Speech Variations: MISSING (Everything)

Speech Variations

---

Learning goals

---

Formal Speech

Formal speech is used in professional, academic, or official settings where you need to show respect or maintain a certain level of politeness. It’s clear, organized, and avoids slang or informal expressions. Formal speech is important when you want to sound serious and professional, such as during presentations, job interviews, or when speaking to someone you don’t know well.
Example:

• Informal: “Hey, can I borrow your notes?”
• Formal: “Good afternoon, would it be possible for me to borrow your notes?”

Notice how the formal sentence uses a polite question structure and a greeting. The tone is more respectful, showing that the speaker is being mindful of how they are communicating.

Informal Speech

Informal speech is relaxed and more conversational. This is how you would talk to friends or family, where you feel comfortable and there’s no need for strict language rules. You might use contractions, slang, or less structured sentences in informal speech.
Example:

• Formal: “I will not be able to attend the meeting tomorrow.”
• Informal: “I can’t make it to the meeting tomorrow.”

In informal speech, you might notice contractions (like “can’t” instead of “cannot”) and shorter, simpler sentence structures.

Slang

Slang is a form of informal speech that is usually specific to certain groups or communities. It includes words and expressions that are not considered standard language, but they are widely understood within a particular context. Slang changes rapidly and is often tied to pop culture, so what’s considered “cool” slang today might be outdated tomorrow!
Example:

• Standard Informal: “That party was really fun.”
• Slang: “That party was lit!”

Slang makes speech more expressive and dynamic, but you must be careful where you use it. Slang is not appropriate in formal writing or in professional situations.

Jargon

Jargon refers to specialized language or terminology that is used by a particular group of people, often related to a specific profession, interest, or activity. Jargon words or phrases are often difficult for outsiders or people unfamiliar with the field to understand. It’s a type of technical language that helps people in a specific group or profession communicate more efficiently by using terms that have a specific meaning within that context.

Types of Jargon

1. Professional Jargon
   This type of jargon is used by individuals within a particular profession. For example, doctors, lawyers, and engineers all have specialized language that others might find hard to understand.
2. Examples:
   • Medical Jargon:
     • “Hypertension” – High blood pressure.
     • “Stat” – An urgent request (short for “immediately”).
   • Legal Jargon:
     • “Habeas corpus” – A legal order requiring that a prisoner be brought before a judge.
     • “Plaintiff” – The person who brings a case to court.
3. Technological Jargon
   In fields related to technology or computing, specific terms are used to refer to tools, systems, or processes that may be unfamiliar to people outside the field.Examples:
   • “Bug” – A flaw or error in software or a system.
   • “Cloud computing” – Using remote servers to store, manage, and process data, rather than using local servers or personal computers.
4. Business Jargon
   In the business world, jargon is often used in meetings, emails, or documents. Some terms have become so commonly used that people forget they might not be understood by everyone.Examples:
   • “Synergy” – The idea that the combined effort of a group is greater than individual efforts.
   • “Bandwidth” – The capacity to handle tasks or the amount of work an individual or company can manage at once.
5. Sport Jargon
   Each sport has its own set of jargon that players and fans use to describe gameplay, rules, or strategies.Examples:
   • “Hat trick” (in soccer, hockey, or other sports) – A player scoring three goals in one game.
   • “Alley-oop” (in basketball) – A move where a player throws the ball near the basket for a teammate to jump, catch, and score in one motion.
6. Academic Jargon
   Jargon is also used in academic settings, often in disciplines such as sociology, psychology, economics, or any field that requires technical language.Examples:
   • “Cognitive dissonance” – A psychological theory that refers to the discomfort a person feels when holding two contradictory beliefs.
   • “Economies of scale” – The cost advantage that arises when there is an increased level of production.

---

Learning activities

EGB

Speech Styles Role-Play

Objective: Practice switching between formal and informal speech.

Instructions: You will be divided into pairs. One of you will play the role of a teacher, and the other will be a student. You will have a short conversation in both formal and informal styles. For example, discuss asking for an extension on homework in a formal way (to the teacher) and an informal way (with a friend). Switch roles after each round.

Slang Match-up Game

Instructions: A set of slang words and their meanings will be posted around the room. In pairs, you will walk around, matching each slang word with its meaning. Once you think you’ve got them all, we’ll check them together.

Objective: Learn common slang words and their appropriate contexts.

Create Your Own Dialogue

Objective: Create dialogues using formal and informal speech.

Instructions:

• In small groups, create two short dialogues: one in a formal setting and the other in an informal setting.
• For example: A formal dialogue could be an interview or asking for help in a store, while the informal one could be texting a friend or talking to a family member.
• After creating the dialogues, you’ll act them out for the class.

BGU

Formal and Informal Debate

Objective: Debate a topic using both formal and informal speech.

Instructions:

• Choose a topic (e.g., “Should students wear uniforms?”).
• Split into two teams. One team will argue their side using formal language, and the other team will argue using informal language.
• Each team will present their argument, and then switch sides. After both sides speak, you’ll reflect on how the language style influenced the tone of the argument.

Variation: Challenge each team to switch back and forth between formal and informal language during their argument to see how it changes the tone.

Speech Style Rewrite

Instructions: Take a formal email sample (e.g., to a boss or teacher) and rewrite it as an informal text message to a friend. Then, take an informal text and rewrite it in a formal way. Share your rewrites with a partner and explain your changes.

Objective: Understand how context influences word choice and tone.

Speech Variation Scenario Simulation

Objective: Apply different speech variations based on social context.

Instructions:

• I will give you a scenario, and you will have to respond to it using the correct speech variation.
• Example scenarios:
  • Giving a presentation to your school principal (formal).
  • Chatting with your best friend about a new movie (informal).
  • Discussing a technical issue with a teacher (jargon).
• After each scenario, explain why you chose that form of speech and how it fits the context.

Variation: Record your responses and listen to them afterward to reflect on areas for improvement.

Speech Variations: What are Expressions, Phrasal Verbs, and Idioms?

Expressions

An expression is a phrase or combination of words that conveys a specific meaning. They can be used in both formal and informal speech, depending on the situation. Some expressions are formal, while others are used in casual conversations.

Examples:

• “In a nutshell” – In summary.
• “Take it easy” – Relax or calm down.
• “By the book” – Following the rules exactly.

Phrasal Verbs

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs). The meaning of the phrasal verb can be very different from the meaning of the individual words.

Examples:

• “Break down” – To stop working (for machinery or vehicles).
• “Look after” – To take care of someone or something.
• “Pick up” – To collect something or someone.

Idioms

Idioms are phrases whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words. They often have cultural significance and are used to express ideas in a colorful or creative way.

Examples:

• “It’s a piece of cake” – It’s very easy.
• “Bite the bullet” – To do something unpleasant that is unavoidable.
• “Let the cat out of the bag” – To reveal a secret.

Learning activities

EGB

Idiom Charades

Objective: Understand and practice common idioms.
Instructions:

• Write a list of common idioms on the board (e.g., “kick the bucket,” “break the ice,” “on cloud nine”).
• You will take turns acting out an idiom for the rest of the class to guess.
• The rest of the class must guess the idiom and explain its meaning. For example, if a student acts out a person jumping, the class might guess “on cloud nine” (meaning very happy).
• After the correct guess, the student acting out the idiom explains when to use the idiom in real life.
• Variation: If you want to add a competitive edge, split the class into two teams, and award points for correct guesses.

BGU

Speed Round: Idioms and Phrasal Verbs Quiz

Objective: Quickly recognize and use idioms and phrasal verbs.
Instructions:

• I will read out a series of idioms and phrasal verbs, and you need to shout out the meaning as fast as you can.
• For example, if I say “Let the cat out of the bag,” you might shout, “To reveal a secret!”
• I’ll also give you sentences with missing phrasal verbs, and you need to fill in the blanks. For example:
  • “Can you _______ the meeting for tomorrow?” (Answer: “set up”)
• The student who answers first gets a point, and we’ll keep a scoreboard. At the end of the round, the student with the most points wins.

Speech Variations: Ways of Expressing Opinions, Agreement, Disagreement, Wishes, and Regrets

Expressing Opinions

When you want to share your thoughts or ideas about something, you can express your opinion using different phrases. Here are some ways to do that:

• Giving your opinion:
  • “In my opinion…”
  • “I believe that…”
  • “From my point of view…”
  • “Personally, I think…”
  • “As far as I’m concerned…”
• Giving reasons for your opinion:
  • “I think it’s important because…”
  • “In my experience…”
  • “The reason I believe this is…”

Agreeing with Someone

When you agree with someone, you can use different phrases to show that you share the same opinion.

• Strong Agreement:
  • “I completely agree.”
  • “You’re absolutely right.”
  • “That’s exactly what I think.”
• Partial Agreement:
  • “I see what you mean, but…”
  • “That’s true to some extent, but…”
  • “I agree with you up to a point, however…”

Disagreeing with Someone

When you disagree with someone, you can use phrases that politely express a different opinion.

• Polite Disagreement:
  • “I’m not sure I agree with that.”
  • “I see your point, but I think…”
  • “I understand where you’re coming from, but…”
• Strong Disagreement:
  • “I completely disagree.”
  • “I don’t think that’s true at all.”
  • “I can’t agree with you on that.”

Expressing Wishes

Wishes are used when you want something to happen, or you want to express a desire for something in the present, future, or past.

• Wishing for the present:
  • “I wish I could…”
  • “I wish I were…”
• Wishing for the past:
  • “I wish I had…”
  • “If only I had…”

Expressing Regrets

Regrets are used when you feel sorry for something that happened or didn’t happen in the past.

• Regret for something you did:
  • “I regret (doing)…”
  • “I shouldn’t have…”
• Regret for something you didn’t do:
  • “I wish I had…”
  • “If only I had…”

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

EGB

Wish and Regret Skits

Objective: Practice using “wish” and “regret” phrases in a realistic scenario.
Instructions:

• In pairs, create a short skit where you act out a situation where one person expresses a wish and the other person expresses a regret.
• For example, one student might say, “I wish I had studied harder for the test,” and the other might say, “I regret not studying more too.”
• After performing your skit for the class, discuss how you used the expressions of regret and wishes.
• Variation: Switch roles and use different phrases for wishes and regrets.

BGU

Regret and Wish Reflection

Objective: Use wishes and regrets to reflect on past decisions.

Instructions:

• Write down a situation in which you wish you had done something differently or regret a decision you made.
• Then, write out a short paragraph using wish and regret structures to express how you feel about the situation.
• Afterward, share your reflections with the class. You can ask a classmate to give their opinion on whether they agree with your regret or wish and why.
• Variation: For a fun twist, make the situations hypothetical or exaggerated (e.g., “I wish I had gone to the moon instead of high school”).