Polite requests: asking for favours and permission

Summary

This 90-minute ESL lesson for A2 learners explores Polite requests: asking for favours and permission through a real audio recording. Across 10 interactive exercises, you'll develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, practical communication, speaking skills — all built around authentic English content.

What you'll practise:

• 5 key vocabulary items with definitions and usage notes
• Grammar focus: Polite requests with 'mind' with examples and practice
• Real-world phrases for asking a colleague for help
• Gap-fill and cloze exercises to test vocabulary in context
• Matching exercise to connect terms with their meanings
• A reading passage to practise newly learned language

Lesson activities (10 exercises)

Each exercise builds on the previous one. Work through them in order for the best learning experience.

1. Warm-up — Discussion questions to activate what you already know about the topic.
2. Comprehension — Answer questions to check your understanding of the main ideas and supporting details.
3. Vocabulary — Learn key words and expressions from the audio recording, with definitions and usage notes.
4. Matching — Connect words, phrases, or concepts to their correct counterparts.
5. Grammar — Study Polite requests with 'mind' — explanation, examples, and key rules.
6. Fill the gaps — Complete sentences with the correct vocabulary. Drag and drop or type your answers.
7. Practical English — Learn phrases for asking a colleague for help — ready to use in real conversations.
8. Reading — Read a short passage on the topic and answer comprehension questions.
9. Discussion — Reflect on the topic and share your opinions using the language you've learned.

Vocabulary

This lesson introduces 5 key terms drawn directly from the audio recording:

• give someone a hand — to help someone with something
• no problem — a common way to say 'yes' when someone asks for a favor
• be busy with something — to have a lot of work to do at that moment
• is it alright if I...? — a polite question to ask for permission
• as soon as possible — to do something very quickly because it is important

Grammar

This lesson focuses on Polite requests with 'mind'.

We use 'Would you mind...?' and 'Do you mind if...?' to ask for things in a very polite way. These phrases are useful at work or with people you don't know well.

Examples from the lesson:

• Would you mind helping me with this report? — Use 'Would you mind + verb-ing' to ask someone else to do something for you.
• Do you mind if I borrow your pen for a moment? — Use 'Do you mind if I + verb' to ask for permission to do something yourself.
• Would you mind speaking a little more slowly? — Remember to say 'No, not at all' or 'Of course not' to agree to these requests.

Key rules:

• Use 'Would you mind + verb-ing' to ask someone to do an action.
• Use 'Do you mind if I + verb' to ask for permission.
• Common mistake: Don't say 'yes' to agree. Say 'No, not at all' or 'No problem'.

Practical English

asking a colleague for help

Sometimes at work, you need help from a colleague. Here are some polite phrases you can use to ask for help and to answer a request.

Phrases you'll learn:

• "Could you help me with this for a second?" — a simple way to ask for quick help.
• "I'm having trouble with the printer. Could you take a look?" — explains the problem before asking for help.
• "Sure, I can help with that." — a positive and friendly way to agree to help.
• "I'm sorry, I'm a bit busy right now." — a polite way to say you can't help at this moment.
• "I can't right now, but I'll be free in about ten minutes." — shows you want to help, but later.