Communication
Lesson 54: How Embarrassing!
• How do you feel if you meet an old friend and he or she can’t remember your name?
• Have you ever gotten back in touch with an old friend?
THINK ABOUT
IT
Dear Diary,
This week I had an embarrassing moment at a bookstore. I ran into an old friend named Gao Yuan. When he tapped me on the shoulder and said my name, I couldn’t figure out who he was. He seemed familiar but I forgot his name. I felt awful. We chatted for a while. Finally I had to admit that I couldn’t remember his name. Before I could say sorry, he said he had to go and waved goodbye.
I felt bad, so I talked with Wang Mei about it. She said that she once had a similar experience. She forgot an old friend’s name when that friend returned to China after many years abroad. Wang Mei was a little embarrassed, too, but her friend didn’t mind. She just reminded Wang Mei of her name and they had a good, long chat.
After talking to Wang Mei, I felt better. I called Gao Yuan that evening.
He was happy to hear from me, and we had a good conversation. We also made plans to play ping-pong together next weekend.
Yay, I got back an old friend!
Let’s Do It!
Read the diary entry and retell Li Ming’s embarrassing experience using the hints below.
1
Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the phrases in the box.
2
1. After living abroad for 30 years, the couple ____________ the small town.
2. We’d love to go to the party, but we ____________ for that day.
3. They ____________ their son yesterday. They were very happy.
4. I ____________ an old friend on my way to school yesterday.
run into return to hear from make plans
Listen to some kids talking about their most embarrassing moments and fill in the blanks.
3
Have you had any embarrassing moments? Write about them.
4
One day I was in class. The whole class was very quiet.
________ my cell phone rang. Many heads ________ my direction. The teacher walked up to me. My face turned red. I felt so nervous that I could ________ breathe. Then I heard myself say in a shaking voice “You want it?” How embarrassing!!!
run into… familiar… couldn’t remember…
awful… chat…
My most embarrassing moment was during an award ceremony at the end of the year. I was sitting at the front.
The host announced a special ________ and I heard my name, so I went up on the ________. It turned out that it was the other girl. The ________ part was walking back to my seat in front of everyone! Imagine how embarrassed I was!
Unit Review
Building Your Vocabulary
I. Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the given words.
1. In the past two years, they have gone through many _______ (difficult).
2. It’s good for friends to speak _______ (direct) to one another.
3. We need to be a good ________ (listen) if we want to ask right questions.
4. They don’t talk to each other anymore. There might be some ________
(understand) between them.
5. We are learning from each other. We need good ________ (communicate).
II. Fill in the blanks with the phrases in the box.
1. You’d better ____________ to meet your cousin at the airport.
2. If you can ____________ the problem, try to find a way to solve it.
3. You have to be happy with yourself before you can ____________ others.
4. I hope you can ____________ the new environment quickly.
5. All of us want to ____________ life.
figure out get along with succeed in keep one’s promise adapt to
Grammar in Use
I. Fill in the blanks with “who”, “that” or “what”.
1. He is telling the police ________ he saw last night on the street.
2. Do you like the book ________ I gave you yesterday?
3. The girl ________ you saw last night is my little cousin.
II. Fill in the blanks with “when”, “before”, “because”, “if” or “though”.
1. You should clean your house carefully ________ the guests arrive.
2. ________ it rains, the football game will be cancelled.
3. He had to leave _________ he wanted to stay.
4. We cannot go on a picnic today ________ the wind is too strong.
5. The young mother saw her baby playing with a new doll ________ she came home.
I. Listen to the passage and fill in the blanks.
There are a few different reasons why people use small talk. The most obvious is to break an uncomfortable ________. Another reason, however, is simply to ________ time. That is why it is so ________ to make small talk when you are waiting for something. Some people make small talk in order to be ________.
You may not feel like ________ with anyone at a party, but it is rude to just sit in a corner by yourself. After being ________ to someone new, you probably don’t know much about this person. So to show a polite ________, you have to start with some small talk.
II. Work in groups. Talk about your opinions on making new friends.
Putting It All Together
I. Read the passage and answer the questions.
It is useful to learn how to make small talk. It is an important social skill.
It helps to make people feel relaxed and start a conversation when they meet for the first time.
The topics for small talk are different in different countries. But usually the topics are general rather than personal. In the U.S., people sometimes talk about the weather when they make small talk. “It’s a nice day today, isn’t it?” This kind of questions helps you begin a conversation because
1. Why is small talk an important social skill?
______________________________________________________________
2. Why is the weather a good topic for small talk?
______________________________________________________________
3. What is a good way to make small talk?
______________________________________________________________
Listening and Speaking
they are general questions that anyone can reply to.
Next time when you want to make small talk, turn a statement into a question. You are sure to get an answer and a conversation starter.
Talking about Interpersonal Communication
It’s always better to get things out in the open — talk about a problem, come to a solution or move on.
I know how to carry on interpersonal communication.
Self-Evaluation
Find more examples from this unit. Then mark your stars.
II. Interview your classmates about different situations where they started a conversation with small talk. Write down their responses.
If I could turn the clock back, Or erase our terrible fight, I’d do it in an instant,
And find a way to make it right.
Sometimes, my friend, we say things, That we do not mean to say.
So we had a fight,
Because of the words I said today.
I remember once, when we were small, You helped when I was sad.
You stayed and played with me, In good times and in bad.
And so, my friend, I’m sorry.
When we fight, we never win.
Let’s meet and talk it over, And let’s be friends again.
My mum says communication, And talking is the way.
So here’s my hand of friendship.
Will you be my friend today?
I Am Sorry