What's Up American Idioms

Communication 39

VI. C O N V E R S A T I O N ACTIVITIES

A. Act It Out

DIRECTIONS: Read each of the following situations and act it out. Use as many idioms as possible. Work with a partner.

1.You're having a big party. Several guests are coming to the party by train. You want them to call you from the station so you can drive them to the party. Tell one guest what he or she should do after getting off the train. For example, say, "When you get off the train, go to the store and call me up. If . . ."

2.Your best friend recently met a woman that he wants to date. He took her phone number and tried to call her a few times, but the phone was always busy. Now he's a little shy about calling her, but he still wants to ask her for a date. Discuss it with him.

3.Your wife (or husband) calls you at your office and says she (or he) has just seen somebody get shot on the street. She doesn't know what to do. You think she should call the police. Discuss it with her.

4.You work for your government's Secret Service. You're sending a member of your team to another country to do a special job. You know it's a dangerous job, and you want the agent to contact you regularly. You don't want anyone to hear the agent talking to you, however. Give your agent advice on how to call you.

B. T a l k It Over

DIRECTIONS: Discuss the following topics in a small group. Write your answers. Then share them with the class.

1. Give at least three reasons why it seems more difficult to speak and understand a foreign language over the phone than in person.

Education 45

1 I. READING EXERCISES

A. Get the Picture? C o m p r e h e n s i o n

DIRECTIONS: These questions are based on the story you just read.

Write "True" or "False" after each statement.

1.It's easy for illiterates to answer the questions on

2.Functional illiterates can understand the directions on food packages.

3.Many illiterates aren't doing anything about their problem because they're embarrassed about it.

4.The Coalition for Literacy is trying to do something about the illiteracy problem.

5.Illiterates are not registering for tutoring.

6.Many children stop going to school because they have reading problems.

7.Children with reading problems are as successful as other children in school.

B. Get the Picture? Inferences

DIRECTIONS: An inference is something that is not stated directly, but is implied. Write "True" or "False" after each inference.

1. All high schools in the United States do a good job of teaching students.

2.Being illiterate makes it difficult to get a job.

3.Some literacy groups give free tutoring for adults.