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Formal vs. Informal Language – Understanding formality in language – Language varies based on context and audience. – ‘Formal’ in writing and speaking – Formal language is polite, follows rules, and often used in professional settings. – Appropriate times for formal language – Use formal language in essays, speeches, and business letters. – Examples of formal vs. informal – ‘Can I have a moment of your time?’ vs. ‘Wanna chat?’ | This slide introduces the concept of formality in language, helping students to distinguish between formal and informal language. Formal language is structured, contains no slang, and adheres to grammatical rules, making it suitable for professional or academic settings. Informal language is more casual and often used among friends. It’s important for students to recognize when to use formal language, such as in school essays or when speaking to someone in authority. Provide examples to illustrate the differences and encourage students to think of situations where they would need to use formal language. This will help them understand the appropriateness of language in various social contexts.

Formal vs. Informal Sentences – Comparing message tones – Identifying formality in sentences – ‘Can you assist me?’ vs. ‘Can you help me out?’ – Discussing context appropriateness – Formal for official letters, informal for friends – Examples: Formal vs. Informal – ‘I am pleased to meet you.’ (Formal) vs. ‘Nice to meet ya!’ (Informal) | This slide aims to help students distinguish between formal and informal language. Start by comparing two sentences that convey the same message but with different tones. Ask students to identify which sentence sounds more formal and which one is more casual. Discuss where it would be appropriate to use each sentence, such as formal for business or school settings and informal for conversations with friends or family. Provide examples of both formal and informal sentences and encourage students to come up with their own examples. This will help them understand the importance of choosing the right tone for different situations.

Characteristics of Formal Language – Use complete sentences – Proper grammar is key for clarity. – Employ standard vocabulary – Slang is informal, use dictionary words. – Include polite expressions – ‘Could you’ instead of ‘Can you’ – Avoid contractions – Use ‘do not’ instead of ‘don’t’ | This slide aims to teach students the differences between formal and informal language. Emphasize the importance of using complete sentences and proper grammar to convey clear and precise meaning. Explain that standard vocabulary is preferred over slang or colloquial terms in formal writing or speaking. Highlight how polite expressions show respect and professionalism. Lastly, discuss why contractions are often avoided in formal communication to maintain a tone of seriousness. Provide examples of each point and encourage students to rewrite informal sentences in a formal way as practice.

Characteristics of Informal Language – May use slang, idioms – Phrases like ‘gonna’ or ‘wanna’ – Often has contractions – Words like ‘can’t’, ‘won’t’, ‘I’m’ – Uses abbreviations – ‘ASAP’ instead of ‘as soon as possible’ – Personal and expressive tone – Expresses feelings directly, like ‘I’m so happy!’ | This slide aims to help students distinguish informal language from formal language. Informal language often includes slang and colloquial expressions that are not used in formal writing. Contractions and abbreviations are also a key feature, making the language seem more casual and conversational. Additionally, informal language tends to be more personal and expressive, reflecting the speaker’s emotions and personality. Encourage students to think about how they talk to friends versus how they would write a formal letter, and to be mindful of the context in which they are communicating.

Identifying Formality in Sentences – Examples of formal vs. informal – ‘Can I have a cookie?’ vs. ‘May I have a cookie, please?’ – Discuss formality in words/phrases – Formal language often includes polite phrases, specific vocabulary, and complete sentences. – Practice rewriting sentences – Turn ‘Wanna grab a bite?’ into ‘Would you like to go out for lunch?’ – Understand formal language use | This slide aims to help students recognize the difference between formal and informal language. Start by showing examples of sentences that are similar in meaning but differ in formality. Engage the class in a discussion about why certain words or phrases make a sentence more formal, such as the use of ‘may’ instead of ‘can’, or adding ‘please’ to a request. Then, have students practice taking informal sentences and rewriting them in a more formal style, reinforcing the idea that context like a formal letter versus talking to a friend determines the appropriate level of formality. Emphasize that formal language is important in certain settings, such as school essays or formal communications.

Activity: Formal or Informal? – Pair up with a classmate – Receive sentences to categorize – Decide if each is formal or informal – Think about the language and context used in each sentence – Share and explain your choices – Discuss why you think each sentence is formal or informal | This activity is designed to help students understand the difference between formal and informal language. By working in pairs, they will engage in collaborative learning, enhancing their critical thinking skills. Provide a variety of sentences that exemplify formal and informal tones. Encourage students to consider word choice, tone, and context when categorizing the sentences. After categorizing, each pair will share their decisions with the class and explain their reasoning, allowing for discussion and deeper understanding. As a teacher, facilitate the discussion by asking probing questions and providing feedback. Possible activities for different pairs could include categorizing sentences from a book, writing their own sentences, or identifying formal and informal language in a video clip.

Writing Practice: Formal vs. Informal Letters – Write a letter in two styles – One formal, one informal version of the same letter – Think about who will read it – What’s the letter’s purpose? – Share with classmates – Discuss the differences in tone and word choice | This activity is designed to help students understand the difference between formal and informal writing. They should consider the audience, which could be a friend for the informal letter and a principal or a teacher for the formal letter. The purpose could vary from asking for a favor in an informal tone to requesting information formally. Encourage students to pay attention to their language, tone, and the structure of the letters. After writing, students will share their letters with the class to discuss the variations in style and to learn from each other’s approach. This will enhance their understanding of when and how to use formal language.

Class Activity: Crafting a Formal Invitation – Create your own event invitation – Use formal language and format – Think ‘You are cordially invited’ vs ‘Wanna come?’ – Present your invitation to the class – Reflect on the language used – Why did you choose certain words? | This activity is designed to help students understand the difference between formal and informal language. They will apply this knowledge by creating a formal invitation, paying attention to the choice of words and the structure of the invitation. Encourage creativity in the type of event they choose to host. Provide examples of formal phrases and guide them on proper formatting, such as using a formal greeting, third person voice, and no slang. After creating their invitations, students will present them to the class, which will help them practice public speaking in a formal register. Discuss with the class why certain words and phrases are more appropriate for formal events. This will deepen their understanding of language use in different contexts.

Conclusion: Formal vs. Informal Language – Recap formal vs. informal language – Formal language is polite and serious, informal is casual and familiar – Importance of knowing the difference – Understanding the difference is key in writing appropriately for different settings – Homework: Media language examples – Look for examples of both language types in books, news, or advertisements | As we wrap up our lesson, it’s crucial to review the key distinctions between formal and informal language. Formal language is typically used in professional or academic settings, while informal language is used with friends or in relaxed situations. Knowing when to use each type is an essential skill for effective communication. For homework, students should find real-world examples of formal and informal language in various media sources. This will help them recognize the context in which different language styles are used. Encourage them to bring their examples to the next class for discussion, which will reinforce their understanding and ability to distinguish between formal and informal language.