Pre-intermediate

Handle meetings with confidence 02

Organising an event
Lead-in

Discuss with a partner:

1 Look at the pictures your teacher shows you. What do they all have in common?
2 What do you know about them?
3 What is a charity event? Have you been to a charity event?

Input

1 Read the email below. What is Paul asking John?

Hi John,
How are you? I’m writing to tell you about a project my company is working on. Do
you remember how I told you about the typhoon in Indonesia? Well, my company is
organising a charity event to collect money to help people in Indonesia who lost their
homes in the typhoon. We want to organize a marathon run here in Leicester, on 21
June. It’s a Saturday and many people are interested! People will pay £20 to register
for the run and now we need some prizes for them. Could you help us? We can’t pay
you for the prizes, but I think you can use this marathon to promote your company
and give them some branded gifts as prizes. Do you want me to send you more
information? Also, we need some help with food and drinks. Can you recommend a
restaurant or a café to help us?
Will you please let me know soon?
I look forward to your email.
Kind regards,
Paul

1  myClass  Pre-intermediate 02 PHOTOCOPIABLE © British Council 2014

 Pre-intermediate
Handle meetings with confidence 02

2 Read John’s reply? Does John want to help?

Hi Paul,
Thanks for your email. Of course my company will help you with the marathon! It’s a great idea. I
know it will be on Saturday, but can you please tell me what time? I’m afraid we can’t give very big
prizes, but we can give some nice T-shirts, caps and pens with our logo on them. Also, I’d be very
happy to personally pay for a 5 litre bottle of champagne for the winner! Also, it’d be great to
have more information to prepare all the prizes on time. I know a great restaurant, MaMaLu, with
tasty, cheap food and drinks. I think it could make food and drinks for your charity event! Shall I
contact them and ask? Can I give you a hand with anything else?
I look forward to hearing from you!
Kind regards,
John

3 Read the emails again and decide if these sentences are true (T) or false (F).
1 The typhoon happened in Indiana, USA.
2 Paul’s company is organising a marathon to help other people.
3 Paul asks John for help with prizes and food.
4 John does not think the event is a good idea.
5 John doesn’t want to give anything to the winner.
6 John knows a good restaurant for Paul’s charity event.

Language focus

1 Look at the two emails again and underline phrases used to:

ask for something make an offer

reply to someone asking for something reply to an offer

2 Put the phrases in the correct place in the table below.

Replying to someone
Asking for something Making an offer Replying to an offer
asking for something

3 Can you add one or more phrases to the table? Discuss in groups.

2  myClass  Pre-intermediate 02 PHOTOCOPIABLE © British Council 2014

 Pre-intermediate
Handle meetings with confidence 02

4 Work in pairs. Look at the conversations and complete with phrases from Exercise 3.
Conversation A
A: Hello, 1
help me please?
B: .
2

A: What is the Big “G” charity event?

B: Oh, it’s a sport’s fair. It is to get money for the gorillas in our local Zoo.
A: That’s wonderful. 3
?
B: Yes, that’d be great! 4
help me with the food and drink?
A: Of course I’ll help you. But, 5
I can’t cook.
B: That’s OK, we have a restaurant which will cook the food.
A: Ah, I see! Would you like me to sell it to the people at the event?
B: Yes, 6
! Thank you.
A: No problem! See you later.
Conversation B
A: Hello, 1
help me please?
B: , no problem!
2

A: What is the LACH charity event?

B: Oh, it’s a ball we’ve organised for next Friday. It’s to get money for schools for children from poor
families.
A: That’s interesting. Do you want me to help you?
B: Yes, 3
. Could you sell some tickets?
A: We’d 4
. 5
start now?
B: I’m afraid I don’t have any tickets now, but can you start tomorrow?
A: Of course.
B: Also, could you help us sell drinks at the ball?
A: 6
I’m busy on that Friday, sorry.
B: That’s OK. No problem. Thanks for helping to sell tickets.

Task

1 Decide on what charity your group would like to support. Choose from:
• Animals
• Children
• Research
• Poverty
•  A local issue
2 Decide on an event your group will organise and discuss and agree the details. If you have time,
design a poster. Your teacher will give some ideas to help you plan.

3  myClass  Pre-intermediate 02 PHOTOCOPIABLE © British Council 2014

 Pre-intermediate
Handle meetings with confidence 02

3 Present your group’s event to the rest of the class. Listen carefully, which event do you like best?

Review

4  myClass  Pre-intermediate 02 PHOTOCOPIABLE © British Council 2014