In the Community – An Intermediate Integrated Skills Textbook (NorQuest College)

Discussion

We’ve heard two conversations with Roshan. The first included his former teacher and a stranger. The second was with his mother; his father was listening in.

• NOTICE how familiarity changed Roshan’s way of talking.
• FIND examples of how strangers show respect and politeness.
• DISCUSS how Roshan might feel when people he doesn’t know very well, or at all, ask him questions about himself and his family.
• DISCUSS why Roshan doesn’t ask many questions, and why he never asks any personal questions.
• IDENTIFY an assumption that Roshan’s mother makes when she answers the phone.
• IDENTIFY an assumption that Roshan makes when he starts talking to his mother.
• DISCUSS whether Roshan and his mother misunderstood each other. How did their assumptions change how they received, or (mis)understood, each other’s words.
• IDENTIFY assumptions that Roshan’s parents have made about their son.
• DISCUSS how Roshan responds to his mother’s assumptions. Was Roshan direct or indirect? Why did he respond that way? How might Roshan want his parents to think about (perceive) him?
• DISCUSS how Roshan might respond to his father’s judgments, if he heard them. Would Roshan be direct or indirect, formal or informal? How do you think these different ways of responding would make Roshan’s father feel? How do you feel about Roshan’s father’s judgments? Why do you feel this way?
• DISCUSS Roshan’s reaction to Gilles’ request to call him by his first name. How did Roshan feel about his former teacher’s request? Why might Roshan feel this way? Why would Gilles want to be called by his first name? How do you feel about this situation? Why do you feel this way?
• THINK about your relationships outside English class.
• TALK about people who ask a lot of questions. How do you feel about talking with them? Why? Do you always answer people’s questions? What questions do you feel comfortable answering directly? Why? How do you respond to questions you are uncomfortable with?
• TALK about your own speech. Do you openly talk about your assumptions, say them only to people close to you, or keep them to yourself? Why?
• TALK about a time when someone expected you to be more formal or more informal. How did you feel? How did you respond? Why?
• TALK about a time when someone was more direct or more indirect than you expected. How did you feel? How did you respond? Were you direct, or indirect? Formal or informal? Why?
• TALK about using first names and titles. Who do you feel comfortable using first names with? Who are you uncomfortable using first names with? Are you more comfortable with first names or with titles? Why?