English for Academic Skills
Independence
[EASI]
Session 12
Spoken English: Pronunciation
Conversation
A quick review of session 11
 I’m sorry, I can’t do this right now….
 Well actually,………
 Have you thought about…..
 Have you tried……….
 Okay, I’ll think about it…..
 Let me think about it and get back to you…
By the end of this session you will be able to:
• read a poem aloud to identify spelling and
pronunciation irregularities
• use ice breakers suitable for starting a conversation
at a party
Pronunciation
Can you pronounce these words?
corpse corps horse worse
What other words rhyme with each word?
•
•
•
•
corpse - ??
corps - bore, sure, law
horse - course, coarse, force
worse – hearse, curse, first
‘The Chaos’ by Gerard Nolst Trenité
• This poem contains 800 of the worst irregularities
in English spelling and pronunciation!
• Read the first two verses of the poem with your
partner, take turns and read a line each
• Help each other with the words you don’t know
The Chaos
How do we know it is a poem?
Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.
The Chaos
Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it’s written.)
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as plaque and ague.
But be careful how you speak:
Say break and steak, but bleak and streak…
Conversation skills
Parties
Breaking the ice
What does this mean at a social function?
How do you break the ice?
Activity 1
In pairs, think of how you can break the ice when
talking to a stranger at a function
Icebreakers
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hi, I’m……., how’s it going?
How are you doing?
Nice earrings!
Oh, it’s so hot in here!
Oh, did you hear about…
What kind of drink is that?
Have you tried the cake? – it’s really yummy …
That’s a lovely name; are you named after someone?
Hello, do you work here?
Excuse me, I just thought I should come over and talk to you.
Farewell strategies
Stage
Confirm that it has been a
pleasure talking
Reason for ending the
conversation
Close
Language
Well, it’s been lovely
chatting …
I’ve just seen my ride home
…
Goodbye!
Farewell strategies: Reasons for ending the
conversation
• Would you excuse me – I’ve just got to go to the loo
• Ooh – there’s my ride home - I just need to check what time
they’re leaving
• I’ve just got to get some water
• I’ve just got to send an urgent text
• I’ve seen someone I need to catch up with before they leave
• Now, I must introduce you to my friend …
Activity 2 – Party role play
Imagine it is 2025 and you are successfully established in
your career. You are at a wonderful party but you don’t
know anyone there.
Circulate and introduce yourself to as many people as
you can in 10 minutes.
Use an ‘icebreaker’ and appropriate farewell strategies
when you part.
English for Academic Skills Independence
(EASI)
This is our final EASI workshop.
Now we would like you to reflect on what you have
learnt during your time with us.
Please complete the self-assessment and talk with
others about what you feel you are now able to do in
English.
Self-assessment
Purpose:
 Reflect on what you are now able to do
 Links to learning outcomes
 Helps you to consider what further action you might
want to take
 Helps us to know which parts of this course need more
focus
Discuss the learning outcomes with your partner/group
and explain the ratings you give yourself.
Revision Exercise
Ice breakers - go to
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files
/Socialising%201_Breaking%20the%20ice_worksheets
%20JD.pdf
Key
Useful language: Ice-breakers
1d
2k
3l
4t
5f
6r
7i
8o
9e
10n
11q
12m
13s
14c
15g
16j
17a
18b
19p
20h
Reference
Trenité, G. N. (1922). The Chaos. Retrieved from
http://ncf.idallen.com/english.html
Suggested follow-up activity
Exchange contact details with your classmates
if you wish ...
Perhaps arrange to meet up for an outing





Art Gallery
Museum
Maritime Museum
Museum of Transport and Technology
Zoo