English Lesson: Apologizing and Making Excuses

Introduction to the Lesson

• The speaker, Lorraine from Canada, introduces a Verbling lesson on apologizing or making excuses for mistakes.
• The lesson will focus on vocabulary related to apologizing, making excuses, and making promises.

Lesson Objectives

• Learn how to apologize for something done wrong.
• Learn how to make an excuse for a mistake.
• Learn how to make a promise to not repeat the mistake.

Lesson Structure

• The lesson is a listening class, featuring audio recordings of people making promises or apologizing for mistakes.
• The lesson aims to help learners understand and practice apologizing, making excuses, and making promises.

Teacher's Concerns

• The teacher is initially concerned about not having any viewers, but eventually gets a few viewers to join the class.
• Due to technical issues, the teacher decides to end the broadcast and start a new class.

Lesson Overview

• The lesson is about apologizing, making excuses, and making promises, taught by Lorraine from Canada.

Learning Objectives

• Understand how to apologize for mistakes.
• Learn how to make excuses for mistakes.
• Learn how to make promises to not repeat mistakes.

Lesson Format

• The lesson is a listening class featuring audio recordings of people making promises or apologizing for mistakes.
• The lesson aims to improve learners' understanding and practice of apologizing, making excuses, and making promises.

Teacher's Experience

• The teacher initially faces an empty class with no viewers.
• The teacher eventually gets a few viewers to join the class.
• Technical issues force the teacher to end the broadcast and start a new class.

Apologizing Phrases

• "I'm so sorry" is a common phrase used to apologize for a mistake.
• "I'm really sorry" is a stronger apology, emphasizing regret.
• "That's all right" is a response to an apology, indicating forgiveness.
• "It was my fault" is a phrase used to take responsibility for a mistake.
• "I'm sorry too" is a way to share the blame and apologize together.
• "Honestly, it's fine" and "Don't worry about it" are phrases used to reassure the other person that the situation is not serious.

Conversation Context

• Apologies can be used in conversations to show regret and remorse.
• Taking responsibility for a mistake ("It was my fault") is an important part of apologizing.
• Sharing the blame ("I'm sorry too") can help to diffuse the situation.
• Reassuring the other person that everything is okay ("Honestly, it's fine" and "Don't worry about it") can help to calm them down.
• Apologies can be used in everyday conversations, not just in formal situations.

Formal Apologies

• Used in formal settings, such as business or professional environments, to express regret for a mistake or inconvenience.
• Typically employ formal language and polite expressions to convey remorse.
• Examples of formal apologies include:
  • Apologizing for delays: "I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay."
  • Regretting a decision: "We regret to inform you that your application has been declined."
  • Expressing remorse for a mistake: "Please accept our sincerest apologies for the mistake."

Using Sorry

• Can be used in both formal and informal situations to express regret, sympathy, or apology.
• Can be used as an adverb to convey regret or sympathy.
• Examples of using "sorry" include:
  • Expressing sympathy: "Sorry to hear that you're unwell."
  • Apologizing for a mistake: "I'm sorry I forgot to call you."
  • Apologizing for an inconvenience: "Sorry about the noise."

Using Excuse Me

• Used to get someone's attention before apologizing or making a request.
• Can be used in informal situations, such as in conversations with friends or in casual business settings.
• Examples of using "excuse me" include:
  • Apologizing for an interruption: "Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to ask you something."
  • Apologizing for a mistake: "Excuse me, sorry about the mistake, can I retry?"
  • Requesting help: "Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but could you help me with this?"

Learn how to apologize, make excuses, and make promises in English with this Verbling lesson. Improve your vocabulary and communication skills with Lorraine from Canada.