Reading

Could you please lend me your pen?

Asking for information or help

Mark is traveling in the

USA. He wants to go to

the East Town, but he

doesn't know the way

now. What should he do?

1. Excuse me, could you tell me where the bank is?

It’s between the Fifth Avenue and the Garden Road on the west site of Central Street.

2. Excuse me, could you tell me where the movie theater is?

It’s at the corner of the Fifth Avenue and the Central Street. You can find it on your right.

3. Excuse me, could you tell me where the restaurant is?

There are three restaurants in the city. The best one is the nearest from here. It’s between the Fifth Avenue and the Garden Road, just by the Central Street.

4. Excuse me, could you tell me where the library is?

It’s at the east end of the Garden Road opposite to the best restaurant in the city.

5. Excuse me, could you tell me where the shopping mall is?

It’s the tallest building in the city. It’s located east of the Fifth Avenue between the movie theater and a restaurant.

Hi! Where is the East Town?

Sorry. I can’t help you.

Excuse me. Could you please tell me where the East Town is?

Sure. Take No. 23 Bus and you will get there.

If you need help with your homework, How would you ask?

1. your mother or father

2. your best friend

3. a teacher

a) Requests are made in any language.

b) Using extra words helps to make language more polite.

c) Knowing how to make requests politely is important.

d) To become good English speakers, we need to do more than just learn language structure.

e) Requests in English are the same as in Chinese.

f) Choice of language depends on relationship, and the situation.

Paragraph 1

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3

Paragraph 4

Match each paragraph with its main idea.

Read and answer the questions.

1. What do you think the two questions in paragraph 1?

2. Why using correct language is not enough?

3. What might the expressions you use depend on?

4. What situations you can say “Where is my book? ”?

5.What does a very direct order sound?

6. What should polite questions be? 7.What can we do t

hat we don’t offend people?

8.Is language etiquette( 礼节语言 )as important as lear

ning grammar or vocabulary? Why?

1. What do you think the two questions in paragraph 1?

2. Why using correct language is not enough?

Both are correct English, but the first one could sound rude.

Because we need to learn how to be polite when we make requests.( 请求 )

3. What might the expressions you use depend on?

4. What situations you can say “Where is my book? ”

They might depend on whom you are

speaking to or how well you know them.

In some situations, perhaps with people you know well.

5.What does a very direct order sound?

6. What should polite questions be?

It sounds rude in English.

Usually in English polite questions are longer and include extra language.

7.What can we do that we don’t offend people?

8.Is language etiquette( 礼节语言 )as important as learning grammar or vocabulary? Why?

Learn about language etiquette

Yes. Because doing this will also help you become better at English, or any other language you wish to speak.

1. 1. 用用 55 分钟时间通读短文分钟时间通读短文 ..

2. 2. 将生词和不熟悉的短语将生词和不熟悉的短语及有困难的句子打上记号及有困难的句子打上记号 ..

Asking for information or help is a very common and necessary activity, especially when we visit a foreign country, so knowing how to ask for information politely is important.

询问信息和求助帮助是非常普通也是很重要的一项活动 , 特别是当我们去国外参观学习时 . 所以知道如何有礼貌的询问信息是很重要的 .

In English, “Where are the restroom?” and “Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?” are similar requests-both are correct English, but the first could sound rude. 用英语说 : “ 休息室在哪里 ?” 和 “能告诉我休息室在哪里 ?” 都是正确的英语表达 ,但是第一种听起来很粗鲁 .

It’s important to use correct language, but sometimes this alone is not enough-we need to learn how to be polite when we make requests.使用正确的语言是很重要 , 但是有时这

还够 ,- 我们还需要学习怎么礼貌的提出请求 .

In English, just like in Chinese, we change the way we speak when talking with different people. The expressions you use might depend on whom you are speaking to or how well you know them.

正如用汉语说话一样 , 我们在遇到不同的谈话对象时会改变我们的说话方式 . 你使用的方式可能是取决你要谈话的人或是你对他的认识程度 .

…On the other hand, it might be alright to say “Where is my book?” in some situations, perhaps with people you know well.另一方面 , 如果你对非常熟的人 , 在一些环境下这样说 “我的书在哪 ?” 是可以的 .

…Usually in English polite questionsare longer and include extra languagesuch as “Could you please..?” or “Can I ask…?”

… 通常 , 用英语礼貌的提出请求的句子要长一些 , 而且还包括一些附加用语如 “请问能否… ?” 或者 “我能问一下… ?”

…Sometimes, we might even need to spend some time leading in to a question or request.

有时 , 我们甚至可能需要花费一段时间去引出一个问题或要求 .

…It might seem that speaking politely is more difficult than being direct, and in a way this may be true.… 可能礼貌的说话要比直接说困难些 ,

某种程度上说这可能是真的 .

However, in order not to offend people, learning about language etiquette is just as important as learning grammar or vocabulary. 然而 , 为了不冒犯他人 , 学习礼节语言就正如学习语法和词汇一样重要 .

•A teenager wants to stay out late, and asks a

parent about it.•A foreign friend is interested in your new

dictionary and asks about it.•Some students want to hand in their

homework later than the teacher asked for it.•You want to change the time you asked a

friend to come for a meal at your house.

Use different ways to make requests.

BAD

GOOD

Where are the students?

Lend me your book

How does this work?

Tell me the way to the hospital

How can I get to the bank?

Could you tell me where the students are, please?

Can you show me how this works? (e.g. a TV)

Do you know where the hospital is?

Excuse me. Do you know where I can get to the bank?

Could you please lend me your book?

request Suitable situation

More polite request

1“Where are the restrooms?”

A team player asking another player.

“Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?”

2“I want to go to the library. Where is it?”

3“How much did you pay for that soccer ball?”

Complete the chart.