General Telephone Class Teacher’s Copy

DEVELOPING AN ARGUMENT-LINKING EXPRESSIONS B2-C1 ____________________________________________________________________________

Listening Comprehension / Text

Ask the student the following questions:

1. What kind of tourism is Spain best known for?

2. What challenges is the tourist industry in Spain facing at present?

Explain to the student that they are going to work on linking words and developing an argument. Ask them to listen to the following text about the state of the tourist industry in a country, to focus not only on the problems which there are and the solutions that the person suggests, but also to pay attention to the different words and phrases used to explain and join the ideas. When reading, put stress on the expressions in italics.

TOURISM

Well, in this country we are facing two main problems, firstly the fact that our tourist industry is based on just one main product, that is to say “sun and sand” and secondly the fact that the tourists who come here don’t spend very much money. On the one hand, it’s true that our economy has benefitted from tourism, but on the other hand I’m sure you will agree that conserving natural areas. It’s time we learnt from these mistakes so as not to destroy the few remaining unspoilt areas.

As regards the problem of low spending by visitors, the only solution is to improve the product we offer. Unless we do, we won’t survive in the future because other countries now offer beach holidays at cheaper prices than ours.

As far as developing new regions is concerned we need to support interior tourism in particular cultural tourism. To start with, we urgently need to restore many historic buildings, for instance the Kalian monastery, and then, in addition, we need to market the attractions of these rural areas.

On the whole, I’m reasonably optimistic about the future of our industry but it is going to become more and more important to pay close attention to the quality of the customer service we offer.

Language Practice: Explaining and linking ideas

Ask the student what words and expressions from above can be used in the following cases and also ask them what other expressions can be used.

General Telephone Class Teacher’s Copy

DEVELOPING AN ARGUMENT-LINKING EXPRESSIONS B2-C1 ____________________________________________________________________________

•Showing a sequence: Firstly, secondly, thirdly, finally, lastly

•Talking generally: On the whole, in general, generally speaking

•Making a contrast: On the one hand, on the other hand, nevertheless

•Adding another point: Besides, what’s more, in addition

•Rephrasing in a different way: That is to say, in other words

•Referring to something: As regards, as far as ….. is concerned, regarding

•Giving an example: For instance, such as, for example

Ask the students to translate the following sentences using the words and expressions that you have just given them:

1. Por regla general, me gusta mi trabajo.

On the whole I like my job.

2. Levantarse pronto tiene varias ventajas. Por una parte, aprovechas más el día, por otra, suele haber menos tráfico para ir a trabajar. Getting up early has got several advantages. On the one hand, you get more out of the day and on the other hand, there is usually less traffic when going to work.

3. En cuanto al problema que me contaste ayer, creo que deberíamos convocar una reunión para examinarlo detalladamente. As far as the problem you told me about yesterday is concerned, I think we should call a meeting to look into it in more detail.

4. Trabajar para Auditoria Interna tiene bastantes ventajas. Por ejemplo, viajas mucho y además aprendes mucho acerca de los diferentes departamentos de la empresa. Working for Internal Audit has several advantages. For instance you travel a lot and what’s more you learn a lot about all the different parts of the company.

General Telephone Class Teacher’s Copy

DEVELOPING AN ARGUMENT-LINKING EXPRESSIONS B2-C1 ____________________________________________________________________________

5. Este producto está dirigido a gente con mucho tiempo libre, es decir gente de vacaciones y gente jubilada. This product is directed at people with a lot of free time, that is to say, people on holiday or the retired. 6. Deje de fumar por varias razones. Primero, me costaba mucho dinero. Segundo, estaba afectando a mi salud y por último, por la prohibición, de fumar en lugares públicos. I gave up smoking for several reason. Firstly, it cost a lot of money, secondly it was affecting my health, and lastly because of the ban on smoking in public places.

7. Siempre llega tarde y además casi siempre es el primero en irse a casa.

He always arrives late and besides he’s almost always the first to go home.

8. Tengo que hablar contigo en cuanto al informe que me acabas de entregar.

I have to speak to you regarding the report which you have just handed in.

Follow up / extra practice

Ask the student to write a couple of paragraphs on a subject of their choice using the words and expressions that they have been practising throughout the class. This should be sent to you by email before the next class for correction.

If they are stuck for ideas then they could write about one of the following topics:

The public transport system in Madrid

The importance of having a work-life balance

Different ways to find a new job

A favourite hobby