The Dinner Party Disaster — will / won’t / shall (A2)

A2 · WILL / WON’T / SHALL

The Dinner Party

Disaster

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“I won’t say anything about the chicken. Ever.”

Decisions · offers · promises · suggestions

Reading

Speaking

STAGE 1 · WARM-UP

Are you good in a crisis?

Your friend is cooking dinner for ten people. One hour before the guests arrive, everything goes wrong. Do you…

a) run away?

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b) call for pizza?

c) put on an apron and help?

STAGE 2 · BEFORE YOU READ

One very bad evening

You are going to read the script of a bad evening at Jess’s flat. Jess is cooking dinner for her boyfriend’s parents — for the first time.

PREDICT

What can go wrong at a dinner party? Brainstorm 5-6disasters.

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Read — how many of your disasters happen to Jess?

STAGE 3 · READING

Read once — how many disasters?

One hour before dinner — a play in one scene

Jess’s kitchen, 6 p.m. Smoke from the oven. MEL walks in.

MEL: Jess? Why can I smell smoke?

JESS: The chicken! I forgot it! It’s black. His parents arrive at seven. What am I going to do?

MEL: Don’t panic. I’ll help you. Shall I open a window?

JESS: Yes! And the door!

MEL: What else is on the menu?

JESS: Potatoes — oh no, I haven’t bought potatoes!

MEL: I’ll go to the shop. It closes at half past — I’ll take my bike, it’ll be faster.

JESS: Thank you! Get rice too. I’ll pay you back tomorrow, I promise.

MEL: What will you do about the chicken?

JESS: Decision made: I’ll make my mum’s pasta instead. It never goes wrong.

MEL: Good plan. Shall we move the table to the balcony? The kitchen smells like a campfire.

JESS: Perfect. Oh no — the doorbell! They’re EARLY!

MEL: I’ll open the door and talk to them. You start the pasta. And Jess? I won’t say anything about the chicken. Ever.

JESS: Mel, you’re a hero. I’ll cook for YOU every night this week!

MEL: No, thanks. I’ve seen how that ends. (exit)

STAGE 4 · COMPREHENSION

Answer the questions

1 What two problems does Jess have with the food?

2 Why does Mel take her bike?

3 What does Jess decide to cook instead of the chicken?

4 Why do they move the table to the balcony?

5 What is Mel’s promise at the end?

One line is a joke: why does Mel say “No, thanks. I’ve seen how that ends”?

STAGE 5 · TALK ABOUT IT

What do you think?

Discuss with a partner.

Is Mel a good flatmate? What’s the kindest thing a friend has done for you in a small crisis?

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Cooking for a partner’s parents: relaxing or terrifying?

STAGE 6 · GRAMMAR — MATCH

Same words, different jobs

Match each line (1–6) to its function (a–f).

1 I’ll go to the shop.

a) promise

2 Shall I open a window?

b) instant decision

3 I’ll pay you back, I promise.

c) offer to do something

4 Decision made: I’ll make pasta.

d) suggestion (Shall we…?)

5 I won’t say anything. Ever.

e) offer for help (Shall I…?)

6 Shall we move the table?

f) promise NOT to do something

Rules: We use I’ll… for decisions made ______________ (before / at the moment of speaking). Shall is used with ________ (I and we / all persons).

STAGE 7 · THE RULES

will / won’t / shall — not just predictions

function

example

instant decision

OK — I’ll make pasta instead. I’ll have the soup, please.

offer

I’ll open the door. · Shall I carry that for you?

promise

I’ll pay you back tomorrow. I won’t tell anybody.

suggestion

Shall we move the table? Shall we take a break?

Decisions made NOW → will, not be going to: I’ll have the fish, please. Shall = I / we only (Shall I…? = offer; Shall we…? = suggestion).

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Respond to each situation

Use I’ll… / I won’t… / Shall I…? / Shall we…? Then write the function: D, O, P or S. Example: Heavy bag → Shall I carry it? (O)

1 The phone is ringing and your flatmate is in the shower.

2 Waiter: “Are you ready to order?” You want the pizza.

3 You broke your friend’s cup. Promise it’s the last time!

4 Lesson’s over, it’s a beautiful day. Suggest the park.

5 Your grandmother can’t read the small letters on her phone.

6 Your friend tells you a big secret.

7 Nobody knows what film to watch. Suggest one.

8 You’re leaving home and it’s raining. Decide!

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Circle the best form

1 A: We haven’t got any milk. B: No problem — I’ll buy / I’m going to buy some.

2 A: Why the old clothes? B: I’ll paint / I’m going to paint my room. I planned it last week.

3 It’s hot in here. Shall I / Will I open the window?

4 I won’t / I don’t forget your birthday again — I promise!

5 Shall we / Will we invite the neighbours to the barbecue?

STAGE 9 · SPEAKING

Crisis! — a responding game

STEPS 1–2

In pairs, write four crisis cards (“I’ve locked my keys inside!” “The dog ate my homework — really.”). Put them all in a box.

STEP 3 — react FAST, everyone gives a different response

offer: “I’ll call your landlord!” / “Shall I climb through the window?”

decision: “Right, I’ll wait here with you.” suggestion: “Shall we try the balcony?”

promise: “I won’t leave until we’re inside.”

STEP 4

The person in crisis chooses the most helpful response (1 pt) and the funniest (1 pt). Who’s the best in a crisis?

TEACHER'S REFERENCE

Answer key

4a Questions

1 The chicken burned and she has no potatoes. 2 The shop closes at half past — the bike is faster. 3 Her mum’s pasta. 4 The kitchen smells of smoke. 5 She’ll never say anything about the chicken.

4b Jess offers to cook for Mel every night, but Mel has just seen Jess’s cooking end in disaster — so she jokes she knows “how that ends”.

6a 1 b · 2 e · 3 a · 4 b · 5 f · 6 d

6b 1 at the moment of speaking 2 I and we

8a Respond (sample answers)

1 I’ll answer it! (D/O) 2 I’ll have the pizza, please. (D) 3 I’m so sorry — I won’t do it again! (P) 4 Shall we go to the park? (S) 5 Shall I make the letters bigger? (O) 6 I won’t tell anybody. (P) 7 Shall we watch a comedy? (S) 8 I’ll take an umbrella. (D)

8b Circle

1 I’ll buy 2 I’m going to paint 3 Shall I 4 I won’t 5 Shall we