PPA 1 Meeting and conversing with new people

PPA 1 Meeting and conversing with new people can be tricky, awkward, and sometimes excruciatingly uncomfortable. There are so many things that can go wrong. We can sound too formal, too informal, rude, like we don’t care, or bring up a topic that is wrong for the situation. Watch/Read the following dialogues between people meeting. See if you can find mistakes in their conversations.

Situation: Kathy’s friends Cindy is hosting a birthday dinner at her parent’s house. She has invited you to attend. Attending the dinner are her grandparents, her parents, and her brothers and sisters. You are the only friend attending the gathering.

Dialogue: Cindy Good evening Kathy Good evening Cindy Kathy, I don’t think you’ve met my Grandmother. Kathy Nope! I’m pretty sure I haven’t met her yet. Cindy May I introduce you to Isabelle, she is the best cook and made the spaghetti for tonight's dinner. Kathy It’s a pleasure to meet you Isbell. (Kathy mispronounces Isabelle’s name). Cindy Well, let’s all sit down. The food will be served any moment. Have you found any errors yet? Where? What errors?

What was said… Nope! I’m pretty sure I haven’t met her yet. Too Formal Too Informal Inappropriate topic for setting Sounds Rude Sounds Unkind Write in and discuss the errors that Kathy is making. Poor Getaway

Dialogue Continued: Kathy Can you believe all of this rain we have been having? Cindy’s Mom Oh yes, I hear they are calling for rain all week! Can you believe it? ! Cindy Kathy, have you tried the salad that my Mother made? It is my favorite! Kathy I tried it, but I thought it had too many tomatoes. Cindy’s Mother Kathy, I love your outfit. Where did you get your blouse. Kathy Thank you, I bought it at the mall. Have you found any errors yet? Where? What errors?

What was said… Nope! I’m pretty sure I haven’t met her yet. Too Formal Too Informal Inappropriate topic for setting I bought it at the mall. Sounds Unkind Other It’s a pleasure to meet you Isbell. (Kathy mispronounces Isabelle’s name). I tried it, but I thought it had too many tomatoes. Sounds Rude

Errors Game: Each person starts the game with 10 points. Each mistake that a speaker erases one of their points. The speaker at the end of the game who has the most points wins.

Modeling the Errors Game Situation: Juan and his brother Tim are sales clerks at Nordstrom. They work in the shoe department together. The shoe department is small and what they say can always be heard by other sales clerks or by customers.

Modeled Activity Tim Juan Scores Tim Divide class into two groups. One group is Tim, one group is Juan. The group that is Tim, keeps track of Juan’s errors, the group that is Juan, keeps track of Tim’s errors. Students should work collaboratively.

Dialogue : Customer Good afternoon. Juan Good afternoon Madam! Customer It’s nice to meet you. Juan The pleasure is all mine. How can I help you today? Customer Well, I am looking for a pair of pink pumps to wear to my daughter’s wedding. Juan Oh really! Where will the wedding be held? Customer Oh, I’m sure you’ve never head of the place. West Minster, OR, it’s a very small town. Juan I’m sure it is. But, I was referring to whether or not the wedding was going to be held inside or outdoors. Have you found any errors yet? Where? What errors?

Dialogue : Customer Well, well then. Indoors, but the reception will be held outside on the patio. Juan I think I have just the shoes for you. Juan Yo, Tim! Do me a favor and bring me that pink pair of shoes with the short heal, would ya? Tim Only if you can narrow it down a bit! We’ve got more than one pair of shoes that fit that description on the shelf. Juan The ones with the purple butterfly on the heal. Tim Oh, you mean the ones we were talking about getting for Ma? ! Juan Yeah, those ones. Tim Madam, I just know you are going to love these shoes. May I ask you what size you wear? Have you found any errors yet? Where? What errors?

Dialogue : Customer I wear a size 7 and a half. Tim I’ll be right back with those shoes. Juan Hurry up Tim, she hasn’t got all day. Tim returns with the shoes… Tim So Madam? What do you think of the shoes? Customer They are exactly what I have been looking for! Thank you so much. Tim No Madame, the pleasure is all ours. Have you found any errors yet? Where? What errors?

Tim 10 points - ___ errors = What was said… Too Formal Too Informal Inappropriate topic for setting Sounds Rude Sounds Unkind How many points does Tim have left? Other

Juan 10 points - ___ errors = What was said… Too Formal Too Informal Inappropriate topic for setting Sounds Rude Sounds Unkind How many points does Juan have left? Who won? Other

Shared Practice

Now it’s your turn to play… • Stay in your teams. • Select one person from each team to be spokesperson. • The following slides will consist of different scenarios. Read the scenario. As a team, collaborate on what to say and how to respond to the opposing team’s dialogue. • Each team starts off with 10 points. Using a score card, score the opposing teams responses.

Situation One: Team 1 You are the trusted employee of a local coffee shop. The woman who owns the shop is having a family emergency and has left you in charge of interviewing a potential worker. Team 2 You are interviewing for a job at a local coffee shop. The hours of the job would be perfect and you really hope you are hired.

Situation Two: Team 1 You are waiting in line to check out a book at the public library. The line is long and it seems they are having some difficulty with the computer system. Begin a conversation with the person next to you in line. Team 2 Carry on a conversation with the person next to you in line at the library.