This lesson focuses on the kind of formulaic language your students might need when they interact online.
A Have you had any computer-related problems in your online lessons this past month? Make a list, individually or with a partner.
B Watch video 1 up to 2:55. How many of the problems in A does it show?
Video 1
C Sentences 1-12 were taken from the conference call. Using your intuition, circle the correct options.
1 Thanks [ for being / to be ] here [ in / on ] time.
2 Sorry, I’m late. Had a hard time [ to connect / connecting ].
3 One second. Paul’s having a sound [ issue / trouble ].
4 [ Don’t / Never ] mind (= Don’t worry/Forget it), I got it. I just had to change a few settings.
5 Great. Maybe we can [ get / go ] started, then.
6 Sounds [like/that] someone just [ entered / joined ].
7 I’m [ stopped / stuck ] (= unable to move) in traffic. Have I [ lost / missed ] anything yet?
8 [ Tyler fell / We lost Tyler ], I think.
9 Am I [ disappeared / frozen ]?
10 It sounded like Tyler was [ cutting out / going away ] (= losing his connection).
11 OK everyone, I know some of you have to [ escape / leave ] soon.
12 Beth, are you [ here / with us ] (= paying attention)?
13 Tyler, can you go [ across / over ] (= repeat so we can check) the numbers one more time, please?
D Watch video 1 again and check.
E Answer questions 1-5 with a partner or with your teacher. Say the complete sentences rather than just the numbers.
Which sentences…
1 can you also use in face-to-face meetings?
2 are usually said by the person conducting the meeting?
3 do you wish you had learned before?
4 do you think you’re going to use soon?
5 do you think you need to practice a bit more before you can say it fluently?
F Watch video 2 and practice saying some of the sentences from the video out loud.
Video 2
This lesson is amazing, Luiz. Thanks for preparing it so carefully.
I hope it works well, Elisangela. Thanks for stopping by!
Luiz, the best!Helpful as a template for other video activities, useful to see the disappearing text, just the right amount of repetition, excellent choice of material! Tks for sharing!!!bjão
If you do use it, let me know how it goes. And thank you for your kind words, as ever. Um beijão
Amazing lesson, as usual !You are one of a kind. Thanks!
Thank you for your generous words, Jussara.
The lesson is interesting .we have to recycle that vocabulary to update our teaching.
Thank you!
Luiz, you never cease to amaze us.
Thank you!
Thank you for your generous words, Bruno!
This lesson is amazing. Thanks for preparing it so carefully
Thank you!
Thanks a bunch! I’d be grateful if you could as well provide some ideas for freer practice!:)
Hi Natalia. I thought of suggesting a few situations like “Imagine your computer stopped responding” + something else. But then students would only produce one or two sentences and not much else, since it’s unlikely that they will have all these problems in the same lesson. So, really, I think the best freer practice they will get is the lesson they’re having tonight or tomorrow. What you can do, of course, is to remind them to use these sentences at the beginning of the lesson.
Hi Luiz! Thank you for the amazing lesson. You have done it again!
Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you!
what an amazing activity!!! you are simply unique!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Thank you for stopping by!
Thank you!