Invitation

                                                                                 Invitations

Expression

Response:   A = Accept, D = Decline

a.      Are you free on (... Friday night)? b.      Would you like to go to ( ... a picnic on Sunday afternoon)? c.       How about going to ( ... the movies with me this Saturday)? d.      I’d like to invite you to ( ... the dance this weekend)? e.       Do you want to go to ( ... the rock concert with me)?

A: Sure, what did you have in mind? D: No, I’m going to my grandmother’s 80th birthday party. A: That would be great, thanks. D: No can do, I have a soccer game. A: That sounds great. What time? D: Sorry, but I’ve already made other plans. A: How kind of you to ask, I’d be delighted. D: I’m sorry, but I have a previous engagement. A: Sure. When?                       D: No thanks, loud concerts give me an earache.

     When friends get together, they usually do so by an invitation from one person to another. An invitation may be very casual, such as asking a friend to go out for a drink or dinner after work or more formal, such as a wedding invitation. More formal invitations are usually written and may require an RSVP (French abbreviation répondez s'il vous plaît  meaning please reply). There are several expressions that can be used when extending the more common and casual oral invitation. Look at the samples below.    

English Dialogue

 Students should work together in pairs and read the following dialogue, one student reading one part, the other student reading the other. Note the expressions used in the dialogue and the progression of the conversation. The dialogue can be used as a model to have similar conversations.

Bob: Alice, what are you doing Sunday afternoon?

Alice: Not much, what did you have in mind?

Bob: The Fourth Avenue Street Fair is going on downtown. Would you like to go?

Alice: Sure, sounds like fun. What is it anyway?

Bob: Just a bunch of vendors selling food, clothes andit’s kind of like a carnival. There are also street musicians and performers. It's interesting to just walk around looking at the people and the sights.

Alice: What time and where do we meet?

Bob: The fair opens at 9:00, but I'm busy in the morning. How about 1:00?

Alice: OK, should I meet you somewhere there?

Bob: Why don't I pick you up at your house?

Alice: Sounds good, see you then.

   After reading, close your book and tell your partner a summary of the dialogue. Then switch and have your partner tell his or her summary. Start like this: This dialogue is about one person inviting another person to...

Conversation Activities

1. Pair work- discussion

     When was the last time you invited someone to someplace or were invited to someplace by someone? Tell your partner about it using some of the ideas for the discussion below. Your partner should ask questions to get more information.

·         where was the invitation to

·         when was the invitation extended

·         what was the occasion of the invitation

·         did you/they accept or decline the invitation

·         if accepted, was it fun

1. Pair work- practice

     The situation:     

     Invite your partner to the activities below. Your partner should accept some of the invitations, but decline others. If they decline, they should offer polite reasons for rejecting the invitation. If they accept the  invitation, both partners should continue the conversation to get more information about the event, such as:

• the day and time
• where they should meet
• how much money it will cost
• what kind of dress is required
• how long the event will last 
• if anything special is needed to participate in the event    

To a natural history museum

To a traditional dance competition

To a tourism object

To a friend's birthday party

To a horror movie

To go window shopping