COMMUNICATION

Expressing
support and
encouragement

LEVEL NUMBER LANGUAGE

Upper-Intermediate EN_B2_1083X English
(B2)

www.lingoda.com
 Learning outcomes

● I can recall a variety of

expressions to encourage
someone to do something.

● I can express support and

encouragement in a range of
different situations.

2
 Warm-up

When was the last

time you asked a
friend or a colleague
for support?

Did they manage

to help you or not?

3
 Brainstorm
Jot down some phrases you already know to support or encourage someone.

Come on!
You can do it!

You’ve got this!

Go on!

4
 Form phrases to express encouragement
1 2 3 4

Hang in… Stay at… You can… Go…

5 6 7 8

Give it your… Stick at… Give it… Just…

a b c d

…for it! …it! …a try! …it!

e f g h

…do it! …best shot! …there! …do it!

5
 Discuss

Have you ever felt

like giving up on
something?

Who encouraged you to stick

at it? What did they say to you?

6
 Role-play
1. Read the situations below. Choose one to role-play.
2. Tell your partner about your difficulties. They should encourage you to keep going.

You just started doing an online course at

work and you’re finding it really tough.

You started jogging six months ago, but

your fitness hasn’t improved yet.

Your boss keeps criticising your work even

though you’ve working hard to improve.

You’re saving up for a house, but your bills

keep going up each month.

Hang in there!
Stick at it!
7
 It’s worth a shot!

You might as well!

We can express encouragement

with these two phrases.

8
 What are you waiting
for?

What have you got to

lose?

We can also use these questions to

mean: what is stopping you?

9
 Fill in the gaps
Complete the sentence using a word from the red box.

- I’ve always wanted to go to Paris. I’ve just never got around to it!
1
- What are you _______________ for? There’s no time like the present!

- The company is asking for 5 years of experience. I’ve only got 4!

2
- You _______________ as well apply for it. You’ve got so much to offer! shot
waiting
- My wife and I have always dreamed of opening a café one day. stopping
3
- What have you got to _______________? Go for it! lose
might
- No one has ever got into that university from our school before.
4
- It’s worth a _______________! You could always be the first!

- I wish I could just quit my job. It’s getting too much!

5
- Well, what’s _______________ you? You’ll find another one soon enough.

10
 Speaking
1. Choose one of the ideas below.
2. Encourage your partner to do it with you. Use the phrases from today’s lesson.

Take 6 months
Learn Arabic
off work to travel the
just for fun
world

Change careers Go to university

completely again to get a degree

11
 What have you got to lose?
1. Write down your answers to the questions.
2. Interview a partner in breakout rooms.
3. Encourage your partner to do their chosen activity!

What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do, but

1
are too nervous to try?

2 Why do you want to do it?

3 What has stopped you from doing it?

12
 Lending support
Form phrases to lend someone support.

1 I’ve got… a always count on me!

2 You can… b right behind you!

Real-life language

3 We’re all… c your back!

4 You’ve got… d with you all the way!

5 We’re… e our support!

13
 I’ve got your back!
Real-life language

Gosh! I’m so lucky to

have you!

How would you translate this phrase

into your own language?

14
 Making changes
Think of one improvement you would make to your workplace.

Make a few notes about your idea

and why you think it’s a good one.

Modernise design? Change lighting? Encourage wellness? Offer food or drink?

15
 Presentation time!
Use your notes from the last slide to help you.

1 Present your idea to the class. Convince them to support you!

2 Your classmates should listen and ask follow-up questions.

3 After the presentations, say which idea you support and why.

16
 Let’s reflect

● Can you recall a variety of

expressions to encourage
someone to do something?

● Can you express support and

encouragement in a range of
different situations?

Your teacher will now make one suggestion

for improvement for each student.

17
End of the lesson

Idiom

chin up!

Meaning: used to tell someone to stay cheerful in a difficult or unpleasant situation.

Example: Chin up! Not everyone passes that exam first time.
Additional practice

Additional practice

19
 Match the halves of the sentence
Additional practice

1 2 3 4

It’s worth Give it your… You… Hang…

5 6 7 8

What have… Go… Just… What are…

a b c d

…you got to
…for it! …best shot! …in there!
lose?

e f g h

…you waiting
…do it! …a shot! …might as well!
for?

20
 Fill in the gaps
Choose the correct words to complete the phrases.
Additional practice

1 I’ve _______________ your _______________!

can
support
2 You _______________ always _______________ on me! back
are
all
3 We _______________ all _______________ behind you! count
got
right
4 You’ve _______________ our _______________! got
with

5 We’re _______________ you _______________ the way!

21
 Too much encouragement?
Discuss these questions with your classmates.
Additional practice

Is there such thing as too much praise and

1
encouragement?

What happens to children when they only hear

2
praise?

Should we expect to receive praise for everything

3
we do? Is it different at work versus at home?

22
 What about you?
Additional practice

What’s the best

kind of praise
you’ve ever
received?
Who gave it to you?

23
 Answer key

P. 5: 1. Hang in there (g)

2. Stay at it! (b)
3. You can do it! (e)
4. Go for it! (a)
5. Give it your best shot! (f)
6. Stick at it (d)
7. Give it a try (c)
8. Just do it ! (h)
P. 10: 1. waiting
2. might
3. lose
4. shot
5. stopping
P. 13: 1. I’ve got your back (c)
2. You can always count on me (a)

24
 Answer key

P. 13: 3. We’re all right behind you (b)

(cont’d) 4. You’ve got our support (e)
5. We’re with you all the way (d)
P. 20: 1. It’s worth a shot! (g)
2. Give it your best shot! (b)
3. You might as well! (h)
4. Hang in there! (c)
5. What you got to lose? (d)
6. Go for it! (a)
7. Just do it! (e)
8. What are waiting for? (f)
P. 21: 1. got, back
2. can, count
3. are, right
4. got, support
5. with, all

25
 Notes

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