Invitations
Lesson Plan- Inviations
When friends get together, they usually do so by an invitation from one person to another. An invitation may be very casual, such as asking a friend to go out for a drink or dinner after work or more formal, such as a wedding invitation. More formal invitations are usually written and may require an RSVP (French abbreviation répondez s’il vous plaît meaning please reply). There are several expressions that can be used when extending the more common and causal oral invitation. Look at the samples below.
English Expressions- Invitations
Expression: Are you free on (… Friday night)?
Accept: Sure, what did you have in mind?
Decline: No, I’m going to my grandmother’s 80th birthday party.
Expression: Would you like to go to ( … a picnic on Sunday afternoon)?
Accept: That would be great, thanks.
Decline: No can do, I have a soccer game.
Expression: How about going to ( … the movies with me this Saturday)?
Accept: That sounds great. What time?
Decline: Sorry, but I’ve already made other plans.
Expression: I’d like to invite you to ( … the dance this weekend)?
Accept: How kind of you to ask, I’d be delighted.
Decline: I’m sorry, but I have a previous engagement.
Expression: Do you want to go to ( … the rock concert with me)?
Accept: Sure. When?
Decline: No thanks, loud concerts give me an earache.
Dialogue- Invitations
Bob: Alice, what are you doing Sunday afternoon?
Alice: Not much, what did you have in mind?
Bob: The Fourth Avenue Street Fair is going on downtown. Would you
like to go?
Alice: Sure, sounds like fun. What is it anyway?
Bob: Just a bunch of vendors selling food, clothes, and what not, kind of
like a carnival. There are also street musicians and performers. It’s
interesting to just walk around looking at the people and the
sights.
Alice: What time and where do we meet?
Bob: The fair opens at 9:00, but I’m busy in the morning. How
about 1:00?
Alice: OK, should I meet you somewhere there?
Bob: Why don’t I pick you up at your house?
Alice: Sounds good, see you then.
Conversation Activities- Invitations
1. Pair work- discussion
When was the last time you invited someone someplace or were invited
someplace by someone? Tell your partner about it using some of the
ideas for the discussion below. Your partner should ask questions to
get more information.
– where was the invitation to
– when was the invitation extended
– what was the occasion of the invitation
– did you/they accept or decline the invitation
– if accepted, was it fun
2. Pair work- practice
Invite your partner to the activities below. Your partner should accept some
of the invitations, but decline decline others. If they decline, they should
offer polite reasons for rejecting the invitation. If they accept the
invitation, both partners should continue the conversation to get more
information about the event, such as:
the day and time where they should meet
how much money it will cost what kind of dress is required
how long the event will last if anything special is needed to participate in the event
To a natural history museum
To a lecture about finance
To an amusement park
To ball room dancing lessons
To a formal dinner
To a friend’s birthday party
To the Russian Ballet
To a horror movie
To go ice fishing on the lake
To go window shopping
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