Lesson 7: Community Events
You might even meet new guys. You never know.

I can persuade someone to join an event.

INTRODUCE

Being able to persuade someone to do something is a good skill to have.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

I. Go over the expressions with your tutor.

    1. Use the phrase don’t knock it till you try it to tell someone to try something before they decide whether it’s bad or not.

    I’m not eating raw horse meat!

    But it’s delicious! Don’t knock it till you try it.

     

    2. Use the phrase you never know to tell someone to give something a chance.

    Should I go to the Bon Odori festival?

    Why not? You might enjoy it. You never know.

     

    3. Use the phrase give it a try to convince someone to do something.

    No. We’re not riding the cable cars.

    But it’ll be fun. C’mon, give it a try.

     

     

    II. Which expressions would you use in these situations?

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

When one word ends in -nt and the next word starts with a consonant sound, the /t/ is often dropped.
Phrase Example

don’t knock

/ doh(n)nahk /

/ Doh(n)nahk / it till you try it.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Kelsie is talking to Yuko on the phone.

Kelsie:

Hey, Yuko! The Sanja Festival is this weekend. Do you want to come with me?

Yuko:

Sorry, Kelsie. I’m quite busy with setting up my new office.

Kelsie:

Oh, right! I still can’t believe you’re finally starting your own company! It’s so exciting. Do you need any help setting up your office?

Yuko:

No, I’m okay. Another friend already said he would come help.

Kelsie:

Oh, okay. Well, since you’re busy, I guess I’ll just stay home this weekend.

Yuko:

What? No, go to the festival! You’ll enjoy it. There’ll be candy apples. You love those, right? And you might even meet new guys. You never know.

Kelsie:

It’ll probably just be a bunch of guys who are too young, too old, or already in a relationship. And I don’t think going to a festival by myself would be much fun.

Yuko:

Don’t knock it till you try it.

Kelsie:

I don’t know…

Yuko:

C’mon, give it a try. Life’s too short. Have some fun!

Kelsie:

All right, all right. Thanks, Yuko. You always know what to say.

TRIVIA

Do you know the English words for some common Japanese festival foods? Watagashi (綿菓子) is cotton candy, kakigoori (かき氷) is shaved ice, and ringo ame (リンゴ飴) is a candy apple.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

How would you respond to each situation? Choose one piece of advice and one expression from the boxes. More than one answer may be possible, and some expressions may be used more than once.

Advice

Expressions

I think you look much better in blue.
You might meet someone you like.

It’ll taste better.

It might not be that crowded.

Don’t knock it till you try it.

You never know.

Give it a try.

ex. Your friend doesn’t want to go on a blind date.

→ You might meet someone you like. You never know.

1. An exchange student doesn’t want wasabi on her sushi but has never eaten it before.

→ _________. _________.

2. Your friend is worried about the crowds at the fireworks festival.

→ _________. _________.

3. Your sister is thinking about buying a pink yukata, but you think blue would be a better choice.

→ _________. _________.

STEP B EXERCISE

You’re interested in trying radio taiso at the park, but you don’t want to go alone, so you decided to invite your friend. Complete the voicemail using the expressions in the box.

you never know
give it a try
don’t knock it till you try it

Hey, (tutor’s name)! I heard about radio taiso at the park. Please come with me. I know you don’t like waking up early, but please _____. You might think radio taiso sounds stupid, but you’ve never tried it before, so _____. You might even enjoy it! _____. Call me back, okay? Thanks. Bye!

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You want to invite a friend to an event this weekend. Choose one of the events below, then call your friend and convince him/her to join you.

Today's Expressions

  • don’t knock it till you try it
  • you never know
  • give it a try

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

EVENTS
2

PERSUASION
3

FESTIVAL FOODS
1

EVENTS

  1. What kind of events do you like to invite people to?
  2. What kind of events do you prefer to go to alone?
  3. Which do you go to more often, free or paid events?
  4. How frequently do you go to events?

2PERSUASION

  1. Are you good at persuading people to do things?
  2. Are you easily persuaded by other people?
  3. Who do you think are easier to persuade, younger people or older people?
  4. Do you think that persuasion is a good skill to have?

3FESTIVAL FOODS

  1. What festival foods do you think you can make at home?
  2. What are some unique festival foods in Japan?
  3. What Japanese festival food would you recommend to foreign tourists?
  4. How much do festival foods usually cost?

FEEDBACK

I can persuade someone to join an event.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK