1. IBN ZOHR UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Introduction to General English
S2/ G1
Instructor: Khadija GOUALI
khadijagouali@gmail.com
Facebook: Khadijah Gouali

2. Course content
 Functional English:
- Greetings and introductions
- Asking for opinion.
- Expressing opinion.
- Expressing agreement and disagreement
- Asking for and giving advice.
- Making requests and offers.
- Making suggestions.
- Making and responding to apologies.

3. Agreeing and disagreeing
Ahmed: I think English is an interesting language to learn
instead of French. What do you think?
Amina: I'm afraid I disagree. In comparison to French,
English is not valued in Morocco.
Ahmed: I have to side with you on this one. In Morocco,
French is given more importance than English but I
personally find English a very interesting language.
Amina: Yeah, there is no doubt about that!

4. Agreeing and disagreeing
Ahmed: I think English is an interesting language to learn
instead of French. What do you think?
Amina: I'm afraid I disagree. In comparison to French,
English is not valued in Morocco.
Ahmed: I have to side with you on this one. In Morocco,
French is given more importance than English but I
personally find English a very interesting language.
Amina: Yeah, there is no doubt about that!

5. Agreeing
• I agree with you 100 percent./ Yes, I agree!/ I totally agree!/
• I couldn't agree with you more.
• That's so true/ That’s right!
• That's for sure.
• You're absolutely right. / Absolutely/ Exactly!
• That's exactly how I feel.
• I have to side with you on this one.
• No doubt about it.
• (agree with negative statement) Me neither.
• (weak) I suppose so./I guess so.
• You have a point there.
• I was just going to say that.
• (slang) Tell me about it!

6. Disagreeing
• I don't think so.
• (strong) No way.
• I'm afraid I disagree.
• (strong) I totally disagree.
• (strong) I'd say the exact opposite.
• Not necessarily.
• That's not always true.
• That's not always the case.
• No, I'm not so sure about that.
• I don't agree with this idea.

7. Let’s practise!
* Discuss these topics with your partner and give reasons why
you agree or disagree.
• Watching too much TV is bad for a child’s mind
• Reading books is a must.
• Women should stay at home and not work.
• Classical music is boring to listen to.
• Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
• Swimming in the ocean is better than swimming in a public
pool.
• Television is the leading cause of violence in today's society.

8. Asking for and giving advice
• Advice vs Advise
• Advice is a noun meaning a suggestion or
recommendation. It is an opinion about what
could or should be done in a situation or about a
problem.
Example: My father gave me this piece of advice when I was
young: never give up.
• Advise is a verb meaning to give advice.
Example: I advise you to learn English. You will undoubtedly
need it in your higher studies.

9. Asking for and giving advice
• Student: I'm terrible at English and I think I should
do something about it. What do you advise me to do?
• Teacher: I think you should try this website. It's a
fantastic website for beginners.
• Student: I've heard about it, but what do you think I
should start with?
• Teacher: You'd better start with the lessons. Then, try
the exercises.

10. Asking for and giving advice
• Student: I'm terrible at English and I think I should do
something about it. What do you advise me to do?
(asking for advice)
• Teacher: I think you should try this website. It's a
fantastic website for beginners. (giving advice)
• Student: I've heard about it, but what do you think I
should start with? (asking for advice)
• Teacher: You'd better start with the lessons. Then, try
the exercises. (giving advice)

11. Asking for advice
• I've got a bad toothache. What do you suggest?
• What do you advise me to do?
• What should I do?
• What ought I to do?
• What's your advice?
• If you were me what would you do?

12. Giving advice
• If I were you, I would go to the dentist.
• Why don't you go to the dentist?
• You'd better brush your teeth regularly.
• You ought to/should avoid eating
sweets.
• If you take my advice, you'll go to the
dentist.
• It might be a good idea to brush your
teeth on a regular basis.
• I advise you to brush your teeth on a
regular basis.
• Have you thought about seeing a
dentist.
• I think you should…
• Maybe you should ...
• You might try (verb+ing...)
• It might be a good idea to ...
• My advice would be to ...
• How about (verb+ing....)?

13. Another example!
• Brother: I did well in the exam, but I got a bad mark.
What should I do, please?
• Me: If I were you, I would check my hand writing and my
answers before submitting my papers.
• Brother: Thanks, but I’ve already done it.
• Me: Then, I don't know what to advise, I'm afraid.
• Brother: ok! Thanks anyway.

14. Another example!
• Brother: I did well in the exam, but I got a bad mark.
What should I do, please? (asking for advice)
• Me: If I were you, I would check my hand writing and
my answers before submitting my papers. (giving advice)
• Brother: Thanks, but I’ve already done it.
• Me: Then, I don't know what to advise, I'm afraid.
(declining to give advice)
• Brother: ok! Thanks anyway.

15. Declining to give advice
• I don't know what to advise, I'm afraid.
• I wish I could suggest something, but I can't.
• I wish I could help.
• I'm afraid I can't really help you.

16. Problems
In pairs, choose one of these problems
and try to come up with a dialogue in
which you ask for and give a piece of
advice.

17. Best of Luck!