Speaking and Writing

• I can use fixed phrases to express indecision, agreement and disagreement.
• I can use a variety of forms to talk about plans and hopes.
• I can write a formal email.

A school competition: one idea to protect the environment

Do you have an idea to help our school better protect the environment? We have up to 100 JOD available to help you get your idea off the ground! Complete the form to tell us about your idea!

Three ideas are on the table. Study them, then listen to the committee.

Go to page 74 and study some ideas for the competition in Exercise 1. Then listen to a student committee discussing the ideas. Which idea do they finally choose?

Torn, agree, disagree, decide: the phrases a group needs

Listen for these phrases in the committee’s talk, then fill the gaps.

Complete the Speaking box with the words from the box. Listen to the conversation again and check your answers.

fence finger grab mind second spot track what with I’m on the 1 ___ (about) …

I’m having 2 ___ thoughts.

I can’t make up my 3 ___ .

I can’t put my 4 ___ on it, but …

You’re 5 ___ on!

That’s 6 ___ I was going to say! /Absolutely!

It doesn’t 7 ___ me.

I think we’re on the wrong 8 ___ .

Okay, so shall we go 9 ___ …?

• Expressing indecision
• I’m torn between … and …
• I’m on the 1 ___ (about) …
• I’m having 2 ___ thoughts.
• I can’t make up my 3 ___ .
• On the one hand, … but on the other hand, …
• I can’t put my 4 ___ on it, but …
• Expressing agreement
• You’re 5 ___ on!
• That’s 6 ___ I was going to say! /Absolutely!
• Expressing disagreement
• It doesn’t 7 ___ me.
• I think we’re on the wrong 8 ___ .
• That’s a good point, but …
• Ok, but another option might be …
• Seriously?!
• Reaching a decision
• So, let’s make a decision on this.
• Okay, so shall we go 9 ___ …?
• It looks as if we agree that …

Poster talk: choose one with the phrases

Fast fashion: numbers that surprise, and three student projects

• Clothing production doubled in the first 20 years of this century, and the number of garments purchased each year by the average consumer increased by 60%.
• Consumers keep clothing items about half as long as they did 15 years ago, throwing them away after just seven or eight wears.
• Making 1 kilo of fabric generates nearly 23 kilos of greenhouse gases!

Listen to three students talking. What projects are they involved in?

Why are denim and cotton bad for the environment?

How is Heba planning to sell her denim?

How is Lama hoping to change people’s opinions?

Match each future form to what it says

• a an action that is expected to happen in the normal course of events
• b a timetabled or scheduled future event
• c something that has already been decided
• d a future arrangement with another person
• e a future action decided now

Match the examples of future forms from the recording with explanations a–e.

I’m going to turn them into shorts.

Send me the details … I’ll take a look.

She’ll be explaining how to understand the labels on clothes.

I’m meeting her next week to finalise the plans.

It starts at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.

Will or going to? A promise versus a plan

Too much plastic: a formal email that persuades

In pairs, look at the photos and answer the questions. In which photo do the vegetables look more appealing? Say why. What environmental problems do you think the plastic packaging might cause?

Now read Farid’s email twice: first for the problem, then for how well it persuades.

Read Farid’s email to Customer Service.

What problem does he describe and what three solutions does he suggest?

Complete the Writing box.

If you know the name of the person,

If you don’t know the person’s name,

If you start a letter Dear Sir/Madam,

If you start a letter with a name,

Greeting and signing off: it depends on what you know

• If you know the name of the person,
• If you don’t know the person’s name,
• If you start a letter Dear Sir/Madam,
• If you start a letter with a name,

Structure of the email: what goes where

• In the introduction,
• In the main paragraphs,
• In the final paragraph,
• Before you sign off,

In the introduction,

In the main paragraphs,

In the final paragraph,

Before you sign off,

Formal conventions: four small switches

• Don’t use contractions, e.g.
• Avoid using phrasal verbs, e.g.
• Make points less personal/direct by using passives, e.g.
• Make your tone less direct by using hypothetical constructions, e.g.

Don’t use contractions, e.g.

Avoid using phrasal verbs, e.g.

Make points less personal/direct by using passives, e.g.

Make your tone less direct by using hypothetical constructions, e.g.

From chatty to formal: the power phrases at work

Which phrase of Farid’s does which job? Then make ten sentences formal.

Read the email again. Match the underlined phrases A–D to the categories.

Making a point forcefully

Call to action/asking for action

Giving your reasons for writing

Explaining why the issue is important

Plans, hopes, soon, timetable, orders: pick the phrase

• We can use the Present Simple for timetabled or scheduled events: The train leaves at ten o’clock.
• We can use the Present Continuous for future arrangements with another person: We’re meeting next Thursday at midday.
• We can also use other phrases to talk about the future.
• For plans, we can use be planning/hoping to + infinitive or be thinking of + gerund: I’m planning to get someone to fix my car. They’re hoping to do it soon. I’m thinking of creating a website.
• When something is happening very soon we can use be about to + infinitive: They’re about to announce a new competition.
• For timetabled events we can use be due to + infinitive: It’s due to go on display next week.
• For formal or official arrangements, instructions or commands we can use be to + infinitive: The prince is to visit the new hospital and talk to the patients.

• Our idea: Ban single-use plastic water bottles at school – students bring reusable water bottles instead.
• Benefits for the environment: Reduce plastic use. If every student buys or brings in a single-use plastic bottle every day, that’s 2,000 a day.
• How we will use the grant: Install drinking fountains, and set up campaign to encourage students to bring in reusable water bottles.
• Our idea: Set up a day when everyone living less than two miles from school agrees to walk or cycle to school (rather than being driven in by their parents).
• Those living further away who usually come by car agree to share cars with at least one other student.
• Benefits for the environment: Reduce pollution on that day and encourage people to make it a regular thing.
• How we will use the grant: Make a short film about the project to encourage other schools in the area to try the same thing.
• Our idea: Clothes swap. Everyone brings clothes they no longer need and swap them for different items.
• Benefits for the environment: Students stop buying so many new clothes, which reduces the impact on the environment of manufacturing them.
• How we will use the grant: Publicise and promote the event and pay for the hire of a venue.