Exercise 8: Role play – 1

 

Read the situation below and complete the dialogue as if you were speaking in real life. Type your answer in each box. Later you will be asked to reflect on your language use.

You are a college student. You have an appointment with a senior professor, Professor Ito in another department to discuss your project. He is in his late 50s and although you have communicated with him by e-mail, you have not yet met him. The appointment is at 3 today. However, for some reason, you find that you will not be able to make it today. You call the professor and ask if he could change the appointment. The professor sounds reluctant.

Now try to use apology expressions effectively. You can give realistic reasons that you think would be appropriate for requesting a change in the appointment. Be careful of the way you present them!

 

1. Prof. Ito (on the telephone): Hai, Ito desuga.

You: (identify yourself)

 

2. Prof. Ito: A, …sanne. Doushimashita?

You: (tell him that you won’t be able to come today)

 

3. Prof. Ito: Soudesuka, dounimo naranaino?

You: (present your reasons)

 

4. Prof. Ito: Aa, sou, daijobunano?

You: (ask if you can meet with him on another day.)

 

5. Prof. Ito: Jaa, konkaiwa nanntoka shimasyou. Raisyuuno onaji jikanwa doudesuka?

You: (accept and close the conversation)

 

____________________________________________________________________

6a. Now look back on what you have written and answer the following questions:
What reasons did you give to the professors for the cancellation?

 

6b. Now compare your reason(s) with the reasons native speakers gave in this task, are your reasons appropriate?

 

 

7a. Where was your reason presented in your dialogue?

7b. Now view common strategies used by Japanese university students. Did you use these strategies in your apologies?

 

 

8a. Which apology expression(s) did you use?

8b. Compare your apology expressions with those of Japanese students and evaluate your language use.

 

 

9a. How many apology expressions did you provide? Did you vary your apology expressions?

9b. Notice the number of times Japanese students used apology expressions and evaluate the sincerity of your apology.

 

 

10. Now click below to listen to one example of how to be appropriate. First, try without looking at the transcript. Later you can click on "Read Transcript" to look at the conversation while you listen again.


Click below to listen to sample.

Read Transcript


Since all speakers speak differently, here is another example for you to listen to.

Click below.

Please provide your name: and E-mail address:

 

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