First published online 09.11.2009

©

 Macmillan Polska 2009

PHOTOCOPIABLE

Teacher’s Notes

Informal English / Formal English 

by Agnieszka Wiech 

Teacher’s notes

Type of school: gimnazjum

Type of activity: pair work

Focus:  learning informal language, differences 

between spoken and written English

Level: pre-intermediate and higher

Time: 15 min

Preparation:

Copy and cut up the Student’s Worksheet so that 

one student from the pair is given the Informal 

English cards and the other student the Formal 

English cards.

Procedure:

1. Ask  the  students  if  they  know  any  informal 

phrases in English and if they know what they 

mean  in  formal  English,  or  the  other  way 

round. Ask if they think it is useful to know 

such phrases.

2. Ask the students if they use any abbreviations 

when  writing  text  messages  in  Polish.  If  so, 

ask them what abbreviations they use (such 

as “nara” meaning “narazie”).

3. Write  the  following  message  on  the 

blackboard:

 HiJane.Howru?I’dliketoaskuout4dnr

2nite@7.

4. Ask the students to say what they understand 

from this text message.

5. Explain  what  the  message  means  and  what 

abbreviations are used in text messaging:

•  r = are

•  u = you

•  4 = for

•  dnr = dinner

•  2nite = tonight

•  @ = at

6. Tell  the  students  that  they  will  now  get  to 

know some informal phrases used in English. 

Divide the students into pairs and distribute 

the cards. Give the students around 5 minutes 

to match the phrases and discuss them with 

their partner.

Answers:

What’s the story? = How are you?

a bloke = a man 

 

a quid = a British pound

a buck = an American Dollar

fiver = a five pound note

Watch your step! = Be careful!

Can I have a word with you? = I would like to talk 

to you.

Follow up:

For homework you could ask the students to look 

for any other informal phrases and explain when 

they could be used.