only for bicycles and pedestrians and has tables and chairs for socializing. Because of this, there is less parking in the area. In addition, the closed street is between two one-way streets, so the drive to and from your area is longer as you have to drive several more blocks around the one-way streets. You feel that it’s an inconvenience and want the street open again. Also, the area has become noisier. Ask how to make a complaint.

An employee at the department (your partner) will start the conversation with you.

Conversation #2

You work for Revenue Services in Vancouver, B.C. A Vancouver resident (your partner) has come in to talk to you about an issue with paying for a ticket given by a police officer for not wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle. Use the following prompts to start and continue the conversation with the resident. You start the conversation.

Hello. How may I help you?

You can pay for your ticket here in person, no problem. When did you receive the ticket?

Oh, it’s past the 30 days? You had 30 days to pay for your ticket. Why didn’t you pay for your ticket sooner?

I’m sorry, but you had one month to pay for the ticket. I can’t change the rules. Also, because it is past the 30 days, I cannot allow you to pay today. You must call the Bylaw Office and ask them for permission to pay late. Ask if they would like the Bylaw Office phone number.

If you get permission to pay late, you must pay a 20% late fee in addition to the ticket.

You must pay for the ticket. If you do not, you cannot renew your driver’s licence.

End the conversation by apologizing for the inconvenience and remind the resident to call the Bylaw Office to ask them what to do next.

Conversation #1

You work for the city planning department. A Vancouver resident (your partner) has come in to talk to you about a pop-up plaza that has been put up in their neighbourhood. Use the following prompts to start and continue the conversation . You start the conversation.

Hello. How may I help you?

Where do you live?

What is the problem?

The pop-up plazas have been very popular. We’ve had very few complaints about them.

Parking: There’s more street parking four blocks over. You can park there. Ask if they would like to know which street they can park on (it’s East 23rd Street).

Longer drive: You should change your driving route (take a different way)

Inconvenience: The pop-up plaza is only temporary (July and August only)

Noise: If it’s noisy after the legal hours, call the Vancouver City Police non-emergency number. Ask if they would like the phone number.

Tell the resident that they can complete an online survey with all of their complaints and suggestions.

End the conversation by thanking the resident for their concerns about the plaza and remind them that it’s only temporary.

Conversation #2

You are at the department of Revenue Services in Vancouver, B.C. You were given a ticket by a police officer for not wearing a helmet while riding your bicycle. You tried to pay for your ticket online, but it didn’t work, so now you want to pay in person. You are worried because you had 30 days to pay and waited until the last day, and now the payment is late. You think you might have to pay extra money and want to avoid that. Also, you want to know what will happen if you don’t pay for the ticket because you are angry that you got one. You usually ride your bike, but you do have a car.

An employee at the department (your partner) will start the conversation with you.