Functional English
e
pl
m
Sa
Expressing
Confusion
Warm-Up
I’M SO CONFUSED!
Work with a group to make a big list of
things that often cause confusion to
newcomers (e.g., roundabouts).
sking Someone to
A
Repeat Something
Using Common
English Phrases
Read the dialogue, and practice with a partner.
Listen to your teacher read these common English
phrases. Then recite them together as a class.
A: How do I pay for my parking?
B: Pay at the machine in the lobby
before you exit. It’s on level L.
• Could you repeat that?
• Could you say that again?
A: I ’m sorry. Could you say that again?
• I’m sorry. I don’t understand.
B: The ticket machine is in the lobby.
Level L. Pay there.
• Would you mind repeating that?
A: I apologize. English is not my first language.
Could you repeat that slowly?
B: (slowly) Pay at the machine. Level L.
Show your receipt at the exit. You have
15 minutes to exit after you pay.
• English is not my first language.
• I didn’t catch that. (I didn’t hear what you said.)
• I don’t get it. (I don’t understand.)
• Please excuse my English.
• Sorry for the confusion.
• I see. (I understand.)
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Expressing Confusion
Functional English
Apologizing for
the Confusion
Complete the dialogue, and practice with a partner.
Fill in the blanks with a word that makes sense.
Practice the new dialogues with a partner.
e
pl
m
Sa
Asking for
Clarification
A: Can you tell me where to find the spaghetti sauce?
B: It’s three rows down. Head all the way to the end.
The sauces are next to the dried pasta.
A: I ’m . I didn’t that.
B: Aisle 3. (points) At the very end
of the row. Beside the pasta.
A: Thank you. Aisle 3. Beside the...pesto?
B: Pasta.
A: Oh, pasta! Sorry, English is not my language.
B: No problem. That’s what I’m here for.
1. A
: I’m . I thought you
said the washrooms were downstairs.
B: No, I said upstairs.
2. A
: Nice to meet you, Shaun.
B: It’s John, with a J.
A: Oh, pardon me. Hi .
3. A
: Did you sign the form?
B: No. I don’t get it. Can you
this part to me?
4. A
: Didn’t you read the sign?
B: Sorry, I don’t the sign.
A: You can take pictures before or after the show.
B: Oh, I see. No photography during the show.
Sorry for the confusion.
Thinking about the Situation
When might you hear someone say this?
Write down one possible situation or setting.
1. Can you please repeat the last four digits?
taking down a telephone number
4. I apologize for the confusion.
English is not my first language.
2. I’m sorry, she didn’t understand your instructions.
5. I didn’t catch what he said.
Can you ask him to speak a bit slower?
3. I don’t get it. What is this part for?
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Expressing Confusion
Functional English
Practicing Word Forms
In English, some adjectives have -ed/-ing endings.
These are feeling adjectives: interested/interesting,
bored/boring, confused/confusing, excited/exciting
Look at the following sentences. Write down the word
form (noun, verb, or adjective) of the word in bold.
e
pl
m
Sa
Using -ed/-ing Adjectives
Use the -ing ending when a noun is the
reason or cause of the feeling adjective.
#
Sentence
Word Form
• This map is confusing.
(The map is the reason for my feeling of confusion.)
1
I am confused.
adjective
2
She is confused.
• I am confused.
(This is how I am feeling because I can’t read the map.)
3
Don’t confuse the child.
Note that the noun (cause) is sometimes a person.
4
This is confusing.
• The teacher is confusing. The students are confused.
(The teacher didn’t explain the grammar properly =
cause. The students feel confused = effect.)
5
Sorry for the confusion.
Use the -ed ending to show the result or effect.
Work as a class. Practice making sentences with
the following feeling adjectives: confused/confusing,
interested/interesting, excited/exciting, bored/boring.
Matching
Match up sentences that have the same meaning.
1.
I get it.
a) I apologize for my poor English.
2.
I’m confused.
b) I understand.
3.
Sorry for the mix up.
c) I did not understand a word.
4.
Sorry about my English.
d) I apologize for the confusion.
5.
I didn’t catch any of it.
e) I don’t get it.
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Expressing Confusion
Functional English
Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION:
LEVEL: Low Int – Int
Students review language and useful expressions for
TIME:
1 hour
e
pl
m
Sa
expressing confusion. They practice common English
phrases and review -ed/-ing feeling adjectives.
TAGS: functional English, useful expressions,
socializing, I don’t understand, confusing, -ed adjectives,
-ing adjectives, clarification, repeat, feelings, survival
Warm-Up
Using -ed/-ing Adjectives
Put students in small groups, or work together as a class.
Review the grammar with your students, and practice making
Write the ideas on the board.
sentences with feeling adjectives. For an in-depth look at
Asking Someone to Repeat Something
how to teach this grammar, review our editor’s blog post:
http://blog.esllibrary.com/2012/08/16/how-to-teach-ed-ingadjectives-9-simple-steps/
Read out loud or in pairs.
Using Common English Phrases
Read the common questions and statements out loud to
Practicing Word Forms
1.
adjective
3.
verb
2.
adjective
4.
adjective
5.
noun
your students. Then have them repeat them back to you.
Correct their intonation.
Asking for Clarification
Answers may vary.
The blanks could contain: sorry, catch, first
Matching
1. b
2. e
3. d
4. a
5. c
SPELLING NOTE:
This lesson shows the American spelling of the word
Apologizing for the Confusion
Answers may vary.
The blanks could contain: confused, John, explain, understand
Practice. Other English-speaking countries spell it this way:
Practise (when used as a verb; Practice when used as a noun).
Make it a challenge for your students to find these words in
the lesson and see if they know the alternate spellings.
Thinking about the Situation
Answers will vary.
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