Giving advice
Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.
Preparation
Transcript
Ana: Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!
Do you know what to say when you give advice? Listen out for useful language for giving advice. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.
Noelia: Argh, this is just ridiculous!
Paul: Susan again?
Noelia: Yeah, Susan. She just keeps emailing me about things that have nothing to do with work and nothing to do with me. What do you think I should do?
Paul: Well, if I were you, I'd email and ask her to stop sending them.
Noelia: I'm not sure that's a good idea. I have to be careful what I say as she's quite an important client.
Paul: Erm, I'm not sure then. Perhaps you could try talking to Yuna about it?
Bob: Er .. why don't you try doing nothing?
Noelia: Sorry?
Bob: Perhaps you could just … do nothing?
Noelia: Really? I'm not too sure about that.
Bob: Well, I remember this guy I used to work with, Mark, and he kept emailing again and again and again, about all sorts, mostly unrelated to work. Well, I kept responding politely and he kept sending them. In the end, I stopped replying to his emails unless they were only about work.
Paul: And what happened?
Bob: He stopped sending them. It's a bit like being faced with a dangerous snake. If you move quickly, it'll bite you, but if you keep very still and do nothing, eventually it'll move away and leave you alone. I had to learn the hard way.
Noelia: Hey, Bob. Have you got a minute?
Bob: Yeah.
Noelia: So, I tried what you suggested and I only responded to Susan's emails about work for a few days. Then guess what?
Bob: The irrelevant emails stopped.
Noelia: Yes! Now she only sends me work-related ones.
Bob: Well, that's very good news.
Noelia: All thanks to you, Bob.
Bob: Any time, Noelia, any time! All in a day's work. Ahh!
Ana: Hello again! It looks like Bob is in Noelia's good books. So, did you notice the useful phrases used for giving advice? Listen to me and then repeat.
What do you think I should do?
If I were you, I'd ask her.
I'm not sure that's a good idea.
Perhaps you could try talking to Yuna.
Why don't you try doing nothing?
I'm not too sure about that.
I tried what you suggested.
Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you give advice in English. Bye for now!
Actually, I don't remember when was the last time I asked for advice onyone. I think nobody could decide what you should do better than youself.
Who do you ask for advice and why?
I think it depends on the situation, but in general I ask my mom, I have the belief if I ask her or have a weird feeling about some proyect or decision that I have to take, at the moment I tell her about it, everything is going to be clear.
I enjoyed this material and exam , its very smart and easy way to learn and elevate our language and skills
When I need advice, I ask my friend Flávia.
She has a very sensitive way of feeling things.
She listens to me, asks me for more information, and then gives me her point of view.
She doesn’t even know how she does it, but the words just come out of her mouth and, to my surprise (and probably to yours too), she’s usually right.
Because she has a spiritual belief that I don’t share, sometimes I follow her advice, and sometimes I don’t.
However, most of the time I listen to what she tells me.
We work together and we’re also friends.
It’s so nice to have someone like her near me!
I think I give her my more cognitive perspective, and that’s why we complement each other.
I loved this article! I'm brazilian and this is my first time commenting here!
I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like to ask for advice unless I’ve exhausted all other solutions.
when i am in home i always ask my parants for advice but when i am working and get into trouble i ask my younger brother he always give the right advice.
From Yi:
I always ask my mom for advice, because we are very close.
I sometimes ask my sister for advice, because I love her but we aren't very close and sometimes we have arguments.
I'm not sure that's a good idea. But I'll try it anyway.
I always ask my husband for some advices. He gives me a good ideas. Together we make important decisions.