Guerna TS #5

Date/Time: July 16th, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM EST
Location: Dirac Library 
Topic/Skill: Speaking  Student: Wei Wang


During this session I focused on speaking practice through giving and receiving advice, with attention to both casual and professional contexts. The lesson began with a warm-up introduction to common advice phrases. Wei was introduced to five structures typically used in everyday casual conversation (e.g., “Maybe you should…,” “Why don’t you…?,” “You could try…,” “Have you tried…?,” and “If I were you, I’d…”). Each was explained with examples that highlighted tone and register, showing how the phrasing makes advice sound either direct, friendly, or gentle. We then contrasted these with professional expressions used in workplace contexts, such as “I suggest you…,” “I advise you to…,” “I would recommend that you…,” and “I would appreciate input on….” By distinguishing between the two registers, Wei learned not only the grammatical forms but also the cultural appropriateness of advice-giving in different settings.

Following this, Wei completed a matching activity where she connected common problems to appropriate advice statements. For example, the problem “I’m stressed about exams” was linked with the suggestion “Why don’t you take a short break and relax for a few minutes?” This activity reinforced her understanding of how advice phrases fit naturally into specific situations, while also encouraging quick thinking and application.

The main part of the session focused on video-based practice. We watched two clips: one that modeled casual, everyday advice exchanges and another that highlighted professional advice-giving in workplace contexts. In the first video, Wei practiced identifying advice phrases in authentic dialogue and discussed why certain phrasing sounded friendly or supportive rather than commanding. In the second video, which focused on professional advice, she examined how speakers softened their tone using formal structures like “I recommend…” or “I would appreciate your input on…” After viewing, Wei practiced rephrasing advice from casual to professional forms and vice versa, helping her gain flexibility in adjusting her speech for different audiences.

After viewing, Wei practiced rephrasing advice from casual to professional forms and vice versa, helping her gain flexibility in adjusting her speech for different audiences. She then took this opportunity to apply the lesson in a practical way by drafting an email to a professor asking for advice. Together, we worked on refining the wording so her request sounded both polite and professional, incorporating expressions such as “I would appreciate your input on…” and “I recommend…” where appropriate. This activity not only reinforced her understanding of formal advice structures but also gave her direct practice in a real academic context.

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