TEACHER’S NOTES
ESL / EFL RESOURCES Complaint Cards
Activity Type Introduction
Listening and speaking In this complaining and apologizing speaking activity, students
activity, pairwork practice making complaints, apologies and requests.
Procedure
Language Focus
Divide the class into pairs and give each pair a set of cards. Tell
Complaints, apologies
the students to take six cards each.
and requests
Explain that the students are going to make complaints and
requests using the words and pictures on their cards as prompts.
Aim
To make complaints, Before they start the activity, ask each student to look at their six
apologies and requests in cards and write on the other side who they are complaining to and
different situations. where they are, e.g. waitress, in a restaurant.
Explain that the language the students use to make the complaint
Preparation and request will depend on the words and the picture on their
card. Their partner's response will also vary slightly, depending on
Make one copy of the
the situation written on the other side of the card.
worksheet for each pair
of students and cut as
Write an example dialogue on the board, indicating the language
indicated.
the students should use.
Level Example:
Pre-intermediate (A2) A: Excuse me! There appears to be a fly in my soup.
B: I’m very sorry about that.
A: Could you bring me a new bowl?
Time B: Certainly. One moment please.
30 minutes
Tell the students to hold their cards so that the picture is facing
them and the side they have written on is facing their partner.
Now, ask the students to take it in turns to hold up a card to
their partner and make a complaint. Their partner apologizes
appropriately and after that the student makes a request.
When the students have finished, a sk t hem t o exchange cards
and repeat the process.
Finally, ask pairs of students to present the complaints to the
class.
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COMPLAINING
ESL / EFL RESOURCES Complaint Cards
Complaint - music too loud Complaint - wait a long time Complaint - drive too fast
Request - turn it down Request - hurry up Request - slow down
Complaint - slow computer Complaint - late to class Complaint - wrong change
Request - buy a new one Request - arrive on time Request - one more dollar
Complaint- ordered tea, not
Complaint - too hot Complaint - fly in soup
coffee
Request - turn on the fan Request - a new bowl Request - a cup of tea
Complaint - bought a pair of
Complaint - too dark Complaint - room smells
trousers, but they're too short
Request - turn on the light Request - open a window Request - a new pair
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