FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH

What is Functional English

Functional English is usage of the English language required to perform a specific function.

A good command of English is often required for academic and career progression.

Functional English is used in various situations like … Greeting Friends, elders, superiors,

strangers Introducing self & others Making Telephone calls or answering

them Asking for or giving information Asking for things in shops, counters &

restaurants Describing things, people, places or

processes Expressing opinions or reactions to

programmes, plays, books or films

Functional English is used in various situations like…

Participating in discussions & debates

Giving or receiving Instructions Narrating anecdotes, stories &

discussing them Carry on sustained conversation

with friends or strangers Giving a report of an event

Features of Functional English

Functional English is related to spoken form

Spoken language is less structured, a little loose,

We don’t have to be sticklers for too correct grammar

Spoken language is more informal, more spontaneous like yeah for yes

Speaking is processed in real time Speaking depends on intonation, stress,

facial expression, body language, speed of delivery

Objectives:

To make us aware that as engineers we will later be dealing with all kinds of people, clients, colleagues senior or junior, friends & strangers. In all these kinds of professional or social encounters, it is our conversational skills & emotional Intelligence that will play a key role in executing our work & contribute to our success in the chosen profession.

Objectives of Learning Functional English

  Ability to respond quickly and

accurately in speech situations  Knowledge of sufficient vocabulary to

use with grammar patterns.  A practical command of the four skills

of the language with special emphasis on oral skill. 

Accuracy in both pronunciation and grammar 

Automatic control of basic structures and sentence patterns.  

Learning Techniques and Activities 

  Dialogues Role plays  A situational presentation

of new sentence patterns.  Drills to practice the

patterns. 

3 Things a Speaker needs to keep in mind Why am I speaking? (Purpose) For Ex: Am I requesting? Am I complaining? Am I telling a story? Am I instructing?

Who am I speaking to? For Ex: A stranger, a friend, a superior

The settingFor Ex: Is it a formal or informal setting?

Office or at home

For Interactional Function, a Speaker needs… Use of correct sounds (pronunciation, intonation

& stress) Use of correct structures (syntax) Acceptable degree of fluency (vocabulary &

grammar) Transactional & interpersonal skills Taking short & long turns while speaking Management of interaction Negotiating Meaning Listening skills Using formulaic language (stock sentences) Wow, that’s a great outfit you are wearing, Oh! Really…. That’s too bad. / Sad….

Things that matter while conversing

Clarity Voice modulation Facial Expression Body language Positioning Speed of delivery

Conversational Skills

In a conversation, a speaker needs to know

When to initiate a conversation, How to maintain a conversation, How to close the conversation

Initiating an conversation

What do we do for Initiating an conversation?

Greetings Introductions Attention getting Acknowledging presence

Example

Anusha: Hello Nalini, How are you?Nalini: Am good, how are you?Anusha: FineNalini: And how’s you project coming

along?Anusha: It’s progressing well, thanks. Hey

look, there’s Deepak. Deepak, hi, how are things?

Deepak: Things are just great, oh hello, Anusha. Haven’t seen you for ages, where have you been?

Anusha: Was out of station the whole of last week. Went to attend my cousins wedding,

Deepak: I see.

What do we do to maintain a conversation?

Asking questions? Responding Giving Information Explaining Encouraging

Maintaining a Conversation

An Example:Kishore: Ramesh! How nice to hear from

you. Have you had a good holiday?Ramesh: Had a wonderful time. I went

away actuallyKishore: Oh, did you? Where?Ramesh: GunturKishore: How nice!Ramesh: We went to see my parentsKishore: Really, where do they live in

Guntur?Ramesh: In a small village near Guntur

actually, it’s a place called Vadlamudi.

What do we do to close a Conversation?

Announcing departure Reason Thanking Apologies Saying goodbye

Closing a Conversation

An Example:Anusha: Gosh! It’s almost eleven, I really

must go.Nalini: Are you sure, you don’t want to

join me for lunch?Anusha: I have a meeting with my team at

12.Nalini: Well, it has been nice talking to

you, that too after such along time. We hardly meet these days. Anyways keep in touch

Anusha: I sure will. Sorry to rush off like this. Bye

Nalini : Bye

Stock Expressions

Expressions of politeness: If it is not inconvenient If you don’t mind I don’t know if you will agree with me I would be happy. Some polite question forms: Would you mind…? Would you mind helping…? Would you like to have…? Could I speak to …please?

Stock Expressions Suggestion : Would you like me to get you the

newspaper? Request : Could you open the window please? Offering Help : Would you like me to carry your

bag? Inviting : Would you like to join us for tea this

evening? Permission : May I use your phone? Excuse me sir, would you mind if I came an hour

late… Apologizing : I am extremely sorry for my

assistant’s behavior Complaining : I am sorry to bring to your

notice… I am afraid the machine is faulty… Agreeing : Yes, I can see your point of view… Disagreeing : Well, I don’t quite see it that way… Taking the initiative : May I suggest…                              How about…

Introducing People What's your name? Who are you? My name is ... I am ... My friends call

me ... You can call me ... Haven't we met

(before)? Yes, I think we

have. No, I don't think we

have. I think we've already met.

I don't think we've met (before).

This is ...

Meet ... Have you met ...? Yes, I have. No, I haven't. Yes, I think I have. No, I don't think I

have. Hello, ... (name) Nice to meet you.

(informal) Pleased to meet

you. How do you do?

(formal) Nice to see you. Nice to see you

again.

Say Goodbye

Good bye. Bye. / See you. See you later. See you soon. See you tomorrow. See you next week. Good night.

Health How are you? How are you today? Fine, thank you/thanks. Not too bad. Very well. I'm okay / all right. Not too well, actually.

What's wrong with you? What's the matter with you? Are you all right? I'm tired . I'm exhausted . I've got a cold.  

Stating your Opinion It seems to me that ... In my opinion, ... I am of the opinion

that .../ I take the view that ..

My personal view is that ...

In my experience ... As far as I understand /

can see, ... As I see it, ... / From my

point of view ... As far as I know ... /

From what I know ... I might be wrong but ... If I am not mistaken ... I believe one can

(safely) say ... It is claimed that ... I must admit that ... I cannot deny that ...

I can imagine that ... I

think/believe/suppose ...

Personally, I think ... That is why I think ... I am

sure/certain/convinced that ...

I am not sure/certain, but ...

I am not sure, because I don't know the situation exactly.

I am not convinced that ...

I have read that ... I am of mixed opinions

(about / on) ... I am of mixed opinions

about / on this. I have no opinion in this

matter.

Outlining Facts The fact is that The (main) point is that ... This proves that ... What it comes down to is that ... It is obvious that ... It is certain that ... One can say that ... It is clear that ... There is no doubt that ...

Expression of Agreement

There are many reasons for ... There is no doubt about it that ... I simply must agree with that. I am of the same opinion. I am of the same opinion as the

author. I completely/absolutely agree

with the author.

Qualified Disagreement

It is only partly true that... I can agree with that only with

reservations. That seems obvious, but ... That is not necessarily so. It is not as simple as it seems. Under certain circumstances ...

Disagreement There is more to it than that. The problem is that ... I (very much) doubt whether ... This is in complete contradiction to ... What is even worse, ... I am of a different opinion because ... I cannot share this / that / the view. I cannot agree with this idea. What I object to is ... Unlike the author I think ...

Linking Arguments First of all, I think ... Not only that, but I

also think that ... Not only are they ...,

they are also ... They are not ..., nor

are they ... There are

various/several/many reasons for this.

First, ... / Firstly, ... Second, ... /

Secondly, ... Moreover, ... /

Furthermore, ... / In addition, ...

Another significant point is that ...

Finally, ...

That is why ... After all, ... The reason is that ... In that respect ... The result of this is

that ... Another aspect/point is

that ... It is because ... Although it is true

that ... it would be wrong to claim that ...

That may sometimes be true, but ...

One could argue that ..., but ...

On the one hand, ... On the other hand, ...

Providing Examples

Take for example (the case of) ... Look at ... For instance ... / For example ... Let me give you an example.

Additions and Conclusion Most probably ... It appears to be ... It is important to mention that... As I already indicated ... In other words, ... I am most concerned about ... I should like to repeat once again that ... I should like to emphasise that ... I would (just) like to add ... So all in all I believe that... (In) summing up it can be said that ... Weighing the pros and cons, I come to the

conclusion that ...  

Conjunctions but / still / however especially / mainly /

particularly before as / because / since so that then / after that that's why / so either ... or after all after of course though / although /

even though

or as soon as as long as finally / eventually in spite of / even so /

all the same perhaps ... above all neither ... nor because first of all for example / for

instance

Weather What's the weather

like today? What will the

weather be like tomorrow?

Nice day today, isn't it?

What awful weather!

What a lovely day! It's raining. It's snowing. It's … Tomorrow it will

be …

sunny cloudy overcast foggy stormy windy cold warm hot Yesterday it was …

Learning Outcomes

Should be able to initiate, sustain & effectively terminate a conversation

Should be able to persuade & convince other’s with your point of view

Should narrate & make a factual oral report of an incident

Should be able to conceptualize & speak of hypothetical scenarios.

Thank Q