TALKING ABOUT PLANS WITH NEED TO, DECIDE TO, PROMISE TO, AND OTHER VERBS. USE OF INFINITIVE
WARM-UP. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THIS WEEKEND? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEXT HOLIDAYS?
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN THIS COURSE? DO YOU WANT TO REACH C1 OR UP TO B2 ONLY? WHY?
WHAT OTHER PARTS OF COLOMBIA WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT? DO YOU LIKE THE COAST OR PREFER TO GO SOUTHBOUND?
Alex: Hey Maria, what's your goal in this course? Mine is to improve my speaking skills.
Maria: What do you want to achieve exactly? I hope to learn more grammar, especially those verbs that only take infinitive.
Alex: Yeah, like "agree to help," "decide to stay," or "promise to call." I plan to practice them every day.
Maria: Good idea! I need to manage to speak more fluently. What about you? Do you offer to help with homework?
Alex: Sure, I offer to review your essays. She refused to answer last time, though! Anyway, are you free this weekend?
Maria: Yeah! I was thinking of heading south to the beach. We could go south on the highway.
Alex: Perfect! Take the southbound lane from here—it's faster and avoids city traffic.
Maria: Great plan. I refuse to get stuck again. We decided to leave early last time, but it didn't work.
Alex: This time, we promise to arrive by noon. It seems to be the best way southbound. Do you agree to drive?
Maria: I agree to drive if you navigate. I hope to see the sunset there. What do you hope to achieve on the trip?
Alex: Just relax! We need to seem more organized. Let's pack tonight.
WHAT MAKING PLANS IS LIKE
Making plans in real life requires clear communication and
reaching agreements step by step. Start by sharing ideas openly to avoid
confusion.
Sharing Goals First
Ask about preferences: "What's your goal for the
weekend? Do you hope to relax or adventure?" Listen actively. If someone
says, "I plan to visit family," respond with understanding. Use verbs
like "agree to meet" or "decide to adjust times" to show
commitment.
Negotiating Details
Discuss logistics: "I need to manage to finish work
early. Can we take the southbound train?" Offer compromises: "I offer
to drive if you promise to pack food." If disagreements arise, say,
"I refuse to rush—let's seem organized instead."
Finalizing and Confirming
Reach consensus: "Do you agree to leave at 8 AM?"
Confirm: "Great, we decided to head south. What do you want to
achieve?" Text reminders to stay on track.
USE THE EXPRESSIONS OF EXERCISE 2 AND INVITE SOMEBODY. YOUR CLASSMATE WILL REFUSE TO GO OR NEGOTIATE
AAAAAAAAAAAA
Do It Yourself: Mastering Reflexives in Daily Life
WARM-UP. MENTION THINGS YOU DO WITHOUT ANYBODY'S ASSISTANCE. Example: I can go to this institute without a problem
MENTION 3 THINGS TODDLERS CAN DO WITHOUT ASSISTANCE AT THE AGE OF 3-4. Example: They can crawl. Some can walk
NOW, THINK OF THINGS YOU CAN SAY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE IN ENGLISH AT THIS MOMENT. Example: I can recite the verb to be alone
.png)
Building Independence: Reflexive Pronouns in Everyday Life
Maria lives in Medellín and teaches English to adults. Every day, she pushes herself to create new lessons by herself. Last week, she challenged herself to design a B1 reading activity without any help. "I enjoy teaching myself new grammar points too," she tells her students. They nod and smile, motivating themselves to practice more.
Her students often help themselves to extra worksheets from the class shelf. One student, Juan, dressed himself for a job interview and felt proud. "I prepared myself carefully," he shared. Another, Sofia, blamed herself for forgetting reflexive pronouns like "ourselves" in her homework. But the group encouraged her: "Don't worry—we'll review them together!"
In group projects, they introduce themselves to online partners and express themselves clearly. Sometimes, technology frustrates them; phones turn themselves off unexpectedly! Yet, they calm themselves and keep going. Maria reminds them: "Believe in yourselves. You can achieve anything if you try by yourselves."
At home, Maria cooks Colombian dishes like bandeja paisa herself. Her family enjoys themselves during meals, laughing and sharing stories. Her nephew, who has autism, dresses himself now and feels happy about it. He even helps himself to fruit from the kitchen. Progress comes when we challenge ourselves daily.
With practice, everyone learns to use reflexive pronouns naturally. They make our language stronger and our actions more personal. (212 words)
Comprehension Questions
What did Maria challenge herself to do last week? (Short answer)
Multiple choice: Why does Maria tell her students to believe in themselves?
a) To stop using phones
b) To achieve anything with effort
c) To cook better dishesWhat can Maria's nephew do by himself now? Give an example using a reflexive pronoun.
Opinion: Describe something you taught yourself recently. Use at least two reflexive pronouns.
Careful with Sharp Objects: Using Reflexives Safely
Laura was cooking dinner by herself when she cut herself with a sharp knife. "Ouch! I should have been more careful," she told herself. Her brother helped himself to some juice while she bandaged her finger. "Don't blame yourself," he said. "We all hurt ourselves in the kitchen sometimes."
Yesterday, her friend Sofia burned herself while ironing clothes. She taught herself to iron faster next time. Their neighbor, Mr. Gómez, shaved himself quickly but nicked himself slightly. "I enjoy grooming myself in the morning," he laughed.
At school, kids often pinch themselves to stay awake or scratch themselves during class. "Be gentle with yourselves!" the teacher reminds them. Learning from mistakes helps us protect ourselves better. (128 words)
Comprehension Questions
Opinion: Have you ever hurt yourself? Describe it with a reflexive pronoun.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario