A practical task for preintermediate esl student. Language: Negotiating (1st conditional) Materials needed: newspaper, crepe tape, sticky tape, paper clips, pens, scissors

1. INFORMATION SHEET FOR THE ZACKYANS
You livein a country called ‘Zackya’,on the border with another country – ‘Buddya’.
There is a deep canyon between your two countries.This is an
enormous problem. The two countries can’t trade properly.To
go around the canyon you need to travel for 2 days to reach the
town in Buddya. If there was a bridgeover the canyon,the trip
would take only 2 hours.
Now the two governments – of Zackya and Buddya – want to
build a bridge. Professionalsfromthe two countries will need to
work together to complete the project.
However, you must be careful.Each country has different
customs and forms of communication. You must respect these
differences and learn to work together.
Zackyan Social rules
1. Greeting: You must kiss the other person on the shoulder (If the Buddyans want to shake hands,refuse it, and laugh)
2. You have to touch the person when you are talkingto them (If the Buddyans don’t touch you when speakingto you, laugh
and don’t listen to them)
3. You can’t say “no”. To say “no”, you must say “YES” and nod your head.
4. You can’t speak Portuguese – it is very offensive.
TASK
To build the bridge, you will need to buy materials together.
Building materials:
Initial discount
price
Normal price
paper (1 metre)
scissors(each pair)
pen (each)
clip (each)
crepe tape (1 roll)
sticky tape (1 roll)
string(1 metre)
$15
$10
$5
$2
$10
$30
$15
$30
$20
$10
$4
$20
$60
$30
mk1
Budget limit: $150
The bridge must cross the canyon (70m).
It must be strong (carry 3 trucks).
It must be wind resistant.
Testing materials:
3 packs of cards (the “trucks” and “buses”)
a fan (the “wind”)
a tape measure
Criteria:
Does the team complete the bridge? (10 points)
How strong is it? Can it carry 1,2 or 3 trucks (big = 4 points,small1 =3 points or small2 =3 points) (10 points)
How expensive was it? Insidethe budget? (under $60 = 10 points,$61-100 = 7 points,$101-150 = 4 points) (10 points)
How resistantis itto wind coming from the side? (fan setting 1 = 4 points,2 = 7 points,3 = 10 points) (10 points)
Just English? (10 points)
Total = /50
9

2. INFORMATION SHEET FOR THE BUDDYANS
You livein a country called ‘Buddya’,on the border with another country – ‘Zackya’.
There is a deep canyon between your two countries.This is an
enormous problem. The two countries can’t trade properly.To
go around the canyon you need to travel for 2 days to reach the
town in Buddya. If there was a bridgeover the canyon,the trip
would take only 2 hours.
Now the two governments – of Zackya and Buddya – want to
build a bridge. Professionalsfromthe two countries will need to
work together to complete the project.
However, you must be careful.Each country has different
customs and forms of communication. You must respect these
differences and learn to work together.
Buddyan Social rules
1. Greeting: You must pat the other person on the head (If the Zackyans want to shakehands,refuse, and laugh)
2. You have to put your righthand in the air and wave itwhile you talk. (If the Zackyans don’t wave their hand when speakingto
you, laugh and don’t listen to them)
3. You can’t say “no”. To say “no”, you must say “MAYBE” and shrugyour shoulders.
4. You can’t speak Portuguese – it is very offensive.
TASK
To build the bridge, you will need to buy materials together.
Building materials:
Initial discount
price
Normal price
paper (1 metre)
scissors(each pair)
pen (each)
clip (each)
crepe tape (1 roll)
sticky tape (1 roll)
string(1 metre)
$15
$10
$5
$2
$10
$30
$15
$30
$20
$10
$4
$20
$60
$30
Budget limit: $150
The bridge must cross the canyon (70m).
It must be strong (carry 3 trucks).
It must be wind resistant.
Testing materials:
3 packs of cards (the “trucks” and “buses”)
a fan (the “wind”)
a tape measure
Criteria:
Does the team complete the bridge? (10 points)
How strong is it? Can it carry 1,2 or 3 trucks (big = 4 points,small1 =3 points or small2 =3 points) (10 points)
How expensive was it? Insidethe budget? (under $60 = 10 points,$61-100 = 7 points,$101-150 = 4 points) (10 points)
How resistantis itto wind coming from the side? (fan setting 1 = 4 points,2 = 7 points,3 = 10 points) (10 points)
Just English? (10 points)
Total = /50