I have created several listening handouts for students to examine how people make requests. The idea behind this activity is for students to start realizing that people don’t speak like the textbook and people make choices in their pragmatic requests. It also builds students sense of discovery.
Original idea adapted from Scott Phillabaum.
First step: Ask students how people make requests or ask for things.
Second step: teach them ways to make requests.
Third step: give them this handout and tell them to research it outside.
Fourth step: Discuss findings and see if people do step 2 or if they find something new.
Students are assigned to make requests and listen to requests (best place is a restaurant or somewhere they may here someone ordering. I record myself and others ordering to track data about this practice.
>>Making Requests<<<
