FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH

What is Functional English 

Functional English is usage of the English language required to perform a specific function.

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A good command of English is often required for academic and career progression

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Functional English Equips One to Conduct Oneself in various situations like …    Greeting Friends, elders, superiors, strangers Introducing self & others Making Telephone calls or answering them     Asking for or giving information Asking for things in shops, counters & restaurants Describing things, people, places or processes Expressing opinions or reactions to programmes, plays, books or films

Functional English is used in various situations like…  Participating in discussions & debates  Giving or receiving Instructions  Narrating anecdotes, stories & discussing them  Carry on sustained conversation with friends or strangers  Giving a report of an event

Features of Functional English

Functional English is related to spoken form      Spoken language is less structured, a little loose, We don’t have to be sticklers for too correct grammar Spoken language is more informal, more spontaneous like yeah for yes Speaking is processed in real time Speaking depends on intonation, stress, facial expression, body language, speed of delivery

Objectives:

To be able to speak in various situations by learning and practicing necessary Expressions,  Structures of sentences etc.

To achieve the ability to respond quickly and accurately in speech situations  To learn sufficient vocabulary to use with grammar patterns.

Objectives :

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A practical command of the four skills of the language with special emphasis on ORAL skill.

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Accuracy in both pronunciation and grammar

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Automatic control of basic structures and sentence patterns

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Learning Techniques and Activities

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Dialogues

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Role plays

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A situational presentation of new sentence patterns.

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Drills to practice the patterns

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3 Things a Speaker needs to keep in mind  1. Why am I speaking? (Purpose) For Ex: Am I requesting?

Am I complaining?

 2. Who am I speaking to?

For Ex: A stranger, a friend, a superior  2. The setting For Ex: Is it a formal or informal setting?

Office or at home

For Interactional Function, a Speaker needs

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            Use of correct sounds (pronunciation, intonation & stress) Use of correct structures (syntax) Acceptable degree of fluency (vocabulary & grammar) Transactional & interpersonal skills Taking short & long turns while speaking Management of interaction Negotiating Meaning Listening skills Using formulaic language (stock sentences) Wow, that’s a great outfit you are wearing, Oh! Really….

That’s too bad. / Sad….

Things that matter while conversing

 Clarity  Voice modulation  Facial Expression  Body language  Positioning  Speed of delivery

Conversational Skills In a conversation, a speaker needs to know  When to initiate a conversation,  How to maintain a conversation,  How to close the conversation

Initiating a conversation

What do we do for Initiating a conversation?

 Greetings  Introductions  Attention getting  Acknowledging presence

Example

Anusha : Hello Nalini, How are you?

Nalini : Am good, how are you?

Anusha : Fine Nalini : And how’s you project coming along?

Anusha : It’s progressing well, thanks. Hey look, there’s Deepak. Deepak, hi, how are things?

Deepak : Things are just great, oh hello, Anusha. Haven’t seen you for ages, where have you been?

Anusha : Was out of station the whole of last week. Went to attend my cousins wedding, Deepak : I see.

What do we do to maintain a conversation

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 Asking questions?

 Responding  Giving Information  Explaining  Encouraging

Maintaining a Conversation

An Example: Kishore : Ramesh! How nice to hear from you. Have you had a good holiday?

Ramesh : Had a wonderful time. I went away actually Kishore : Oh, did you? Where?

Ramesh : Guntur Kishore : How nice!

Ramesh : We went to see my parents Kishore : Really, where do they live in Guntur?

Ramesh : In a small village near Guntur actually, it’s a place called Vadlamudi .

What do we do to close a Conversation?

 Announcing departure  Reason  Thanking  Apologies  Saying goodbye

Closing a Conversation

An Example

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Anusha: Gosh! It’s almost eleven, I really must go.

Nalini: Are you sure, you don’t want to join me for lunch?

Anusha: I have a meeting with my team at 12.

Nalini: Well, it has been nice talking to you, that too after such along time. We hardly meet these days. Anyways keep in touch Anusha: I sure will. Sorry to rush off like this. Bye Nalini : Bye

Stock Expressions          Expressions of politeness : If it is not inconvenient If you don’t mind I don’t know if you will agree with me I would be happy.

Some polite question forms: Would you mind…?

Would you mind helping…?

Would you like to have…?

Could I speak to …please?

Stock Expressions             Suggestion : Would you like me to get you the newspaper?

Request : Could you open the window please?

Offering Help : Would you like me to carry your bag?

Inviting : Would you like to join us for tea this evening?

Permission : May I use your phone?

Excuse me sir, would you mind if I came an hour late… Apologizing : I am extremely sorry for my assistant’s behavior Complaining : I am sorry to bring to your notice… I am afraid the machine is faulty… Agreeing : Yes, I can see your point of view… Disagreeing : Well, I don’t quite see it that way… Taking the initiative : May I suggest… How about…

Introducing People

           What's your name? Who are you? My name is ... I am ... My friends call me ... You can call me ... Haven't we met (before)? Yes, I think we have. No, I don't think we have. I think we've already met. I don't think we've met (before). This is ...             Meet ... Have you met ...? Yes, I have. No, I haven't. Yes, I think I have. No, I don't think I have. Hello, ... (name) Nice to meet you. (informal) Pleased to meet you. How do you do? (formal) Nice to see you. Nice to see you again .

Say Goodbye

 Good bye.  Bye. / See you.  See you later.  See you soon.  See you tomorrow.  See you next week.  Good night.

Health

       How are you? How are you today? Fine, thank you/thanks. Not too bad. Very well. I'm okay / all right. Not too well, actually .  What's wrong with you?  What's the matter with you?  Are you all right?  I'm tired .  I'm exhausted .  I've got a cold .

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Stating your Opinion

It seems to me that ... In my opinion, ... I am of the opinion that .../ I take the view that .. My personal view is that ... In my experience ... As far as I understand / can see, ... As I see it, ... / From my point of view ... As far as I know ... / From what I know ... I might be wrong but ... If I am not mistaken ... I believe one can (safely) say ... It is claimed that ... I must admit that ...             I can imagine that ... I think/believe/suppose ... Personally, I think ... That is why I think ... I am sure/certain/convinced that ... I am not sure/certain, but ... I am not sure, because I don't know the situation exactly. I am not convinced that ... I have read that ... I am of mixed opinions (about / on) ... I am of mixed opinions about / on this. I have no opinion in this matter. I cannot deny that ...

Outlining Facts

 The fact is that  The (main) point is that ...  This proves that ...  What it comes down to is that ...  It is obvious that ...  It is certain that ...  One can say that ...  It is clear that ...  There is no doubt that ...

Expression of Agreement

 There are many reasons for ...  There is no doubt about it that ...  I simply must agree to that.  I am of the same opinion.  I am of the same opinion as the author.  I completely/absolutely agree with the author.

Qualified Disagreement

 It is only partly true that...  I can agree to that only with reservations.  That seems obvious, but ...  That is not necessarily so.  It is not as simple as it seems.  Under certain circumstances ...

Disagreement

 There is more to it than that.  The problem is that ...  I (very much) doubt whether ...  This is in complete contradiction to ...  What is even worse, ...  I am of a different opinion because ...  I cannot share this / that / the view.  I cannot to with this idea.   What I object to is ... Unlike the author I think ...

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Linking Arguments

First of all, I think ...  That is why ... Not only that, but I also think that ...   After all, ... The reason is that ...  In that respect ... Not only are they ..., they are also ... They are not ..., nor are they ... There are various/several/many reasons for this. First, ... / Firstly, ...     The result of this is that ... Another aspect/point is that ... It is because ... Although it is true that ... it would be wrong to claim that ... Second, ... / Secondly, ... Moreover, ... / Furthermore, ... / In addition, ...  That may sometimes be true, but ... Another significant point is that ... Finally, ...   One could argue that ..., but ... On the one hand, ... On the other hand, ...

Providing Examples

 Take for example (the case of) ...  Look at ...  For instance ... / For example ...  Let me give you an example.

Additions and Conclusion

            Most probably ... It appears to be ... It is important to mention that... As I already indicated ... In other words, ... I am most concerned about ... I should like to repeat once again that ... I should like to emphasise that ... I would (just) like to add ... So all in all I believe that... (In) summing up it can be said that ... Weighing the pros and cons, I come to the conclusion that ...

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Conjunctions

but / still / however especially / mainly / particularly before as / because / since so that then / after that that's why / so either ... or after all after of course though / although / even though            or as soon as as long as finally / eventually in spite of / even so / all the same perhaps ... above all neither ... nor because first of all for example / for instance

Weather

         What's the weather like today? What will the weather be like tomorrow? Nice day today, isn't it? What awful weather! What a lovely day! It's raining. It's snowing. It's … Tomorrow it will be …           sunny cloudy overcast foggy stormy windy cold warm hot Yesterday it was

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Learning Outcomes

Should be able to initiate, sustain & effectively terminate a conversation Should be able to persuade & convince other’s with your point of view Should narrate & make a factual oral report of an incident Should be able to conceptualize & speak of hypothetical scenarios.

Class Assignment on Dialogue Writing/Role Play

To be done in the class after Faculty Presentation on Functional English

Exercise -1

 You are Suresh. You are going to a new town to appear for an interview. You have never been there but you have a friend Ram who lives there. Use the information given below to construct a dialogue between your friend and you. Make three more sets of exchanges.

The first one has been done as an example. best way to reach the place — where to stay — any interesting places to visit   Suresh : Hello, am I speaking to Ram ? This is Suresh calling.

Ram : What a pleasant surprise ! After such a long time !

Exercise -2

 You have been given an opportunity of interviewing Sachin Tendulkar, the cricket icon of today. You are impressed with his progress from a middle class background to a status of high renown. You want to know about his childhood struggles, how he took to cricket, his parental support, his inspiration, his plans for the future etc. Frame eight questions that you would like to ask him.

Thank Q