Language Circles

1. Date or Other Description Goes Here
Dealing with Complaints
Language Circle

2. Objectives
• Learn functional language to complain and respond
to complaints

3. Agenda
1. Vocabulary & Grammar
2. Speaking
3. Reflect on learning

4. Grammar

5. Intensifiers
• We use words
like very, really and extremely to
make adjectives stronger:
– This movie is very interesting.
– This pie tastes really good.
– The lady looked extremely upset.

6. Strong adjectives
• Strong adjectives are words like:
– scrumptious
– mouth-watering
– delicious
– tasty
– good

7. Strong adjectives
– enormous, huge = very big
– tiny = very small
– brilliant = very clever
– awful; terrible; disgusting = very bad
– excellent; perfect; ideal; splendid = very
good
– delicious = very tasty

8. Intensifiers with strong
adjectives
• absolutely
• completely
• totally
• utterly
• exceptionally
• particularly
• quite

9. Intensifiers with strong
adjectives
This movie is very interesting.
This movie is totally compelling.
This pie is really tasty.
This pie is absolutely delicious.
The lady looked extremely upset.
The lady looked completely devastated.

10. Intensifiers with strong
adjectives
• Create your own sentences to complain
about something using these intensifiers:
Intensifiers Examples
absolutely
completely
totally
utterly
exceptionally
particularly
quite
In my opinion, forgetting your marriage
anniversary is completely unacceptable.

11. Mitigators with adjectives
• We use words like quite, rather, fairly, and
pretty (informal) to
make adjectives weaker:
– This movie was quite interesting.
– This pie tastes fairly good.
– The lady looked rather upset.
– This book is pretty easy to read.

12. Mitigators with adjectives
• Create your own sentences to show your
dissatisfaction about something using
these mitigators:
Mitigators Examples
Quite
Fairly
Rather
Pretty (informal)
To be honest, I am rather upset with the course
materials. I expected to have more interactive
experience instead of reading long articles.

13. Speaking

14. Roleplay
• Brainstorm suitable phrases for each of
the categories below:

15. Examples
1. Complaining/ Explaining problems The problem is that…
I have a problem with…
…
…
2. Apologizing/ Saying sorry I’m really sorry about that …
…
…
3. Sympathizing/ Sounding sympathetic
(without actually apologizing)
Oh, really?
That’s a pity.
It must be hard for you.
…
4. Asking for more information about
the complaint
What’s wrong with it exactly?
…
…
5. Asking for action (politely) If possible, I’d like you to…
…
…

16. Examples
6. Talking about solutions to that problem (including
things that they can do themselves)
So, what do you think might
be the best solution?
…
…
7. Promising to do something/ Talking about future
actions
I’ll make sure …
I’ll look into that …
…
…
8. Negative responses (maybe with alternative ideas) I’m afraid that is not
possible.
…
…
9. Thanking at the end of the conversation Thanks for your help.
Thank you for letting us
know.
…
…

17. Roleplay
1. Complaining/ Explaining problems
2. Apologizing/ Saying sorry
3. Sympathizing/ Sounding sympathetic (so not
actually apologizing)
4. Asking for more information about the
complaint
5. Asking for action (politely)
6. Talking about solutions to that problem
(including things that they can do themselves)
7. Promising to do something/ Talking about
future actions
8. Negative responses (maybe with alternative
ideas)
9. Thanking at the end of the conversation

18. What did you learn today?
• Learn functional language to complain
and respond to complaints

19. Homework
• Practice speaking with your partner until
you are able to include all 9 responses in
your conversation.

21. Date or Other Description Goes Here
See you next time!