Topic

Advice & Opinions

Giving and asking for advice, expressing opinions, debating politely.

What learners practise

Advice dialogues recycle modal verbs such as should, could and ought to in a personal context. The exercise on this page shows a friend responding to a problem with two or three practical suggestions.

Use the audio once for gist and once for the specific advice given. Invite learners to mark each suggestion in the transcript and decide whether they would follow it. Close with a writing or speaking task where each student gives two pieces of advice on a new problem.

Listening skills and classroom ideas

  • Recognise the problem and the advice given in a short informal dialogue.
  • Catch modal verbs for advice: should, could, why don't you, how about.
  • Notice softeners such as I think, maybe, perhaps before advice phrases.
  • After checking, learners give two pieces of advice on a new situation.

See the guide to designing listening activities

Exercises 1

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