Conversation Lesson 15:
Making Suggestions and/or
Giving AdviceAdvisor: It looks like you’ve got too many courses
here.
Student: What’s the maximum number of courses |
can take?
Advisor: It depends. If you’re a full-time student
you can take up to six courses.
Student: Is it possible to take seven courses?
Advisor: Only if get the dean’s permission. But
you’d be better off dropping one course. Seven
courses will be a lot of work.
Student: Do you think so?
Advisor: Definitely. If | were you, | would drop one
course. This is your first semester. No need to
overdo it.
Student: OK. Thank you for your advice.Culture Note
Americans like to “do their own thing” and “mind
their own business,” so suggestions and/or advice
on personal matters are usually given only to close
friends or when someone asks for advice.
When Americans turn down a suggestion or advice,
they usually give an explanation.
A: Why don’t you travel to Europe on vacation?
B: | can’t do that because | haven’t got enough
money for such a big trip.To make suggestions and/or give
advice, you can say
| was wondering if you’d ever thought of ...
| think it might be a good idea to...
| (strongly) advise you to...
| suggest (to you) that you (should) ...
| (strongly) recommend that you (should) ...
You (really) ought to/should . . .
If | were you, I'd...
Why don’t you... ?
You'd better...To accept someone’s
suggestions/advice, you can say
That’s a good* idea/suggestion.
I'll do that.
You're right.
All right.
OK.
“Instead of good you can say great,
excellent, wonderful, etc.Practice Making Suggestions
and/or Giving Advice
* Work in pairs.
* Read each of the following situations and
practice how to make suggestions and/or
giving advice.Making Suggestions and/or
Giving Advice - Situation 1
You and your close friend.
You have just graduated from a university.
Now you have to choose between two jobs.
One job is exciting with a low salary; the
other job is boring with an excellent salary.
You ask your close friend for suggestions.
You can either accept them or turn them
down.Making Suggestions and/or
Giving Advice - Situation 2
You and your friend.
Your friend weighs over 100 kg. He/She is
eager to lose weight. He/She has tried many
different methods but none of them worked.
When he/she asks you for help, you give
him/her some advice. He/She can either
accept your advice or turn it down.Making Suggestions and/or
Giving Advice - Situation 3
You and your close friend.
You are thinking about marrying a person who is
unlike you in may ways. You're messy, he/she is
neat; you're talkative, he/she is quiet; you’re lazy,
he/she is hardworking; you’re a good cook, he/she
can’t cook at all; you’re always cheerful, he/she
rarely smiles. You hope to get some advice from
your close friend. You can either accept or turn it
down.Making Suggestions and/or
Giving Advice - Situation 4
You and your colleague.
Your colleague tells you that he/she has been
feeling very tired recently because he/she is
working two jobs. He/She has a child who needs
money badly so he/she took a second night job.
You advise him/her to quit the night job and tell
him/her why. Your colleague can either accept
your advice or turn it down.