Thanking People- Game

A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS

Game for practising thanking

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Lesson Plan Content:


Who am I thanking? relationships guessing game

Choose one of the people below and thank them for things they have done (preferably real, but imaginary is also okay) until your partner guesses who you are speaking to. You can also thank them for things that are a (very) long time ago or in the future.  

Your spouse or partner                                                          A sibling

A distant relative                                                                                   A friend of the family

A television celebrity/ A television presenter                      A pop singer

A journalist or other writer                                                                   A shop keeper/ shop owner

A shop assistant                                                                                   Hotel staff

Airline or airport staff                                                              A sportsperson

A mate                                                                                      A housemate/ flatmate/ roommate

A workmate (= colleague)                                                                   Your line manager

An acquaintance                                                                                  A classmate

A (next door) neighbour                                                        A passer-by

A tutor/ homeroom teacher private tutor/ one to one teacher

A pen pal                                                                                               An online contact

An old school friend                                                                             An ex-classmate

Someone who commented on your Facebook page or blog

The local postman                                                                                A local binman

A GP/ doctor/ surgeon                                                           A scientist

An estate agent (= real estate agent)                                 A barber/ hairdresser/ stylist

National politician/ PM/ MP/ senator/ congressman         A public official

The mayor/ A local politician                                                A volunteer

A busker/ street performer                                                                  A street trader

A fire-fighter (=fireman)                                                         A police officer (= policeman)

A professor/ lecturer                                                              A nanny/ babysitter/ au pair

A travel agent

Useful language for thanking

- I am very grateful/ Thank you (so much)/ Thanks (a lot)/ Cheers/ Ta for… (I owe you one.)

- I (really) appreciate…

- How can I ever repay you for…?

- I’ll… for you/ I’d like to make it up to you by…

- You’re a (total) hero/ a (absolute) star/ a (real) lifesaver.

- I couldn’t have coped without you./ You saved my life!

- I’d like to express my gratitude/ thank you for…

- Please accept my thanks for…

- It was just what I needed.

- I really can’t thank you enough for…

- Thanks in advance for…

- Thanks for taking the time to…

Ask about any people above you don’t understand, working together to think of suitable thanking each time.

What are the differences between these words to describe people?

  • Employee/ Staff
  • Professor/ Lecturer
  • Busker/ Street performer
  • Spouse/ Partner
  • Babysitter/ Au pair/ Nanny
  • GP/ Doctor
  • Old school friend/ Ex-classmate
  • Friend/ Acquaintance
  • Shop assistant/ Shopkeeper
  • Television celebrity/ Television presenter
  • Housemate/ Roommate/ Flatmate
  • Boss/ Line manager
  • Friend/ Close friend

Do the same thanking guessing game, but this time about people not in the list above.

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