Use help, please, sorry, understand accurately in context
Read and discuss a topic-specific article at A1 level
Practise speaking fluently on requests and assistance
Complete written exercises with vocabulary in context
Teaching Notes
Warm-up: allow 8-10 min, let personal answers develop
Article: read together or have students read silently first
Vocabulary match: good for pair work
Speaking: encourage full sentences, not one-word answers
Exit questions: 5-min closer, no prep needed
Timing Guide
Warm-up: 8 min
Article + comprehension: 12 min
Vocabulary + match: 10 min
Exercises: 10 min
Speaking + discussion: 15 min
Exit + recap: 5 min
Teacher Question Bank
Click Next Question to begin
A1 · Lesson 38 · Requests and Assistance
Asking for Help
Requests and Assistancehelppleasesorry
Getting started
Warm-Up Questions
Click the button to get your first question
Read & Understand
Article
Asking for Help
Ana is new to the company and does not know all the systems yet. She asks her colleague Tom for help. 'Excuse me, Tom. Could you help me with the expenses system? I do not understand how it works.' Tom says: 'Of course! It is quite simple. First, you click here. Then you enter the amount.' Ana says: 'I am sorry — could you slow down? And could you write down the steps for me?' Tom smiles: 'No problem at all.' He writes down the steps clearly. Ana says: 'Thank you so much. I am very grateful.' Tom says: 'Do not worry — everyone needs help when they start. Just ask anytime.'
💡 Did you know? Studies show that people overestimate how often others say no to requests by about 50%. Most people are much more willing to help than we expect — we just need to ask.
Topic: Requests and Assistance
Key words
Vocabulary
01
help
to make it easier for someone to do something
02
please
a polite word used when making requests
03
sorry
an expression of apology or regret
04
understand
to know the meaning of something
05
explain
to make something clear by describing it in detail
06
slow down
to speak more slowly
07
write down
to record something in writing
08
problem
a difficulty or challenge that needs to be solved
09
manage
to succeed in doing something, often with some difficulty
010
grateful
feeling or showing thanks for something received
Match the Words
Click a word on the left, then click its definition on the right.
help
please
sorry
understand
explain
slow down
write down
problem
manage
grateful
a difficulty or challenge that needs to be solved
to know the meaning of something
an expression of apology or regret
to succeed in doing something, often with some difficulty
to speak more slowly
to record something in writing
feeling or showing thanks for something received
to make something clear by describing it in detail
to make it easier for someone to do something
a polite word used when making requests
Say it right
Pronunciation
help
HELP
please
PLE-ase
sorry
SO-rry
understand
UND-ers-tand
explain
EXP-lain
slow down
SLOW down
Read & Discuss
Short Dialogue
A:
Hi! Can I ask you about help?
B:
Of course! I think help is very important.
A:
What about please? Do you use it often?
B:
Yes, I do. Please helps me a lot at work.
A:
And sorry? Is that difficult for you?
B:
Sometimes. But I practise every day.
A:
That is great. What is your advice?
B:
Just be consistent. Small steps every day!
Comprehension
What does person A ask about first?
How does person B feel about please?
What is person B's advice?
Practice
Exercises
Gap Fill
Complete each sentence using vocabulary from today's lesson.
1. Could you me with this form, please?
2. Could you send me the file, ?
3. — could you repeat that?
4. I do not this word. Can you explain it?
5. Could you the process again, please?
Error Correction
Find and correct the mistake in each sentence.
She have a big help.
I not understand please.
They is very sorry.
He work with understand every day.
Speaking practice
Speaking Prompts
Discuss with your partner
Practise asking for help using: Could you...? / Would you mind...? / I do not understand...
When do you find it difficult to ask for help? Why?
How do you ask for clarification when you do not understand something in English?
Summarise today's topic in 3 sentences using vocabulary from this lesson.
Grammar focus: Making polite requests: Could you...? / Can you...? / Would you mind...? Respond... — can you give an example?
Open discussion
Discussion Generator
More Questions
Use with pairs or whole class · Encourage full answers
Write a short dialogue (8-10 lines) where one person asks a colleague for help with something at work. Use polite request forms and a warm, natural response.
