Every week I do voluntary teaching of English conversation to people from other countries. We have a variety of activities, but today I thought we would have a little spot practising asking for directions, using different phrases to say thank you, and to think about pronunciation and intonation. I wrote some little dialogues which we had much fun practising, and as we have our classes in a church, I used its features in the conversations:
Sam: Good morning, welcome to St Paul’s!
Olga: Thank you! Can you tell me where the piano is please?
Sam: Of course; it’s down the aisle and on the right.
Olga: Down the what?
Sam: Down the aisle…
Olga: I’m sorry I don’t know what an aisle is.
Sam: Oh I’m sorry too! It’s the main part of the church. The piano is down the main part of the church and on the right!
Olga: Thank you!
Jan: Hello! Can I help you?
Olga: Yes, I’m looking for the altar.
Jan: It’s down at the other end.
Olga: Down at the other end?
Jan: Yes it’s down at the other end, can you see it?
Olga: Oh yes, I can see it now!
Jan: Can I help you with anything else?
Olga: I’m fine now, thank you!
Olga: Excuse me, can you help me?
Jo: If I can! How can I help?
Olga: That window is lovely, what do you call it in English
Jo: Yes it is lovely; it’s a stained glass window. Stained… glass… window
Olga: Stained… glass window… stained glass window, thank you!
Jan: Is there anything else I can help you with?
Olga: No thanks, thank you for your help!
Jan: You’re welcome!
Olga: Excuse me, can you tell me what this is?
Sue: It’s a font.
Olga: I see… what is it used for?
Sue: When babies are small they are welcomed to the church and there is water in the font which is poured over their heads.
Olga: I see, we have something like that in my country.
Sue: Our font is quite old.
Olga: I can see that; may I take a photo of it, it’s very beautiful?
Sue: Yes, of course, be my guest!
Lois Elsden 