Part One: Warm Up
Discuss the following with your partner(s).
Think about a time when you had a problem that you were able to solve. What was the problem? How did you resolve it?
Part Two: Getting Ready to Speak
Open the exercise and follow the instructions.
Exercise
Instructions Student A Student B
Work with a partner. Decide who will be student A and who will be student B. Open your tab and follow the instructions to practise suggesting and responding to solutions for the given problems.
When suggesting solutions, make sure that you use an appropriate expression from this lesson to make the suggestion and explain why it would work. When responding to solutions, make sure that you use an appropriate expression from this lesson to respond positively or negatively and explain why you feel that way.
Example
You and your spouse are going to your sister’s birthday party in one hour, but you forgot to buy her a present.
What if we just pretend I’m sick and skip the party? Then, we could buy a present tomorrow and give it to her on the weekend.
I’m not so sure about that. Wouldn’t you feel bad about lying to your sister?
- You and your spouse are going to your sister’s birthday party in one hour, but you forgot to buy her a present.
- Suggest pretending that you’re sick and explain why it would solve the problem. (You go first)
- You and your work team have a big deadline on Friday, but you all still have a lot of work to do.
- Respond positively to your co-worker’s suggestion and explain why. (You go second)
- You and your friend are supposed to go on a camping trip this weekend, but your car has just broken down.
- Suggest renting a car and explain why it would work. (You go first)
- You and your classmate have an important exam next week, but you’re both struggling to understand the materials.
- Respond negatively to your classmate’s suggestion and explain why. (You go second)
- You and your sibling really want to go to a concert, but it's on the same night as your mom’s birthday.
- Suggest celebrating with your mom during the day instead and explain why it would solve the problem. (You go first)
- You and your roommate keep arguing about whose turn it is to do different chores.
- Respond positively to your roommate’s suggestion and explain why. (You go second)
- You and your spouse are going to their sister’s birthday party in one hour, but you forgot to buy her a present.
- Respond negatively to your spouse’s suggestion and explain why. (You go second)
- You and your work team have a big deadline on Friday, but you all still have a lot of work to do.
- Suggest discussing the situation with the manager and explain why it would solve the problem. (You go first)
- You and your friend are supposed to go on a camping trip this weekend, but your friend’s car has just broken down.
- Respond positively to your friend’s suggestion and explain why. (You go second)
- You and your classmate have an important exam next week, but you’re both struggling to understand the materials.
- Suggest trying to cheat on the exam and explain why it would solve the problem. (You go first)
- You and your sibling really want to go to a concert, but it's on the same night as your mom’s birthday.
- Respond negatively to your sibling’s suggestion and explain why. (You go second)
- You and your roommate keep arguing about whose turn it is to do different chores.
- Suggest creating a schedule and explain why it would solve the problem. (You go first)
Part Four: Your Turn
Work with a partner. Imagine that you are the people in each of the following situations. Discuss each situation and try to agree on some solutions. Try to think of at least three possible solutions for each problem. Make sure that you use appropriate expressions from this lesson to suggest and respond to solutions and that you explain your solutions and responses.
- You and your roommate just moved into an apartment together. You like the apartment, but it’s a little run-down and the furnishings are old-fashioned. Living in a space that reflects your personality is important to both of you, and this apartment doesn’t reflect either of your personalities at all. You can’t make too many changes because you are only renting the apartment. Discuss solutions with your roommate.
- Last week, your partner met your parents for the first time, but it didn’t go well. Your parents are quite serious and your partner was so nervous that they either made awkward jokes or rarely spoke at all. They made a bad first impression, and now your parents think you’re making a mistake with this relationship. Discuss solutions with your partner.
- You and your co-worker have a presentation for an important client coming up at the end of the week. You have taken over the work for this client from another co-worker who recently left the company. Neither you nor your co-worker has ever met this client before, and both of you tend to get nervous under pressure. Making a bad impression could cause your company to lose the client. Discuss solutions with your co-worker.