Functional English

Expressing
Confusion
Sa
Warm-Up
IM SO CONFUSED!

Work with a group to make a big list of

thingsthat often cause confusion to
newcomers(e.g.,roundabouts).
m
 sking Someone to
A Using Common
Repeat Something English Phrases
Read the dialogue, and practice with a partner. Listen to your teacher read these common English
phrases. Then recite them together as a class.
A:How do I pay for myparking?
Could you repeat that?
B:Pay at the machine in thelobby
before you exit. Itson level L. Could you say that again?
pl
A:I m sorry. Could you say that again? Im sorry. I dont understand.

B:The ticket machine is in the lobby. Would you mind repeating that?
Level L. Pay there.
English is not my first language.
A:I apologize. English is not my first language.
I didnt catch that. (I didnt hear what you said.)
Could yourepeat that slowly?
I dont get it. (I dont understand.)
B:(slowly) Pay at the machine. Level L.
Show your receipt at the exit. You have Please excuse my English.
e
15 minutes to exit after you pay.
Sorry for the confusion.

I see. (I understand.)

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 Expressing Confusion
Functional English

Asking for Apologizing for

Clarification the Confusion
Complete the dialogue, andpractice with a partner. Fill in the blanks with a word that makes sense.
Sa
Practice the new dialogues with a partner.
A:Can you tell me where to 
find the spaghetti sauce? 1. A
 :Im . I thought you
said the washrooms were downstairs.
B:Its three rows down. Head all the way to the end.
B:No, I said upstairs.
The sauces are next to the dried pasta.
2. A
 :Nice to meet you, Shaun.
A:I m . I didnt that.
B:Its John, with a J.
B:Aisle 3. (points) At the very end A:Oh, pardon me. Hi .
of the row. Beside thepasta.
3. A
 :Did you sign the form?
A:Thank you. Aisle 3. Beside the...pesto? B:No. I dont get it. Can you
this part to me?
B:Pasta.
m
4. A
 :Didnt you read the sign?
A:Oh, pasta! Sorry, English is 
B:Sorry, I dont the sign.
notmy language.
A:You can take pictures before or after the show.
B:No problem. Thats what Im here for. B:Oh, I see. No photography during the show.
Sorry for the confusion.

Thinking about the Situation

pl
When might you hear someone say this?
Write down one possible situation or setting.

1. Can you please repeat the last four digits? 4. I apologize for the confusion.
English is not my first language.
taking down a telephone number

2. Im sorry, she didnt understand your instructions.

e
5. I didnt catch what he said.
Can you ask him to speak a bit slower?

3. I dont get it. What is this part for?

Copyright 2016, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only.( LO W I N T I N T / V E R S I O N 2 . 0) 2
 Expressing Confusion
Functional English

Using -ed/-ing Adjectives Practicing Word Forms

In English, some adjectives have -ed/-ing endings. Look at the following sentences. Write down the word
These are feeling adjectives: interested/interesting, form (noun, verb, or adjective) of the word in bold.
bored/boring, confused/confusing, excited/exciting
Sa
Use the -ing ending when a noun is the # Sentence Word Form
reason or cause of the feeling adjective.

This map is confusing. 1 I am confused. adjective

(The map is the reason for my feeling of confusion.)
2 She is confused.
Use the -ed ending to show the result or effect.

I am confused. 3 Dont confuse the child.

(This is how I am feeling because I cant read the map.)

Note that the noun (cause) is sometimes a person. 4 This is confusing.

m
The teacher is confusing. The students are confused.
(The teacher didnt explain the grammar properly = 5 Sorry for the confusion.
cause. The students feel confused = effect.)

Work as a class. Practice making sentences with

the following feeling adjectives: confused/confusing,
interested/interesting, excited/exciting, bored/boring.
pl
Matching
Match up sentences that have the same meaning.

1. I get it. a) I apologize for my poor English.

2. Im confused. b) I understand.

3. Sorry for the mix up. c) I did not understand a word.

4. Sorry about my English. d) I apologize for the confusion.

e
5. I didnt catch any of it. e) I dont get it.

Copyright 2016, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only.( LO W I N T I N T / V E R S I O N 2 . 0) 3
 Expressing Confusion
Functional English

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: Low Int Int

Students review language and useful expressions for TIME: 1 hour

Sa
expressingconfusion. They practice common English
TAGS: functional English, useful expressions,
phrasesandreview -ed/-ing feeling adjectives.
socializing, I dont understand, confusing, -ed adjectives,
-ing adjectives, clarification, repeat, feelings, survival

Warm-Up Using -ed/-ing Adjectives

Put students in small groups, or work together as a class. Review the grammar with your students, and practice making
Write the ideas on the board. sentences with feeling adjectives. For an in-depth look at
howtoteach this grammar, review our editors blog post:
Asking Someone to Repeat Something
m
http://blog.esllibrary.com/2012/08/16/how-to-teach-ed-ing-
adjectives-9-simple-steps/
Read out loud or in pairs.

Practicing Word Forms

Using Common English Phrases
1. adjective 3. verb 5. noun
Read the common questions and statements out loud to 2. adjective 4. adjective
yourstudents. Then have them repeat them back to you.
Correcttheir intonation.
Matching
pl
Asking for Clarification 1. b 2. e 3. d 4. a 5. c

Answers may vary.

SPELLING NOTE:
The blanks could contain: sorry, catch, first
This lesson shows the American spelling of the word
Practice. Other English-speaking countries spell it this way:
Apologizing for the Confusion
Practise(whenused as a verb; Practice when used as a noun).
Make itachallenge for your students to find these words in
Answers may vary.
thelessonand see if they know the alternate spellings.
The blanks could contain: confused, John, explain, understand
e
Thinking about the Situation

Answers will vary.

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