Making invitations

Do you know how to invite someone to your house for dinner or to go to the
movies?
What do you say in English when someone invites you?
Here are some common expressions you can use when making or responding to
invitations

Inviting:

Do you want to go to the movies tonight?

Would you like to go to the theater tomorrow?

Would you be interested in going to the the stadium next Sunday?

How do you fancy going to the the restaurant for dinner?

How about going to the movies?

Care to come over for lunch?

I was just wondering if you would like to come over for a drink.

We'd be delighted to have you over for my birthday party.

Accepting invitations:

Sure. What time?

I'd love to, thanks.

That's very kind of you, thanks.

That sounds lovely, thank you.

What a great idea, thank you.

Sure. When should I be there?

Declining invitations:

I can't. I have to work.

 This evening is no
good. I have an
appointment.

I'm busy tomorrow.

Can I take a rain
check* on that?

That's very kind of

you, but actually I'm
doing something else
this afternoon.

Well, I'd love to, but I'm already going out to the restaurant.

I'm really sorry, but I've got something else on.

I really don't think I can - I'm supposed to be doing something

else.

(*rain check: used to tell someone that you cannot accept invitations now, but
would like to do so at a later time)

Dialogue:

Mike and Ann are in a wedding party:

Mike: Do you want to dance?

Ann: No thanks. I'm a bit tired right now
Mike: How about having a drink?
Ann: Sure, I'd love to!
Engage ESL students in active conversation practice using this lesson plan to give, accept,
and refuse invitations. Sometimes it is difficult inviting people. This ESL lesson plan will teach
students lots of practice, helping them to accept or decline invitations.

Learning Expectations

This lesson plan is designed to help new English speakers feel more
confident when inviting people. ESL lesson plans about invitations should provide plenty of
speaking practice.
 When a new English speaker is becoming settled in her new country, she will likely want to
make friends with native English speakers in her community.

This can be difficult, however, if she does not know the words to say to invite someone to go
somewhere or do something with her.

Objective and Target Language

Objective: Students will become comfortable giving, accepting, and refusing invitations in
English.
Target Language:
Giving Invitations:
What are you doing on (day/date)?
Would you like to. . .?
How about. . .?
Do you want to. . .with me?
I'd like to invite you to. . .
Accepting Invitations:
Thanks! That sounds like fun.
Sure. Thank you for the invitation.
When is it?
What time does it start/end?
Let's meet at. . .
What date/day is it?
Refusing invitations:
No, thank you.
I'm sorry, but I have to. . .
Thanks, but I have another appointment at that time.
I can't. I'm sorry.

Materials
Medium to large photograph of a party
Whiteboard/chalkboard and markers/chalk
2 sets of index cards, one for students to invite others in the class to
do something (go to a movie, go out to eat, etc.), and another set for students to accept
or decline the invitation. The latter set of cards should say "Accept/Refuse" on them so
that students have to recall and use the lesson vocabulary.

Warm-Up
Put a picture of a party up on the board or on the wall where students can see it. Ask
students what they see going on in the picture. Then ask students how they would invite
someone to a party and what they would say if they wanted to go or did not/could not go to
the party. Write answers on the board.

Intro to New Vocabulary and Practice

Write target vocabulary on the board, separating it into sections titled
"To Invite," "Accept" and "Refuse."
Ask a student volunteer to come up to the front of the class. Ask the
student if he would like to go to a party with you using the target vocabulary. Encourage
the student to use one of the phrases to accept or refuse the invitation that you wrote on
the board.
 Split students up into two groups by assigning each student the
number 1 or 2. Students designated as "ones" are given note cards for inviting someone
to the event on their card. Give the "twos" the cards that tell them to accept or refuse
the invitation. Give one card to each student. Students mill about the room inviting,
accepting and declining. Students then return the cards to you, and you give
accept/refuse cards to number "ones" and invitation cards to number "twos." Encourage
students to use the vocabulary listed on the board.
Practice giving excuses for not accepting an invitation by having
students pair up. One student will invite the other to a party, and the other person has to
decline the invitation. Explain culturally acceptable excuses to students so that they are
not too frank in their answers.

Wrap-Up
Ask each student what he or she would say if an unpleasant person invited him or her to go
to a party or to the movies. Write answers on the board.

Ask a few students what their favorite ways to invite, accept, and refuse invitations are. Write
answers on the board.

With all of the speaking practice in this lesson, your students will be more assured when
inviting people. The ESL lesson will also help students interact with native speakers more
easily, thereby feeling confident in inviting native speakers out to do something.

INVITING, ACCEPTING & DECLINING INVITATION

Inviting:

Would you like to .

Could you come to

Id very much like

Would you care to .

Ill really happy if you come to.

Im sure that you wont be disappointed to come to.

Accepting an Invitation

Thank you for inviting me.

I would/will .

That would be very nice.

Id like to love to come.

 Thats fine.

Sure. Why not?

Declining an Invitation

Im very sorry, I dont think I can.

Id like to, but .

Thank you for asking me, but .

Unfortunately, I cant .

Dialog Examples:

Dialog 1

Ludi Invites Maya to go to a Movie

Ludi : Hi, Maya. There will be a great film tonight. Its about vampire.

Would you like to go to the movie with me?

Maya : Yes, Id like to very much. When will you pick me up?

Ludi : Ill pick you at 7.00. Be ready, OK!

Maya : Alright.

Dialog 2

Afif is very busy doing his homework. Sheila, his friend, asks him to come to her party.

Sheila : Heloo, this is Sheila. May I speak to Afif?

Afif : This is Afif speaking.

Sheila : Oh, hi Afif. I wonder if youd like to come to my house right now.

Were having a great party.

Afif : I dont think I can. Im doing my homework. My parents wont

let me out before I finish my homework.

Sheila : Thats alright.

Afif : I hope you enjoy your party. Bye.

Sheila : Bye.