Functional English Asking for Help Let’s Learn Being able to ask for help is an important language skill In this lesson, you will learn a few di erent ways to ask for help You will also learn how to o er assistance to others and how to tell others you can t help Warm-Up Note: A HELPING HAND In English, “a hand” sometimes means “help.” You can say “I need a hand” when you need help You can ask “Do you need a hand?” when others seem to need assistance Have you o ered a helping hand recently? Copyright 2018, Red River Press nc For use by ESL Library members only ( LO W I N T / V E R S I O N 1) The phrase to give a hand can also mean to give a round of applause (to clap) Asking for Help Functional English Useful Expressions Listen to your teacher ask for and o er help Then recite these phrases together as a class A Questions Asking for Help O ering Help • Could you give me a hand? • Can I help you? • I could use some help • Do you need a hand? • Help me, please • What can I for you? • Do you have a minute? • Is there anything I can to help you? • Would you mind lending me a hand? • Is there anything else? • Can I ask a favor? • Can I be of assistance? • Can you me a favor? • I have a favor to ask you • I need a big favor • Can you help me (base verb)? • Could you (base verb) for me? B Responses Agreeing to Help Accepting Help Declining Help • Of course • Thank you! • • No problem • I appreciate it • That s okay • Sure • Thanks for your help • Thanks for o ering • You re the best • m all right • m ne Thanks, though Copyright 2018, Red River Press nc For use by ESL Library members only ( LO W I N T / V E R S I O N 1) m okay, thanks Asking for Help Functional English Dialogues Read the dialogue and practice with a partner Dialogue Dialogue ASKING FOR HELP OFFERING TO HELP A: Would you mind lending me a hand? A: Is there anything I can to help? B: Sure What can I for you? B: Not at the moment, thank you A: Could you hold the door open for me? A: Really? You look so busy B: No problem Is there anything else? B: There is one thing you could A: Actually, there s a door downstairs too Could you get that one as well? A: Just say the word B: Would you mind closing the windows? B: Of course A: No problem B: I appreciate it Dialogue DECLINING HELP A: B: Those boxes look heavy Can I give you a hand? m okay You could hold the door for me, though A: No problem Can I take something for you? B: That s okay They aren t as heavy as they look A: Is there anything else I can do? B: m ne Thanks for o ering Copyright 2018, Red River Press nc For use by ESL Library members only ( LO W I N T / V E R S I O N 1) Asking for Help Functional English Writing Practice A Complete the Dialogue Complete the dialogue, and practice with a partner A: Those heavy Can I give you a hand? B: m okay Would you mind holding for me, though? A: No problem Can I for you? B: B Sentence Building Choose the correct word below each line to complete the requests for help I ask you a favor? (Do / Can) Could you me a hand? (to lend / lend) I wonder if you could me (help / to help) you have a spare moment? (Can / Do) I could your help for a second (use / to use) Copyright 2018, Red River Press nc For use by ESL Library members only ( LO W I N T / V E R S I O N 1) Asking for Help Functional English Speaking Practice Take turns asking for help with these tasks Moving boxes Making dinner Doing homework Picking up mail Looking after a pet Watching luggage Further Learning A Declining There are di erent expressions to use when you can t help a person You can choose whether or not to add a reason Example Useful Phrases • m sorry can t (Add a reason if you want to.) A: Can I ask you a big favor? wish could, but can t (Add a reason if you want to.) B: Sure, what is it? • A: I need to borrow 20 dollars • m sorry m busy right now (Use this for an immediate request.) B: Oh, m sorry m broke • m sorry m not available (Use this for a request in the future.) B Practice Change the dialogue to a request that you made recently Try your dialogue with a partner Me: I have a favor to ask you : I need you to Me: : Me: What can I for you? I wish I could help, but Oh, that s okay Don t worry about it Copyright 2018, Red River Press nc For use by ESL Library members only ( LO W I N T / V E R S I O N 1) Asking for Help Functional English Review Task WORDS & EXPRESSIONS List as many words and expressions as you can to ask for help and o er to help Asking for Help O ering to Help Task Task COMPLETE THE DIALOGUE ROLE-PLAY Now complete the dialogue between two friends Work with a partner One of you is a teacher who needs a hand The other is a student Role-play an exchange between the teacher and the student The teacher will accept help but then decline an additional o er of help Your teacher/classmates will answer the following questions: A: me a hand? B: Sure What can I A: Could you B: No A: Actually, could you B: Of course A: Thank you! You re the you? for me? Is there anything else? What does the teacher need help with? ? What happens rst? Does the teacher ask for help or does the student o er to help? ! What type of help does the teacher decline? Copyright 2018, Red River Press nc For use by ESL Library members only ( LO W I N T / V E R S I O N 1) Asking for Help Functional English Role-Play Assessment Tool Student / Group: Date Level Assessed By Achieved Role-Play Scenario Skill Asking for Help / O ering to Help Speaking Achieved With Help Needs Improvement Criteria asks for help or o ers to help responds appropriately uses polite language speaks loudly and clearly takes turns speaking Notes Copyright 2018, Red River Press nc For use by ESL Library members only ( LO W I N T / V E R S I O N 1) Asking for Help Functional English Learner Re ection ASKING FOR HELP Add check marks () to show what you've learned in this lesson Name: Date: Yes (very well) Yes (with help) Not yet Can I use a variety of ways to ask for help? use a variety of ways to o er help? respond by accepting help or agreeing or declining to help? give a reason why can t help? My Notes Copyright 2018, Red River Press nc For use by ESL Library members only ( LO W I N T / V E R S I O N 1)