Language circle

1. Sympathetic or unsympathetic?
Language circle

2. Objectives
• Study expressions to sympathetic/unsympathetic
• Recognize meaning based on a speaker’s
intonation/tone

3. Agenda
1. Vocabulary
2. Grammar
3. Speaking
4. Listening
5. Reflect on learning

4. Vocabulary

5. Sympathetic - A
Unsympathetic - B
It depends - C
Are you okay?/ Are you alright?
(Just) get over it.
Oh, are you?/Did you?/Do you?/Were you?
I can imagine how you must feel.
Oh well, it’s not like you…
Honestly?/ Seriously?
No way!
Oh, stop complaining!/Oh, stop whining about it!
I wouldn’t worry about it.
Oh no, really?
(It) serves you right!
I’m sure it’ll be fine.
That must have been awful.

6. Sympathetic - A
Unsympathetic - B
It depends - C
(There’s) no point crying over spilt milk.
That sounds awful/terrible.
So what?
Really?
That stinks.
That’s such a pity.
Well, I told you so.
To be honest, I think you had it coming.
That’s too bad.
Well, that’s no surprise, is it?
What a bummer! (informal)
Well, what did I tell you?

7. Sympathetic Unsympathetic It depends
Are you okay?/ Are you
alright?
(Just) get over it. Oh, are you?/Did you?/Do
you?/Were you?
I can imagine how you
must feel.
Oh well, it’s not like you… Honestly?/ Seriously?
No way! Oh, stop complaining!/Oh,
stop whining about it!
I wouldn’t worry about it.
Oh no, really? (It) serves you right! I’m sure it’ll be fine.
That must have been
awful.
(There’s) no point crying
over spilt milk.
Oh well (I’m sure you’ll…)
That sounds
awful/terrible.
So what? Really?
That stinks. To be honest, I think you had
it coming.
That’s such a pity. Well, I told you so.
That’s too bad. Well, that’s no surprise, is it?
What a bummer!
(informal)
Well, what did I tell you?

8. LISTENING

9. Listening
• Let’s listen to 5 different scenarios and
decide whether the speaker was
sympathetic or not:

10. Listening for intonation
Scenarios Sympathetic/
unsympathetic
1. - This morning, I left my keys in the car, so I had to go all the
way back to the parking lot in the freezing cold.
- Oh, did you?
1 -
2 -
2. - Oh no, if the bus doesn't come on time, I'll be late for my
date!
- Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it.
1 -
2 -
3. - I've parked my car on the street. Can you make sure my
hair cut and styling won't take more than 2 hours?
- Oh, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
1 -
2 -
4. - I have nothing to wear to the dinner party tonight.
- Seriously?
1 -
2 -
5. I was buying my groceries with cash and the cashier
miscounted my change. I noticed it only when I came home.
- You know, the same thing happened to me.
1 -
2 -

11. Listening for intonation
Scenarios Sympathetic/
unsympathetic
1. - This morning, I left my keys in the car, so I had to go all
the way back to the parking lot in the freezing cold.
- Oh, did you?
1- sympathetic
2 - unsympathetic
2. - Oh no, if the bus doesn't come on time, I'll be late for my
date!
- Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it.
3. - I've parked my car on the street. Can you make sure my
hair cut and styling won't take more than 2 hours?
- Oh, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
4. - I have nothing to wear to the dinner party tonight.
- Seriously?
5. I was buying my groceries with cash and the cashier
miscounted my change. I noticed it only when I came
home.
- You know, the same thing happened to me.

12. Listening for intonation
Scenarios Sympathetic/
unsympathetic
1. - This morning, I left my keys in the car, so I had to go all
the way back to the parking lot in the freezing cold.
- Oh, did you?
1- sympathetic
2 - unsympathetic
2. - Oh no, if the bus doesn't come on time, I'll be late for my
date!
- Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it.
1- unsympathetic
2 - sympathetic
3. - I've parked my car on the street. Can you make sure my
hair cut and styling won't take more than 2 hours?
- Oh, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
4. - I have nothing to wear to the dinner party tonight.
- Seriously?
5. I was buying my groceries with cash and the cashier
miscounted my change. I noticed it only when I came
home.
- You know, the same thing happened to me.

13. Listening for intonation
Scenarios Sympathetic/
unsympathetic
1. - This morning, I left my keys in the car, so I had to go all
the way back to the parking lot in the freezing cold.
- Oh, did you?
1- sympathetic
2 - unsympathetic
2. - Oh no, if the bus doesn't come on time, I'll be late for my
date!
- Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it.
1- unsympathetic
2 - sympathetic
3. - I've parked my car on the street. Can you make sure my
hair cut and styling won't take more than 2 hours?
- Oh, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
1- unsympathetic
2 - sympathetic
4. - I have nothing to wear to the dinner party tonight.
- Seriously?
5. I was buying my groceries with cash and the cashier
miscounted my change. I noticed it only when I came
home.
- You know, the same thing happened to me.

14. Listening for intonation
Scenarios Sympathetic/
unsympathetic
1. - This morning, I left my keys in the car, so I had to go all
the way back to the parking lot in the freezing cold.
- Oh, did you?
1- sympathetic
2 - unsympathetic
2. - Oh no, if the bus doesn't come on time, I'll be late for my
date!
- Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it.
1- unsympathetic
2 - sympathetic
3. - I've parked my car on the street. Can you make sure my
hair cut and styling won't take more than 2 hours?
- Oh, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
1- unsympathetic
2 - sympathetic
4. - I have nothing to wear to the dinner party tonight.
- Seriously?
1- sympathetic
2 - unsympathetic
5. I was buying my groceries with cash and the cashier
miscounted my change. I noticed it only when I came
home.
- You know, the same thing happened to me.

15. Listening for intonation
Scenarios Sympathetic/
unsympathetic
1. - This morning, I left my keys in the car, so I had to go all
the way back to the parking lot in the freezing cold.
- Oh, did you?
1- sympathetic
2 - unsympathetic
2. - Oh no, if the bus doesn't come on time, I'll be late for my
date!
- Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it.
1- unsympathetic
2 - sympathetic
3. - I've parked my car on the street. Can you make sure my
hair cut and styling won't take more than 2 hours?
- Oh, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
1- unsympathetic
2 - sympathetic
4. - I have nothing to wear to the dinner party tonight.
- Seriously?
1- sympathetic
2 - unsympathetic
5. I was buying my groceries with cash and the cashier
miscounted my change. I noticed it only when I came
home.
- You know, the same thing happened to me.
1- unsympathetic
2 - sympathetic

16. Grammar

17. Modals to express sympathy
• Must:
– It must be hard for you.
– That must be awful.
– It must have been hard for you.
– That must have been awful.

18. Modals to express sympathy
• Can:
– I can imagine what you have to go through.
– I can understand exactly how you feel.

19. Modals to express disapproval
• Could:
– You could have done better!
– It could have been worse.

20. Speaking

21. Roleplay
• Choose 3 scenarios from the list and role
play it with your partner using the correct
expressions for complaining and being
sympathetic/unsympathetic.
• You have to use 3 different responses.

22. Roleplay: students A
1. A delayed plane/bus arriving late
2. A car breakdown
3. Slippery sidewalk
4. Not understanding what someone said in
English
5. The heating on too high or low
6. Long lines
7. Slow service

23. Roleplay: students B
1. Getting the wrong food order
2. Things being out of stock
3. An inaccurate bill
4. Feeling let down by your friend
5. Outrageous additional charges
6. People not understanding what you’ve said in
English
7. Not being able to cancel a subscription

24. What did you learn today?
• Study expressions to
sympathetic/unsympathetic
• Recognize meaning based on a
speaker’s intonation/tone

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