Diplomacy (CLB 5-8) - Based on Problems and Solutions Idioms.pptx

A Language Circles Lesson

1. Language Circle: Diplomacy based on Problems and Solutions Idioms (CLB 5-8) 1

2. 2 Objectives Review and practice P roblems and Solutions Idioms. Use them in a related activity Speak about a situation when you said something that offended someone. Reading – Read about strategies to use for d iplomatic language Write – rewrite sentences to sound more diplomatic Reflect on your learning today

3. 3 Review the idioms in this related lesson https://livelearn.ca/lessons/language-training/problems-solutions-idioms/

4. 4 Review the idioms in this related lesson “Head in the sand” – To refuse to think about an unpleasant situation, hoping that it will improve and you won't have to deal with it “To hit the rocks” – to encounter an especially difficult, troubled, or low point as in a relationship or some pursuit “A Catch 22” – a situation where one thing must happen in order for another thing to happen, but because the first is does not happen, the second can’t happen “To see light at the end of the tunnel ” – to believe that a difficult situation can improve “To take the bull by the horns – to confront a problem head-on and deal with it openly

5. 5 Practice the idioms: Quiz time 1. For a few months, the crime investigation hadn’t yielded any results until police found sufficient forensic evidence which allowed them to ______________________ in the case. see light at the end of the tunnel take the bull by the horns bury their head in the sand

6. 6 Practice the idioms: Quiz time 1. For a few months, the crime investigation hadn’t yielded any results until police found sufficient forensic evidence which allowed them to ______________________ in the case. see light at the end of the tunnel take the bull by the horns bury their head in the sand

7. 7 Practice the idioms: Quiz time 2. Jacquie had a loving relationship with her parents. Even though she has her own family now, she would always be close with them. So, when the relationship with her husband ________, the woman had all the support from her mom and dad. caught 22 saw light at the end of the tunnel hit the rocks

8. 8 Practice the idioms: Quiz time 2. Jacquie had a loving relationship with her parents. Even though she has her own family now, she would always be close with them. So, when the relationship with her husband ________, the woman had all the support from her mom and dad. caught 22 saw light at the end of the tunnel hit the rocks

9. 9 Practice the idioms: Quiz time 3. Being a determined girl, Nora decided to ______________and invite the classmate she liked out for a date. see light at the end of the tunnel take the bull by the horns bury their head in the sand

10. 10 Practice the idioms: Quiz time 3. Being a determined girl, Nora decided to ______________and invite the classmate she liked out for a date. see light at the end of the tunnel take the bull by the horns bury their head in the sand

11. 11 Practice the idioms: Quiz time 4. He ______________because he couldn’t find a job without having an accommodation, and he couldn’t have an accommodation without having a job. buried his head in the sand hit the rocks was in a catch 22

12. 12 Practice the idioms: Quiz time 4. He ______________because he couldn’t find a job without having an accommodation, and he couldn’t have an accommodation without having a job. buried his head in the sand hit the rocks was in a catch 22

13. 13 Practice the idioms: Quiz time 5. When Angela saw her son, Jimmy, post inappropriate things online, she first tried to _______________ as if she hadn’t noticed. But then, she decided to talk to him about her concerns. see light at the end of the tunnel take the bull by the horns bury her head in the sand

14. 14 Practice the idioms: Quiz time 5. When Angela saw her son, Jimmy, post inappropriate things online, she first tried to _______________ as if she hadn’t noticed. But then, she decided to talk to him about her concerns. see light at the end of the tunnel take the bull by the horns bury her head in the sand

15. 15 Agenda Speaking Reading Writing Reflect on learning

16. 16 Speaking

17. 17 Speaking activity Can you remember a time when you said something that offended someone, although you did not intend that? Wish you could have said it differently? Would you like to share that with the class?

18. 18 Reading and Writing

19. 19 Reading activity Diplomacy refers to interacting with others in a way that fosters good relationships. It involves tact and skill in handling interpersonal communication so that good relationships are maintained and there are no (or few) bad feelings. Being diplomatic involves using phrases to soften our statements when we deliver bad news or negative judgments. Source: settlementatwork.org

20. 20 Reading and writing activity The use of these softening phrases conveys an awareness that our judgments are not necessarily right. Here are four tips to soften your language: 1. Avoid using negative adjectives. Instead, use not + very + a positive adjective: The sales associate was unhelpful. The sales associate was not very helpful. The building is ugly. The building is not very attractive. His English is poor. His English is not very good. Your turn! Rewrite this sentence using this strategy. We were unhappy with your service. Source: settlementatwork.org

21. 21 Reading and writing activity 2. Use qualifiers which are words or phrases that minimize the certainty of a statement: I’m going to be late. I’m going to be a little late. She’s bossy. She’s kind of bossy. We had a disagreement. We had a bit of a disagreement. Your turn! Rewrite this sentence using this strategy. I have a problem with this. Source: settlementatwork.org

22. 22 Reading and writing activity 3. Use hedges which are words or phrases that lessen the impact of a statement, or express uncertainty: There’s a problem with our bill. There seems to be a problem with our bill. We’re out of stock. I’m afraid we’re out of stock. We shouldn’t do that. I’m not sure we should do that. That won’t work. That might not work. We should delay the project. I wonder if maybe we should delay the project. Your turn! Rewrite this sentence using this strategy. This will create lots of delays in delivering our products. Source: settlementatwork.org

23. 23 Reading and writing activity 4. Invite agreement by asking a question that is negatively-phrased: That restaurant is too expensive. Isn’t that restaurant kind of expensive ? We should wait for John. Shouldn’t we wait for John? Your turn! Rewrite this sentence using this strategy. We should buy mom a more expensive gift. Source: settlementatwork.org

24. 24 Let’s practice diplomatic language In the email message below, locate the seven examples of language that has been softened. There is at least one example of each of the four ways to soften language introduced previously. Hi Patricia, Thanks for your suggestions for the agenda. I think we should include Anwar in the meeting if he’s available. I’m not sure about including the new brochure on the agenda, though, as we’ve only got an hour and a half. Perhaps it would be better to leave that until next time. With regards to the catering, maybe we should consider going with a different caterer. We haven’t been very happy with Roland’s Catering the last few times we’ve used them. Also, wouldn’t it be better to schedule the meeting later in the day? 8:30 a.m. seems a little bit early to me. Source: settlementatwork.org

25. 25 Let’s practice diplomatic language Solution: Hi Patricia, Thanks for your suggestions for the agenda. I think we should include Anwar in the meeting if he’s available. I’m not sure (hedge) about including the new brochure on the agenda, though, as we’ve only got an hour and a half. Perhaps it would be better (hedge) to leave that until next time. With regards to the catering, maybe (hedge) we should consider going with a different caterer. We haven’t been very happy (not + positive adjective) with Roland’s Catering the last few times we’ve used them. Also, wouldn’t it be better (negative phrased question) to schedule the meeting later in the day? 8:30 a.m. seems (hedge) a little bit (qualifier) early to me. Source: settlementatwork.org

26. 26 Speaking

27. 27 Speaking activity Revisit the examples given in the earlier speaking activity. Could that situation been avoided if the speaker would have used any of the four strategies doe diplomatic language? How would you reformulate what was said?

28. 28 Reflect on learning

29. 29 What did you learn today? Review and practice P roblems and Solutions Idioms. Use them in a related activity Speak about a situation when you said something that offended someone. Reading – Read about strategies to use for d iplomatic language Write – rewrite sentences to sound more diplomatic Reflect on your learning today

30. 30 Homework Use the following idioms in sentences of your own using one of the diplomatic language strategies learned today. “Head in the sand” – example: It seems like we’re keeping our head in the sand if we don’t call this supplier out for the faulty products. “To hit the rocks” “A Catch 22” “To see light at the end of the tunnel ” “To take the bull by the horns”

31. Thank you! Questions? Created by : Ruxandra Nicolescu – English Online 31 https://pixabay.com/photos/cup-of-coffee-laptop-office-macbook-1280537/ shared under CC0