ESOL Sc/E3.3b Ask questions to obtain personal or factual information

Sc/E3.3 Make requests and ask questions to obtain information in familiar and unfamiliar contexts
Sc/E3.3b Ask questions to obtain personal or factual information

 

  • Use a range of question words, including whose. Example: Whose bag is this? Whose is this bag?
  • Form questions of both the open type and the yes/no type in a range of tenses, e.g.: (a) present perfect (b) present continuous - with appropriate intonation. Example: Ask questions of a new acquaintance in a social situation, e.g.: Have you been here long? How long have you worked there? A couple of months, is it? Have you ever been to ...? Have you finished yet? Are you working at the moment? What are you doing at the weekend? When will you see her?
  • Form alternative questions, including comparative questions, with awareness of the tendency for intonation to rise on the first alternative and fall on the second. Example: Ask for information about transport, e.g.: Which is quicker, train or bus? 
  • Adapt register to suit the relationship between speakers, e.g. by using some indirect forms of questioning, such as the use of embedded question forms. Example:  Ask for information about an event in the past, e.g. reporting an incident: What happened? Could you perhaps tell us what happened? Please tell us what you saw.
  • Understand some of the cultural conventions regarding acceptable questions to ask, e.g. in Britain it is not usual to ask how much a person earns. 

Part of the Living in the UK series, this resource covers reading, writing and communication for Entry 1-3 learners. 

There are two separate resources: one for E2-E3 and a simplified version for E1.  Each features an illustrated short reading text followed by:

  • comprehension questions
  • punctuation questions
  • various writing tasks
  • suggestions for short talks and Q&A sessions

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
FE E1.10 Understand a short piece of text on a simple subject
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E2.13 Use basic punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question, exclamation marks)
FE 1.16 Communicate information in words, phrases & simple sentences
FE E2.17 Communicate information using words & phrases appropriate to audience & purpose
FE E3.18 Communicate information, ideas & opinions clearly & in logical sequence e.g. chronologically, by task
FE E3.19 Write text of appropriate length & level of detail
FS Eng E1.6 Make clear statements, communicate feelings & opinions on straightforward topics
FS Eng E2.5 Clearly express straightforward information & communicate feelings / opinions
FE E3.3 Communicate information & opinions clearly on a range of topics
FE E2.2 Make requests & ask clear questions appropriately in different contexts
FE E3.2 Make requests & ask concise questions using appropriate language in different contexts
FS Eng E2.1 Identify & extract main information & detail from short explanations
FS Eng E3.1 Identify & extract relevant information & detail in straightforward explanations
ESOL
ESOL Rt/E1.1a Follow a short narrative on a familiar topic or experience
ESOL Rt/E2.1a Use a range of strategies to trace & understand main events
ESOL Wt/E1.1a Compose very simple text to communicate ideas or basic information
ESOL Wt/E2.1a Compose simple text, selecting appropriate format for the genre and purpose
ESOL Ws/E2.3a Use correct punctuation, e.g. capital letters, full stops, question marks
ESOL Sc/E1.4a Make simple statements of fact
ESOL Sc/E2.3c Give a short account
ESOL Sc/E3.4c Give an account/narrate events in the past
ESOL Sc/E2.2d Ask for factual information (present, past, future)
ESOL Sc/E3.3b Ask questions to obtain personal or factual information
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
Family and relationships
Catering Food Nutrition

A look at how to use the -er comparative with some simple exercises.  Explained in simple terms. Goes with my Super Superlatives resource.

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E2.2f Ask for descriptions of people, places and things
ESOL Sc/E2.3f Give a short description
ESOL Sc/E3.3b Ask questions to obtain personal or factual information
ESOL Sc/E3.4a Express clearly statements of fact 
ESOL Sc/E3.4f Give a short description and make comparisons
ESOL Sc/L1.3e Describe and compare
ESOL Sc/L2.4f Describe and compare
ESOL Lr/E2.5b Respond to requests for information
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
ESOL Ws/E3.2a Use basic sentence grammar accurately
ESOL Ws/L1.2a Use sentence grammar accurately to achieve purpose
General
Study Skills and General Teaching

An exploration and explanation about using superlatives.  A large resource with explanations, discussion points and exercises. Can be adapted to suit different levels. Goes with my Comparing with Comparatives resource

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E2.2f Ask for descriptions of people, places and things
ESOL Sc/E2.3f Give a short description
ESOL Sc/E3.3b Ask questions to obtain personal or factual information
ESOL Sc/E3.4a Express clearly statements of fact 
ESOL Sc/E3.4f Give a short description and make comparisons
ESOL Sc/L1.3e Describe and compare
ESOL Sc/L2.4f Describe and compare
ESOL Lr/E2.5b Respond to requests for information
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
ESOL Ws/E3.2a Use basic sentence grammar accurately
ESOL Ws/L1.2a Use sentence grammar accurately to achieve purpose

This interesting report on an overseas sportsman in UK allows for work in ESOL. The report covers a footballer who wishes to live in Cardiff and previously moved from Birmingham to Moscow. The comprehension questions cover his career and the people that influence his life. A conversation between the journalist and player allows for forming questions and the last task is a writing opportunity.

Editor's note

Also suitable for Functional English - see the notes within the resource. I love the dialogue exercise. :)

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE L1.2 Make requests & ask relevant questions to obtain specific information
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE Writing composition
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E3.3b Ask questions to obtain personal or factual information
ESOL Rt/E3.4a Extract the main points and ideas, and predict words from context.
ESOL Rs/L1.2a Use punctuation to help understanding
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
Context
Sport and fitness

This activity can be used as an icebreaker or as resource when teaching about 3rd person agreement in the present tense.  

Learners ask 'Do you ..... ?' and use the answers in the box to complete the question however after the Tutor's monitoring they should realise that the answer form cannot be used for the question form.  

The questionnaire has 16 boxes but according to time and size of class, it can be reduced by folding the questionnaire so only 8 questions are used instead.  

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E1.5 Respond to questions about specific information
FE E2.3 Respond appropriately to straightforward questions
FE E1.4 Make requests & ask straightforward questions using appropriate terms & registers
FE E2.2 Make requests & ask clear questions appropriately in different contexts
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E1.3a  Ask for personal details
ESOL Sc/E2.2c Ask for personal details
ESOL Sc/E3.3b Ask questions to obtain personal or factual information
ESOL Lr/E1.4b Recognise different question words
ESOL Lr/E2.5b Respond to requests for information
ESOL Lr/E3.5b Respond to requests for information

A useful role play that provides the guest house owner’s script and prompts the student to complete the missing dialogue.
Designed to supplement the DfES ESOL materials (E3 unit 4 Getting to know the UK – page 9, Phoning a guest house) available at http://rwp.excellencegateway.org.uk/readwriteplus/Learning_Materials_ES… but can also be used independently.

Level
Entry Level 3
English
SLlr/E3.2
SLlr/E3.1
SLc/E3.2
SLc/E3.3
ESOL
ESOL Lr/E3.2a Listen for detail in narratives & explanations
ESOL Sc/E3.2a Use formal language and register when appropriate
ESOL Sc/E3.3b Ask questions to obtain personal or factual information
ESOL Sc/E3.3d Ask for descriptions of people, places & things
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism