Use your knowledge of discourse to guess what you don't hear

Discourse helps us guess what we don't hear clearly.

A knowledge of stock phrases, a knowledge of culture, a knowledge of social situations can help our students understand spoken English.

If you are in a typical American restaurant and your order Bacon and Eggs, you can almost guess what kind of conversation will happen. What do you think the server might ask in the situation below.

Customer: Bacon and eggs please.
Server: .................................................?

Well we don't know for sure, but usually you get a question about how you want your eggs cooked.

A: Bacon and eggs please.
B: Sure. And how would you like them done?

Or something like that.

Students need to have an idea about the culture of langauge to understand it more clearly. Language teaching and culture go hand in hand. Teaching listening and culture also go hand in hand. Help your students with the culture of language. back