Unit II communicative English 1 semester

Unit II

Communicative English

1.    Listening and speaking

a.      Listening with a purpose

Purpose of Listening

·        Listening for enjoyment

·        Listening to learn

·        To understand and share ideas

·        To solve a problem

·        To follow directions

Way of Listening

·        Maintain eye contact

·        Focus on ideas

·        Listen carefully

·        Identify goals and problems

   B. Effective listening

·        Focus on the content

·        Look for familiar words

·        Identify the chunk of words

·        Pay attention to tonal variation

  C. Tonal Variation

Speech without tonal variation is incomplete and monotonous.

Falling Tone

i.         Matter of fact.

I live in Tamil nadu

He is twenty years old.  

ii.     Wh – questions

Where do you live?

 When did you come?

 iii.    Commands

    Close your books and listen.

    Take it away.

iv.   Exclamatory

      How nice of you!

      What a pity!

V.   Tag questions

     It's good, isn't it?

    They are pretty, aren’t they?         

Rising Tone

I.  In general questions

           Have you read the novel?

           Would you please pass the salt?

ii. Wh questions asked with interest and involvement

           When did you arrive?

            What did you say?

 iii. Yes/No questions seeking information.

            Did you like the gift?

           Why didn’t you join us at lunch?

Falling and Rising

I. Doubt or Uncertainty.

Have we nearly finished?

Did he know she was there? 

 ii. Implied meaning in a statement 

 Well I remember her face.

Activity 1

1.      What a wonderful surprise!      Answer - Falling Tone

2.      Do you have white sheets?        Answer - Rising Tone

3.      They are heavy, aren’t they?   Answer – Falling Tone

4.      Shut the door.        Answer – Falling Tone

5.      Where do you work?   Answer – Falling Tone

6.      Did they ever tell him the truth? (Uncertain) –  Answer - Rising Tone and Falling Tone.

7.      Turn left at the junction.  Answer – Rising Tone and Falling tone

8.      Keep quiet.   Answer – Falling Tone

9.      Leave this column blank.  Answer – Falling tone

10.   What did the manager say?  Answer – Rising Tone (asking with involvement)

 

Activity 2.Listen to the following conversation:

Sneha: Hi, just came to give you the cake I made...

Rajan:  Wow, looks yummy...thank you...

Sneha: What's the hurry? Are you going somewhere?

Rajan: Yeah, I'm planning to go to the College Readers' Club.

Sneha: Oh, I didn't know about it.... Where is it?

Rajan: It's on the Trunk Road, near the Hillstation Mall... There's so much reading

 and fun there.

Sneha: Is the club open on all days?

Rajan: No, only on weekends, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sneha: What sort of books are available?

Rajan: Fiction, Non-fiction, Travelogues, fantasy.... you can even find newly

      published books.

Sneha: Can we borrow books?

Rajan: No, we're allowed only to sit and read in the library.... Much more than this,

      films screened, group discussions and quizzes provide us an enjoyable   learning experience... Even if    you miss going there for a week, no worries, the events will be updated on the Club webpage.

Sneha: I wish I were a member there...

Rajan: Anyway, it's not too late.  All that you need is your college ID card for getting  

  a membership.

Sneha: Is there any membership fee?

Rajan: No, only the College ID card ... it's mandatory.

Sneha: Fine then.  Let me quickly go home and get my ID...  I’ll be back in five                           minutes....Wait for me...  I'll join  you.

Rajan: Sure.       

Read the above passage and answer

Fill in the blanks:

1. Rajan was getting ready to go to College Reader Club.

2. Sneha hasn't joined the Club yet, because she didn’t Know about it.

3. College ID Card is mandatory to get membership in the Club.

4. The Club gives an wide range of learning experience.

5. The Club functions on weekends from 3.pm to 7.pm.

Say True or False:

Sneha brought a cake for Rajan. True

Sneha's house is very far from that of Rajan's. False

When Sneha came, Rajan was taking a nap. False

Sneha decides to join the Club immediately. True

The Club asks for a membership fee of 200 Rs. False

Answer the following questions:

1. Where is the College Readers' Club located?

 Trunk Road, near the Hill station Mall

2. Does the library lend books?

         No

3. What are the events that are held in the Club?

  Films screening, group discussions and quizzes.

4. What sort of books can one find in the library?

Fiction, Non-fiction, Travelogues, fantasy.

5. If a member has not visited the Club for a month, how will he/she know about the events?

Club Web Page.  

e. Asking for Information

       Phrases used:

In ordinary conversation

1.    Do you know.....  ?

2.    Do you happen to know.....?

3.    Can/Could you tell me ....?

4.    I’d like to know....

5.    Do you have any idea.....?

Formal Occasions

1.    I wonder if you could tell me ....

2.    I should be interested to know....

3.    I hope you don’t mind my asking, but.....

Very Informal  -- among close friends

1.    Any clue....?

2.    Any idea.....?

Activity : 3

Frame questions using the above phrases

Answers: 1. Would you mind asking me such a question?

                  2. Do you have any idea about the online classes?

                  3. What do you know about our college?

                   4. Have you got any clue about the case?

                   5. Could you tell me your age?

Activity 4

  There is an Exhibition of homemade products being held in the city.  Vandhana asks for information about the products to the sales man who comes to distribute sample products.

Fill in the gaps and complete the coversation.

Vandhana:   Good morning Sir, how long will the exhibition go on?

Salesman:    It's open till October 30th.  It will be opened on Sundays too Ma'am.

Vandhana:   Oh Good.  What range of homemade items have you got?

Salesman:       We've a range of homemade items, utility products, homemade masalas, indigenous 

                            health drinks and such other items.

Vandhana:       That’s Nice Sir.

Salesman:   We sell Organic products too.

Vandhana:   Nice to know.   Do you have  herbal plants?

Salesman:    Yes, a few plant varieties, we do have.  But the point is, they get sold very fast... so if

                      you need to buy herbal plants, please don't delay.

Vandhana:   Sure Sir. Iam interested to know if Kokum -- the evergreen spice is available?

Salesman:    Yes, Its available   and we have ordered for more, as the stock is getting over.

Vandhana:   What is the cost of .. Kokum Ring per Kg?

Salesman:   Just a minute, please.  (He looks at the catalogue) It's 300/= Rs. per Kg.

Vandhana: Thank you.  I wanted some tangy Jamun, Hmm.... blackberry squash. Is it available?

Salesman: Yes, it's the Sample homemade snacks.  (He hands over a packet to Vandhana)...                                 Kindly accept this sample of homemade snacks.  All of what we have are quality products. Do not miss the opportunity Ma'am.  We'll appreciates your patronage.

Vandhana: Thank you .... I'll definitely make it this sunday.

Activity 5:

       Role play:  Ask for information about

1.      Procedure to apply for a College ID card

Answer:

a)      Do you know the procedure for applying an Id card?

b)      Will you help me to apply for an Id card?

c)       Can you give me the details… ?

d)      I’d like to know the ….?

e)      Could you help me by providing some information?

 

2.      The programme in which you wish to participate

Answer:

a) I wish to participate in the farewell of one of the IITs after finishing all the semesters. 

 b)  Iam interested to know the details regarding the farewell party. 

(asking for information -formal)    

c) Could you tell me about this programme? (asking for information) 

 d) Do you have any idea about this programme? (asking for information)

 e) I would like to know the venue of this programme? (asking for information)

 

3.      A new product you wish to purchase

Answer:

a) Iam interested to purchase some online products.

b). Do you have any idea about this product?

c). Can you tell something about this product?

d). Could you tell me the price of these products?

e). Do you know the …..?