Lesson Plan: Polite Requests and Offers with "Would" and "Could"

Level: A1
Duration: 75 minutes
Context: English for customer service at Tiendas Éxito

Lesson Objectives:

• Learn to use modal verbs "would" and "could" for polite requests and offers.

• Apply common expressions used at the grocery store.

• Practice real-life scenarios in customer service.

Materials Needed:

• Computer and projector for video

• Whiteboard and markers

• Handouts with fill-in-the-blanks exercises

• Role-play scenario cards

• Note cards with customer and cashier scenarios

1. Engage (15 minutes)

Icebreaker Survey (10 minutes)

• Procedure:

o Divide students into pairs.

o Provide them with the following survey questions:

▪ Do you prefer paper or plastic bags when shopping?

▪ Would you like help with packing your groceries?

▪ Do you usually ask for a receipt with your purchase?

▪ Would you be interested in special offers at the store?

▪ Do you use a store loyalty card?

o Students ask and answer these questions in pairs.

o After the survey, ask a few pairs to share interesting answers with the class.

Watch and Observe (5 minutes)

• Procedure:
 o Show a short video clip (2-3 minutes) featuring a cashier using polite requests and
offers.

o Ask students to pay attention to how the cashier uses "would" and "could."

o After the video, discuss as a class any useful phrases or expressions they noticed.

2. Study (25 minutes)

Using Modal Verbs for Politeness (15 minutes)

• Explanation:

o Introduce how "would" and "could" are used for polite requests and offers with
simple explanations:

▪ Offerings and Courtesy:

▪ “Would you like assistance with your groceries?”

▪ “Would you prefer paper or plastic bags?”

▪ “Could you show me where the milk is?”

▪ “Would you like me to help you find anything else?”

▪ Polite Requests:

▪ “Would you please sign here for your credit card transaction?”

▪ “Would you like a receipt with your purchase?”

▪ “Could you help me with my bags?”

▪ “Could you tell me the price of this item?”

▪ Offers and Suggestions:

▪ “Would you be interested in our special promotion on aisle 3?”

▪ “Would you care to try a sample of our new product?”

▪ “Would you consider signing up for our loyalty program?”

▪ “Could you give me a receipt, please?”

o Write these examples on the board and explain in simple terms.

Fill-in-the-Blanks Exercise (10 minutes)

• Procedure:

o Distribute a worksheet with sentences for students to complete. Sentences include

blanks for "would" or "could":

▪ “________ you please sign here for your credit card transaction?”
 ▪ “________ you like a receipt with your purchase?”

▪ “________ you mind moving your cart slightly?”

▪ “Today we have a special offer: buy one, get one 50% off. ________ you be
interested?”

▪ “________ you enter your PIN, please?”

▪ “________ you like me to help you find anything else?”

▪ “________ you help me with my bags?”

▪ “________ you show me where the milk is?”

▪ “________ you tell me the price of this item?”

▪ “________ you give me a receipt, please?”

o Students complete the worksheet individually or in pairs.

o Review the answers together as a class.

3. Activate (30 minutes)

Role Play (20 minutes)

• Procedure:

o Divide students into pairs or small groups. Provide each group with a role-play
scenario card.

o Role-Play Scenarios:

▪ Scenario 1:

▪ Customer: You need help finding a specific product.

▪ Cashier: Use polite expressions to offer assistance.

▪ Scenario 2:

▪ Customer: You are at the checkout and need help with your bags.

▪ Cashier: Offer to help with the bags and ask if they need a receipt.

▪ Scenario 3:

▪ Customer: You want to know if there are any special offers.

▪ Cashier: Inform the customer about a promotion and ask if they

would like to sign up for a loyalty program.

o Provide conversation samples to guide them:

▪ Customer: "Excuse me, could you help me find the milk?"

 ▪ Cashier: "Of course! Would you like me to show you where it is?"

▪ Customer: "Can I get a receipt for this purchase, please?"

▪ Cashier: "Yes, would you like me to put it in the bag for you?"

• Practice:

o Students practice their scenarios, focusing on using "would" and "could" correctly.

o Walk around and offer support as needed.

Role Play Presentation (10 minutes)

• Procedure:

o Ask a few pairs to perform their role plays in front of the class.

o Provide feedback on their use of polite expressions and correct any mistakes.

4. Feedback and Closure (5 minutes)

• Procedure:

o Ask students to share any new phrases they learned and how they might use them
in real life.

o Provide feedback on common mistakes and correct them.

o Recap the key points of the lesson and assign a simple homework task: Write a
short dialogue using "would" and "could" in a customer service context.