1. Building Fluency
Jon Wright
September 2017

2. You should be glad you don’t have a Superyacht
Read the text What’s your first impression?

3. Fluency v accuracy
Fluent = can talk quickly (but doesn’t sound natural)
Accurate = knows the rules (but still doesn’t sound natural)
What’s missing?

4. Speaker One or speaker two?
So I see
You won’t believe what I saw
Same to you
I’ve got an early start tomorrow
Pride comes before a fall
We went to that new place in the centre last night
Careful what you wish for
I hope this isn’t going to be a waste of time

5. Proverbial summarisers
A: Missed my train this morning. Again! B: Really? A: Turns out that Robert was on the train. B: Every cloud (has a silver lining)... C: Time to get back to work, I suppose. D: Suppose so. C: Onwards and upwards.

6. Summarising proverbs
A: B: B: Great minds (think alike). C: D: C: Better late than never.

7. Playing the game
A: How are things? B: Great. You? OR: C: What are you doing this weekend? D: Nothing special. OR: E: Is this yours? F: Oh, thanks, I must have dropped it. OR:

8. NOT Playing the game
A: How are things? B: Why are you asking? C: What are you doing this weekend? D: I’ll start with a quick run up the mountain, then write a best-selling novel, and finally have a 5-star dinner E: Is this yours? F: I wouldn’t be seen dead with something like that.

9. NOT Playing the game
A: So, you’re a teacher, are you? B: C: Why did you decide to become a teacher? D: E: What do you enjoy most about your job? F:

10. Sound system: building blocks
Back to b_____
Black and b____
____ as a bat
Best b____
B___ of beyond
B___ breaking
B____ bath
_____ and buy
Bread and _____
Meet your maker
Miss the m____
_____ a mistake
Much of a m_____
____ your manners
Make your _____ up
Miss you m_____
____ over matter
____ mountains
Mix and m_____
Exeter, May 2017

11. Sound system: building blocks
Back to basics
Black and blue
Blind as a bat
Best before
Back of beyond
Back breaking
Bubble bath
Bring and buy
Bread and butter
Meet your maker
Miss the mark
Make a mistake
Much of a muchness
Mind your manners
Make your mind up
Miss you madly
Mind over matter
Move mountains
Mix and match
Exeter, May 2017

12. Sound system: What’s missing?
Sorry, I’ve got to go.
You should know.
He was a no-show
Yes, We’re good to ...
If you say ...
No. It came as a ...
We’re having a go-slow.
Hang on a ...
Like a pro.
She stole the ...
Exeter, May 2017

13. Sound system: Make a match
1 Does he play golf? 2 What’s up at work? 3 Are you ready now? 4 Were you expecting that? 5 Have you got time for a tea? 6 Don’t you think this is a better option? 7 How do you change this? 8 What happened to your 10 o’clock appointment?
Sorry, I’ve got to go.
You should know.
He was a no-show.
Yes, We’re good to go.
If you say so.
No. It came as a blow.
We’re having a go-slow.
Hang on a mo.
Like a pro.
She stole the show.
Exeter, May 2017

14. Sound system: Make a match
1 Does he play golf? 2 What’s up at work? 3 Are you ready now? 4 Were you expecting that? 5 Have you got time for a tea? 6 Don’t you think this is a better option? 7 How do you change this? 8 What happened to your 10 o’clock appointment?
Like a pro.
We’re having a go-slow.
Hang on a mo./Yes, We’re good to go.
No. It came as a blow/She stole the show.
Sorry, I’ve got to go.
If you say so.
You should know.
He was a no-show.
Exeter, May 2017

15. The rhythms of English
Double rhythm Compounding: today, within, household, laptop Collocations: save water, sudden shower, stop short Paired expressions: ladies and gents, man and boy, political and economic, work and play, get up and go, summer and winter, night or day, better or worse Structures: advantages and disadvantages, some ... others, on the one hand ... on the other, neither ... nor Text patterns: cause + effect, question + answer, problem + solution
Exeter, May 2017

16. Finally ...
Proof of the pudding: (Re)read the text and underline features we have discussed. Discuss with a partner: what does that show?
Exeter, May 2017