Topic: Requests and Apologies
Mode: Interpersonal
Level: Intermediate
Students will practice making apologies for different mistakes.
Components of this activity: Apology sentences, scenarios
Instructions to the teacher
Pre-teach students the expressions for making apologies e.g. ‘Sorry to keep you waiting; Sorry I’m late; I’m terribly sorry; I regret to inform you that there has been a problem; Pardon?; There is no excuse for my actions; I’m sorry to have to tell you that…; I’m afraid I’d had a little too much;’ etc.
Clarify to them the different contexts within which people can make apologies e.g. in formal and informal contexts.
Pair students up and give them the following apology scenarios. Have them take a few minutes and prepare an oral apology for each scenario. Then, they will take turns and play out the scenarios in speaking.
Possible Apology Scenarios
A. You are late for work.
B. You cannot understand what someone else is saying to you.
C. You are writing to a colleague informing him/her that you cannot attend a meeting in the afternoon.
D. You insulted a friend last night.
E. You dial the wrong telephone number.
F. You accidentally grab the wrong luggage bag.
G. You came to the meeting with your boss, but he/she was busy with another person.
H. You were wrong criticizing your colleague’s work.