FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
What is Functional English
Functional English is usage of the
English language required to
perform a specific function.
A good command of English is
often required for academic and
career progression.
Functional English is used in various
situations like …
Greeting Friends, elders, superiors, strangers
Introducing self & others
Making Telephone calls or answering them
Asking for or giving information
Asking for things in shops, counters &
restaurants
Describing things, people, places or processes
Expressing opinions or reactions to
programmes, plays, books or films
Functional English is used in various
situations like…
Participating in discussions & debates
Giving or receiving Instructions
Narrating anecdotes, stories & discussing
them
Carry on sustained conversation with
friends or strangers
Giving a report of an event
Features of Functional English
Functional English is related to spoken
form
Spoken language is less structured, a little
loose,
We don’t have to be sticklers for too correct
grammar
Spoken language is more informal, more
spontaneous like yeah for yes
Speaking is processed in real time
Speaking depends on intonation, stress, facial
expression, body language, speed of delivery
Objectives:
To make us aware that as engineers we
will later be dealing with all kinds of
people, clients, colleagues senior or
junior, friends & strangers. In all these
kinds of professional or social
encounters, it is our conversational
skills & emotional Intelligence that will
play a key role in executing our work
& contribute to our success in the
chosen profession.
Objectives of Learning
Functional English
Ability to respond quickly and accurately in
speech situations
Knowledge of sufficient vocabulary to use
with grammar patterns.
A practical command of the four skills of the
language with special emphasis on oral
skill.
Accuracy in both pronunciation and
grammar
Automatic control of basic structures and
sentence patterns.
Learning Techniques and
Activities
Dialogues
Role plays
A situational presentation of
new sentence patterns.
Drills to practice the patterns.
3 Things a Speaker needs to keep in
mind
Why am I speaking? (Purpose)
For Ex: Am I requesting?
Am I complaining?
Am I telling a story?
Am I instructing?
Who am I speaking to?
For Ex: A stranger, a friend, a superior
The setting
For Ex: Is it a formal or informal setting?
Office or at home
For Interactional Function, a Speaker
needs…
Use of correct sounds (pronunciation, intonation &
stress)
Use of correct structures (syntax)
Acceptable degree of fluency (vocabulary & grammar)
Transactional & interpersonal skills
Taking short & long turns while speaking
Management of interaction
Negotiating Meaning
Listening skills
Using formulaic language (stock sentences)
Wow, that’s a great outfit you are wearing,
Oh! Really….
That’s too bad. / Sad….
Things that matter while
conversing
Clarity
Voice modulation
Facial Expression
Body language
Positioning
Speed of delivery
Conversational Skills
In a conversation, a speaker needs to know
When to initiate a conversation,
How to maintain a conversation,
How to close the conversation
Initiating an conversation
What do we do for Initiating an
conversation?
Greetings
Introductions
Attention getting
Acknowledging presence
Example
Anusha: Hello Nalini, How are you?
Nalini: Am good, how are you?
Anusha: Fine
Nalini: And how’s you project coming along?
Anusha: It’s progressing well, thanks. Hey look,
there’s Deepak. Deepak, hi, how are things?
Deepak: Things are just great, oh hello, Anusha.
Haven’t seen you for ages, where have
you been?
Anusha: Was out of station the whole of last
week. Went to attend my cousins wedding,
Deepak: I see.
What do we do to maintain a
conversation?
Asking questions?
Responding
Giving Information
Explaining
Encouraging
Maintaining a Conversation
An Example:
Kishore: Ramesh! How nice to hear from you.
Have you had a good holiday?
Ramesh: Had a wonderful time. I went away
actually
Kishore: Oh, did you? Where?
Ramesh: Guntur
Kishore: How nice!
Ramesh: We went to see my parents
Kishore: Really, where do they live in Guntur?
Ramesh: In a small village near Guntur actually,
it’s a place called Vadlamudi.
What do we do to close a
Conversation?
Announcing departure
Reason
Thanking
Apologies
Saying goodbye
Closing a Conversation
An Example:
Anusha: Gosh! It’s almost eleven, I really must
go.
Nalini: Are you sure, you don’t want to join me
for lunch?
Anusha: I have a meeting with my team at 12.
Nalini: Well, it has been nice talking to you, that
too after such along time. We hardly meet
these days. Anyways keep in touch
Anusha: I sure will. Sorry to rush off like this. Bye
Nalini : Bye
Stock Expressions
Expressions of politeness:
If it is not inconvenient
If you don’t mind
I don’t know if you will agree with me
I would be happy.
Some polite question forms:
Would you mind…?
Would you mind helping…?
Would you like to have…?
Could I speak to …please?
Stock Expressions
Suggestion : Would you like me to get you the
newspaper?
Request : Could you open the window please?
Offering Help : Would you like me to carry your bag?
Inviting : Would you like to join us for tea this evening?
Permission : May I use your phone?
Excuse me sir, would you mind if I came an hour late…
Apologizing : I am extremely sorry for my assistant’s
behavior
Complaining : I am sorry to bring to your notice…
I am afraid the machine is faulty…
Agreeing : Yes, I can see your point of view…
Disagreeing : Well, I don’t quite see it that way…
Taking the initiative : May I suggest…
How about…
Introducing People
What's your name? Meet ...
Who are you? Have you met ...?
My name is ... Yes, I have.
I am ... No, I haven't.
My friends call me ... Yes, I think I have.
You can call me ... No, I don't think I
Haven't we met have.
(before)? Hello, ... (name)
Yes, I think we have. Nice to meet you.
No, I don't think we (informal)
have. I think we've Pleased to meet you.
already met. How do you do?
I don't think we've met (formal)
(before). Nice to see you.
This is ... Nice to see you again.
Say Goodbye
Good bye.
Bye. / See you.
See you later.
See you soon.
See you tomorrow.
See you next week.
Good night.
Health
How are you? What's wrong with
How are you today? you?
Fine, thank What's the matter
you/thanks. with you?
Not too bad. Are you all right?
Very well. I'm tired .
I'm okay / all right.
I'm exhausted .
Not too well,
actually. I've got a cold.
Stating your Opinion
It seems to me that ... I can imagine that ...
In my opinion, ... I think/believe/suppose ...
I am of the opinion that .../ Personally, I think ...
I take the view that .. That is why I think ...
My personal view is that ... I am sure/certain/convinced
In my experience ... that ...
As far as I understand / can I am not sure/certain, but ...
see, ... I am not sure, because I
As I see it, ... / From my don't know the situation
point of view ... exactly.
As far as I know ... / From I am not convinced that ...
what I know ... I have read that ...
I might be wrong but ... I am of mixed opinions
If I am not mistaken ... (about / on) ...
I believe one can (safely) I am of mixed opinions
say ... about / on this.
It is claimed that ... I have no opinion in this
I must admit that ... matter.
I cannot deny that ...
Outlining Facts
The fact is that
The (main) point is that ...
This proves that ...
What it comes down to is that ...
It is obvious that ...
It is certain that ...
One can say that ...
It is clear that ...
There is no doubt that ...
Expression of Agreement
There are many reasons for ...
There is no doubt about it that ...
I simply must agree with that.
I am of the same opinion.
I am of the same opinion as the
author.
I completely/absolutely agree with the
author.
Qualified Disagreement
It is only partly true that...
I can agree with that only with
reservations.
That seems obvious, but ...
That is not necessarily so.
It is not as simple as it seems.
Under certain circumstances ...
Disagreement
There is more to it than that.
The problem is that ...
I (very much) doubt whether ...
This is in complete contradiction to ...
What is even worse, ...
I am of a different opinion because ...
I cannot share this / that / the view.
I cannot agree with this idea.
What I object to is ...
Unlike the author I think ...
Linking Arguments
First of all, I think ... That is why ...
Not only that, but I also After all, ...
think that ... The reason is that ...
Not only are they ..., they In that respect ...
are also ... The result of this is that ...
They are not ..., nor are Another aspect/point is
they ... that ...
There are It is because ...
various/several/many Although it is true that ... it
reasons for this. would be wrong to claim
First, ... / Firstly, ... that ...
Second, ... / Secondly, ... That may sometimes be
Moreover, ... / true, but ...
Furthermore, ... / In One could argue that ...,
addition, ... but ...
Another significant point is On the one hand, ... On the
that ... other hand, ...
Finally, ...
Providing Examples
Take for example (the case of) ...
Look at ...
For instance ... / For example ...
Let me give you an example.
Additions and Conclusion
Most probably ...
It appears to be ...
It is important to mention that...
As I already indicated ...
In other words, ...
I am most concerned about ...
I should like to repeat once again that ...
I should like to emphasise that ...
I would (just) like to add ...
So all in all I believe that...
(In) summing up it can be said that ...
Weighing the pros and cons, I come to the
conclusion that ...
Conjunctions
but / still / however or
especially / mainly / as soon as
particularly
as long as
before
finally / eventually
as / because / since
so that in spite of / even so / all
the same
then / after that
that's why / so perhaps ...
either ... or above all
after all neither ... nor
after because
of course first of all
though / although / even for example / for
though instance
Weather
What's the weather like sunny
today? cloudy
What will the weather overcast
be like tomorrow? foggy
Nice day today, isn't it? stormy
What awful weather! windy
What a lovely day! cold
It's raining. warm
It's snowing. hot
It's … Yesterday it was …
Tomorrow it will be …
Learning Outcomes
Should be able to initiate, sustain &
effectively terminate a conversation
Should be able to persuade & convince
other’s with your point of view
Should narrate & make a factual oral
report of an incident
Should be able to conceptualize & speak of
hypothetical scenarios.
Thank Q
