Have It Rescheduled!
Focus: Changing an Appointment on the Phone
Level: Advanced
Duration: 15~20 minutes
Procedure:
Ask students to read the email and check Jenny’s plan on September 21 to find out what problem she faces.
Guide students to go over the process of changing an appointment by completing the conversation flow.
Divide students into pairs (A and B). Student A gets Jenny’s weekly schedule while student B is provided with Doctor Martin’s. Each pair needs to help Jenny reschedule her appointment with Doctor Martin. By avoiding looking at the other’s seven-day agenda directly, students are required to exchange information orally by making a phone call.
Examples:
Jenny has just received an email from Tim. Please read it carefully and check her plan on September 21 and find out what problem she faces.
The email
Jenny’s plan for September 21 September 21 Tuesday
9 am Stand-up meeting
11 am Customer introduction
2 pm Prepare demo
4 pm Go to see the dentist Questions 1. What problem does Jenny have?
2. What does she need to do?
Work in pairs and complete the conversation flow by arranging the situations along with the language.
Situation Language used
A. Explaining the problem
B. Checking the last appointment
C. Confirming the new appointment
D. Rejecting a suggestion
E. Suggesting again and agreeing to a time
F. Greeting and introducing yourself
G. Suggesting another time H. —Hello, this is... How may I help you?
—Hello, this is...
I. —I am afraid I can’t...
—That’s all right.
J. —What day was your appointment on?
—It was on...
—What time was it scheduled for?
—It was for...
K —Hold on, please. (A few seconds later) I am afraid I am not available that day/during that period. L. —Well, what about...?
—Let me check my calendar again. (A few seconds later) Yes, that works for me.
M. —Oh, yes, I see your appointment. So what day would you like to switch to?
—How about...? Is that OK for you?
N. —Oh, that would be great.
—So I will put you down for (the time)...
—Thank you so much.
—You’re welcome. See you then. Goodbye.
—Goodbye.
Conversation flow
Situation Language used
Jenny’s weekly schedule
Doctor Martin’s weekly schedule 这个游戏叫做“改期”,旨在帮助学生在理解巩固句型的基础上,进行实战对话演练。日常生活中,经常会碰到需要更改预约的情形,因此了解更改预约的句型表达并通过真实情境进行对话操练是非常有必要的。
游戏中,学生需要通过阅读邮件以及核对Jenny的日程表来判断出她无法如约看牙医的情境设定。在该游戏中,学生需要自己去发现问题,进而思考电话更改预约的基本步骤以及所需要使用的语言;然后根据双方拿到的一周日程安排表,以对话的方式交换信息,确定时间后进行重新预约。*后的游戏环节,也考察了学生从文本素材中获取信息及转换信息的能力,因此这是一个以读为输入、以说为输出,以输入为基础、以输出为驱动的具有挑战难度的游戏。