TESOL/Criticizing

Oops!

Key sentences

Criticizing Responding to criticism
Why didn't you (verb) ? It's just that (excuse).
Criticizing Responding to criticism
You could have (past participle) you know. I'm sorry, (excuse) you see.

Drills

Say these sentences without looking.

Why didn't you (verb) ?
verb sentence
call me sooner Why didn't you call me sooner ?
check Why didn't you check ?
remember Why didn't you remember ?
watch more carefully Why didn't you watch more carefully ?
It's just that (excuse).
excuse sentence
I was busy It's just that I was busy.
I was distracted It's just that I was distracted.
I forgot It's just that I forgot.
I thought you knew It's just that I thought you knew.
You could have (past participle) you know.
past participle sentence
written it down You could have written it down you know.
been more careful You could have been more careful you know.
thought about it You could have thought about it you know.
double checked You could have double checked you know.
I'm sorry, (excuse) you see.
excuse sentence
it was an accident I'm sorry, it was an accident you see.
I was overwhelmed I'm sorry, I was overwhelmed you see.
I didn't realize I'm sorry, I didn't realize you see.
they told me it was okay I'm sorry, they told me it was okay you see.

Example

Practice this conversation.

Criticizing Responding to criticism
Why didn't you (call me sooner) ? It's just that (I was busy).
Criticizing Responding to criticism
You could have (written it down) you know. I'm sorry, (it was an accident) you see.


Change partners. Use your imagination and change the sentences.

Exercise

Use your imagination. Make your own conversation.

Criticizing Responding to criticism

Why didn't you ... ?

It's just that ... .

Criticizing Responding to criticism
You could have ... you know. I'm sorry, ... you see.


Change partners. Use your imagination and make another conversation.

Practice

Criticizing Responding to criticism
Imagine your partner made a mistake. Criticize them. Apologize and explain.

Further study


  Resource type: this resource is a lesson in English as a second language.

Review

edit

1 Put these words in the correct order.

sooner you Why me didn't call
Word 1
Word 2
Word 3
Word 4
Word 5
Word 6

2 Put these words in the correct order.

I just forgot that It's
Word 1
Word 2
Word 3
Word 4
Word 5

3 Put these words in the correct order.

You checked, you have know could
Word 1
Word 2
Word 3
Word 4
Word 5
Word 6