Formal or Casual Speaking
Aligned to SL.5.6 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
Match how you speak to the situation. Chatting with friends is casual, but a class presentation or talking to a principal calls for formal English.
Worked examples
Example 1
With a friend: 'That movie was so cool!' Presenting to the class: 'The film showed how sea turtles survive their first year.'
Example 2
With a friend: 'It was a disaster.' In a report: 'The first attempt did not work, for three reasons.'
Example 3
Formal speech is slower and more complete. Saying 'yeah, no, like, whatever' in a presentation makes the content sound less considered than it was.
Practice questions
- Say one idea two ways: casual and formal.
- Name a time formal English is the right choice.
- Rewrite a slang sentence for a formal talk.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Hablar Formal o Informal
Ajusta cómo hablas a la situación. Charlar con amigos es informal, pero una presentación en clase o hablar con el director pide un español formal.
Ejemplo 1: Con un amigo: '¡Esa película estuvo buenísima!' Presentando a la clase: 'La película mostró cómo sobreviven las tortugas marinas en su primer año.'
Ejemplo 2: Con un amigo: 'Fue un desastre.' En un reporte: 'El primer intento no funcionó, por tres razones.'
Ejemplo 3: El habla formal es más lenta y completa. Decir 'pues, o sea, no sé, da igual' en una presentación hace que el contenido suene menos pensado de lo que fue.
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