Guerna TS# 7

Date/Time: August 4th, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST
Location: Dirac Library
Topic/Skill: Speaking & Listening
Student: Wei Wang


This lesson centered on the theme of “Ordering Food” with the goal of improving Wei’s speaking and listening skills in common restaurant situations. The session began with a warm-up conversation about her own dining experiences, which allowed her to activate prior knowledge, share personal examples, and ease into the topic. This also gave her an opportunity to practice familiar vocabulary in a natural way, while the I supported her responses with more target-like expressions.

The vocabulary focus was divided into three areas: (1) general restaurant terms, (2) food and drink items, and (3) polite expressions for ordering. I introduced useful words like menu, special, appetizer, and check, as well as specific food terms. Special attention was given to polite request forms such as “I’ll have…” and “Could I get…,” since these are crucial for sounding natural and respectful when ordering. Additional vocabulary that she was unfamiliar with such as ingredient, condiments, vegan, and produce extended the lesson beyond the basic restaurant script, helping her prepare for more nuanced dining conversations.

Following this, we worked through a complete model dialogue of a restaurant exchange. By listening to and analyzing the flow of the conversation, she identified when to use certain phrases, how to ask clarifying questions like “Is it spicy?” and how to transition politely from ordering to paying. I presented comprehension questions that reinforced listening skills, while open-ended speaking prompts encouraged her to adapt the script to her own preferences.

Next, during the guided practice stage, Wei was able to responded to realistic restaurant scenarios, such as asking for the menu, checking if food was spicy, and requesting the bill. This controlled practice allowed her to rehearse polite phrasing and gain confidence in her ability to handle different dining interactions. Finally, the role-play activity gave her the chance to switch between the roles of customer and server. Using a sample menu, Wei practiced initiating, responding, and adapting when presented with optional “twists” (e.g., the special being sold out). This stage emphasized fluency, spontaneity, and interactional skills, moving her closer to real-world application.

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