the Whiteboard: May 2026

Monday, May 25, 2026

Asking a Favour

Polite & Formal

Could you possibly…?
Would you mind (doing)…?
I was wondering if you could…
I’d really appreciate it if you could…
Would it be too much trouble to…?

Friendly & Neutral

Can you do me a favour?
Can I ask you a favour?
Could you help me with…?
Would you be able to…?
Do you think you could…?

Casual

Hey, can you give me a hand?
Any chance you could…?
Mind helping me out?
Could you lend me a hand?
Can you help me out with…?

Speaking - Asking a favour (B1)

Noelia: Paul, ____ _____ _____ ____ ______? I need a favour.

Paul: I'm ___ ____ ______, but sure, what ___ I help you _____?

Noelia: So, you know the branding job for Active Arctic?

Paul: Of course. It was so good to finally finish that project. It went on and on and on …

Noelia: Yeah, so … look, I'm _____ ______ _____ _____, but they want some more changes made.

Paul: Seriously? I've already rewritten that copy, I don't know, like, 20 times?

Noelia: I know. I'm ____ _____. ____ you ____ _____ to work on it this afternoon?

Paul: Well, ____ _____ _____ _____ ____ _____ _____, Noelia. I'm finishing the Moosh Monkey social media campaign and they're expecting it by the end of the day.

Noelia: I'd forgotten about that. ___ _____ _____ _____ you could work late tonight?

Paul: Sorry, Noelia. I ____ ____ ____ _____ ____ ____ _____.

Noelia: ______?

Paul: I'm taking my niece to the cinema for her birthday. It's been planned for ages.

Noelia: OK. Well, then ____ _____ _____ _____ _____ tomorrow? I'll make it up to you!

Paul: OK. How?

Noelia: _____ your _____.

Paul: An extra day's holiday?

Noelia: Can you get in for 5 a.m.?

Paul: 7 a.m.

Noelia: 6 a.m.

Paul: _____.

Role play

Role-Play: Asking for a Favour

Instructions

Work in pairs – Student A and Student B.
One person asks for a favour, the other responds.
Use at least two different phrases from the “Useful Phrases” box.
Swap roles after each scenario.
Add polite thanks and responses.

Useful Phrases – Asking

Could you possibly…?
Would you mind…?
I was wondering if you could…
I’d really appreciate it if you could…
Would it be too much trouble to…?
Can you do me a favour?
Can I ask you a favour?
Could you help me with…?
Any chance you could…?
Could you lend me a hand?

Useful Phrases – Responding

Sure, no problem.
Of course.
I’d be happy to.
Sorry, I can’t right now.
I’m afraid I’m busy, but maybe later.

Scenarios

Moving furniture – You need help lifting a table into another room.
Borrowing something – You want to borrow your friend’s laptop for a few hours.
Giving a ride – You need a lift to the train station.
Covering a shift – You ask your colleague to work for you on Friday.
Helping with homework – You ask a classmate to explain a difficult exercise.
Taking care of a pet – You need someone to feed your cat while you’re away.
Shopping help – You ask a friend to go to the supermarket with you.
Technology help – You want someone to help you set up your new phone.

Example

A: Can I ask you a favour?
B: Sure, what is it?
A: Would you mind helping me carry this box upstairs?
B: No problem. Where to?

Speaking - Persuading someone to do something (B2)

Noelia: Hey, Paul, ____ ____ ____ a minute?

Paul: ____ on, _____.

Noelia: I've got a _____ _____ ____ ask you.

Paul: Right.

Noelia: So … _____ would you _____ about DJ___ at the office party next week?

Paul: Office party? I _____ usually ____ work parties.

Noelia: Oh, right. So where do you usually DJ ____?

Paul: No, I _____ I don't usually go to work parties, ____ ____ DJ at them.

Noelia: ____ on, I think you'd ____ brilliant ____ it!

Paul: Oh, I don't know …

Noelia: _____, I _______ usually ask, _____ you are the only DJ I know.

Paul: I'm not a very good one ______. My music taste is … quite strange. Everyone will probably hate it.

Noelia: Come on! These guys will dance to anything when they are at a party! Why don't you ____ ___ __ ___? You'll be great!

Paul: Urgh … I think I'm _______ busy that day anyway.

Noelia: Come on! There's ______ to ____!

Paul: _______ my reputation and credibility …

Noelia: Paul, you'd really ____ _____ me ____.

Paul: OK, I'll ____ _____ it.

Noelia: Great! Thanks, Paul!

Match the three stages of asking for a favour with the phrases.

1. Set the Stage

2. Give a Reason

3. Provide an Escape Clause

A) “If you can’t help out, I completely understand, but I thought I’d ask.”

B) “something really unexpected has happened”

C) “I have a favour to ask you”

Consider the following:

A) Anthony, can you please cover for me at the client dinner tonight, I’m not going to be able to break away from the office?

B) Anthony, I have a favor to ask you… by any chance could you cover for me at the client dinner tonight? I’m not going to be able to break away from the office.

Quickly after making your request, be sure to add the following:

I completely _________ if you can’t make it; I _____ it’s a busy week for everyone.

I’d love an introduction to Katherine, but if you don’t feel ________ passing along her information for any reason that’s _____. I don’t _____ to create an uncomfortable situation for you.

Role plays:

1. Your child refuses to tidy up their room.

2. You need someone to give you a ride to the airport at 4a.m.

3. You've got a heavy couch that you need to move from one house to another. Your friend has a van.

4. You're going away for a week and need someone to feed your cat.

5. You have a great neighbour and you're good friends, but lately he's been using his barbeque every night and the smoke comes into your house if you have the windows open.

6. Someone you know is starting a new job at a company you want to work for. You've sent them your CV twice, but they've never replied. You want to ask them to recommend you for an interview.

Here are ten ways of persuading (or forcing) someone to do you a special favour. Rank them from the most acceptable to the least acceptable method.

Flattery
Bribery
Threatening
Flirtation
Charm
Pleading
Begging
Demanding
Blackmail
A polite request

Role plays:

Your child refuses to tidy up their room.

You need someone to give you a ride to the airport at 4a.m.

You've got a heavy couch that you need to move from one house to another. Your friend has a van.

You're going away for a week and need someone to feed your cat.

You have a great neighbour and you're good friends, but lately he's been using his barbeque every night and the smoke comes into your house if you have the windows open.

Someone you know is starting a new job at a company you want to work for. You've sent them your CV twice but they've never replied. You want to ask them to recommend you for an interview.

Asking for a favour which is granted

Peter: Hi Anna. I've got a f________ to ask. Would you m____ cooking dinner tonight? I'm kind of busy.
Anna: Sure, Peter. What w_____ you like for dinner?
Peter: Could I tr______ you to make some pasta?
Anna: That s_____s good. Let's have pasta. Which type of sauce should I make?
Peter: W____ it be too m____ trouble to make a four cheese sauce?
Anna: No, that's easy. Yum. Good idea.
Peter: Thanks Anna. That really h__ps me out.
Anna: No pr_______.

Mark: Hey, could you please help me w____ the homework?
Susan: I'd be gl___ to help out. What s____s to be the problem?
Mark: I don't get this equation. Would you ____d explaining it to me?
Susan: No pr______. It's difficult!
Mark: Yeah, I know. Thanks a lot.
Susan: Don't w_____ about it.

Asking for a favour which is refused

Employee: Hello, Mr. Smith. C____ I ask you a question?
Boss: S__, w____ do you need?
Employee: Would it be t__ much trouble f__ you to l__ me come in at 10 tomorrow morning?
Boss: Oh, that's a little d_______.
Employee: Yes, I know it's last moment, b___ I have to go to the dentist.
Boss: I'm afraid I can't let you come in late tomorrow. We r_____ need you at the meeting.
Employee: OK, I just th____ I'd ask. I'll get a different appointment.
Boss: Thanks, I appr_____ it.

Brother: Hey. W_____ you mind letting me watch my show?
Sister: Sorry, but I c____ do that.
Brother: Why n___?
Sister: I'm watching my favorite show now.
Brother: B___ I'm going to miss my favourite game show!
Sister: Watch it online. Don't bo_____ me.

Part 2 - Use your "Pākehā" Voice

Language:

to mute (turn the sound off)

you owe me (I'm doing you a favour)

Lickity-split (very quickly, very soon)

Pakeha (Non-Maori, usually English speaking, NZer)

all good (it's alright)

Watch and answer these questions:

1. What problem are the flatmates having?

2. What excuse does the person on the phone give for failing to activate the broadband?

3. What does Paul do for a living?

4. What is a Pakeha voice and why do you need to use it?

5. How does Joan manage to get Caleb to send someone over immediately?

6. What do Caleb and his friend say after the call is over?

Watch:

Get you a pakeha voice

Discuss:

Why do we need to use different 'voices' for different situations?

Language focus: kiwi English / politeness and assertiveness / formal and casual

1. Come on ____! This is the fourth time I've called and it's ____ _______ stupid!"

2. ___ ______ we failed to connect you ____, but _________ no one was home when we came to the _______.

3. Hi ______ Caleb ___ _____ _____? We're just having a little bit of a _____________ about our connection and I'm hoping that you could _____ us ____.

4. Yes, it ____ no one was home when we came to the address.

5. ____ and ____ both know that that's not true, and we ____ call on Wednesday, _____. So if we don't _____ this out now, I think you and I going to have a _____ ____ of a problem.

6. Well, ___ don't want that. So ____ about I put you on our priority list for an appointment.

7. Will tomorrow at 10am _____ for you?

8. No it ______ actually. I'm ______ that's not good enough.

9. How about I _____ ____ ________ with a technician and ____ someone out to your place, lickety-split - in the next, ___, 60 minutes?

10. That _____ be wonderful.

11. Once _____, thank you ___ much for your help, Caleb.

12. Hey ___ a problem. Sorry for ____ ______________.

Part 3 Advertising

We all know smoking harms us and others, but many do it anyway. There are lots of examples of this in a consumer society. List some others....

1. Who will notice this ad? What's their life situation?

2. What other things might be influencing their life choices?

3. What feelings are evoked through the ad? How does the ad try to speak to group of people it is targeting?

Sunday, May 24, 2026

How Wolves Change Rivers

When wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in the United States after being absent nearly 70 years, the most remarkable "trophic cascade" occurred. What is a trophic cascade and how exactly do wolves change rivers? George Monbiot explains.

What does it eat?

Wolf

Antelope

Fox

Bear

Beaver

Raven

Song bird

Bald eagle

Muskrat

Mice

Elk

Deer

Salmon

Coyote

Learn 12 words:

12 terms

Watch:

True or False

1. A trophic cascade is an ecological disaster.

2. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone after not being there for a long time..

3. There were not enough deer in the Yellowstone Park

4. The wolves changed the behaviour of the deer.

5. The deer started to avoid the valleys because of the wolves.

6. The birds started attacking the deer

7. The height of the trees started to go down.

8. The bears started to kill each other

9. The rivers became deep and began to flow faster

10. There are now too many wolves in the park.

How Wolves Change Rivers

Fill in the gaps and then check:

Look through the text and underline or highlight examples of

Past perfect simple

Comparatives and Superlatives

How Wolves Change Rivers

One of the most exciting scientific f___________ of the past half century has been the discovery of widespread trophic cascades. A trophic cascade is an ecological process which starts at the t_____ of the food chain and tumbles a___ the way down to the bottom. And the classic example is what happened in the Yellowstone National Park in the United States when wolves were r______________ in 1995.

Now, we – we all know that wolves kill various s___________ of animals, but perhaps we’re slightly less aware that they g______ life to many others.

Before the wolves t________ up – they’d been absent for 70 years – the numbers of deer (because there had been nothing to hunt them) had built up and built up in the Yellowstone Park and d_________ efforts by humans to control them they’d managed to reduce much the v____________ there to almost nothing. They had just g_________ it away.

But as soon as the wolves arrived, even though they were few in number they started to have the most remarkable e_______.

First, of course, they killed some of the deer but that wasn’t the major thing. Much more significantly, they r___________ changed the behavior of the deer. The deer started avoiding certain parts of the park – the places where they could be trapped most easily – particularly the valleys and the g________ and immediately those places started to r_____________. In some areas, the height of the trees quintupled in j____ six years. Bare valley sides quickly became forests of aspen and willow and cottonwood. And as soon as that happened, the birds started m________ in. The number of songbirds and migratory birds started to increase g_________. The number of beavers started to increase because beavers like to eat the trees. And beavers, like wolves, are ecosystem engineers. They c_______ niches for other species. And the dams they built in the rivers provided h__________ for otters and muscrats and ducks and fish and reptiles and amphibians.

The wolves killed coyotes and as a r________ of that, the number rabbits and mice began to r_____ which meant more hawks more weasels more foxes more badgers. Ravens and bald eagles came down to feed on the carrion that the wolves had left. Bears f___ on it, too. And their population began to rise as well partly also because there were more berries growing on the regenerating shrubs. And the bears r__________ the impact of the wolves by killing some of the calves of the deer.

But h_____ where it gets really interesting.

The wolves changed the behavior of the rivers. They began to meander less. There was less e_______. The channels n_________. More pools f_________. More riffle sections. All of which were g______ for wildlife habitats. The rivers changed in r_________ to the wolves. And the reason was that the regenerating forests stabilized the b______ so that they collapsed less o_____. So the rivers became more fixed in their c_______.

S___________, by driving the deer o____ of some places, and the vegetation recovering on the valley side, there was less s____ erosion because the vegetation stabilized that as well. So the wolves, s______ in number, transformed n___ just the ecosystem of the Yellowstone National Park – This huge area of land… b___ also, its physical geography.

Pronunciation focus

particularly

similarly

immediately

slightly

dipthongs

stabilized

trophic

erosion

Yellowstone

vegetation

valley

wolves

recovering

Second syllable stress

effects

regenerating

transformed

erosion

immediately

particularly

ju:

reduced

reintroduced

huge

population

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Te Ika a Maui - The North Island

A number of New Zealand places are named after the story of Māui fishing up the North Island, with the South Island as his canoe and Stewart Island its anchor. This map is oriented as Māori traditionally perceived the country, with the North Island below the South Island.

Spirits Bay - Kapowairua

The bay has two Māori names, Piwhane and Kapowairua, the latter meaning to "catch the spirit", derived from a Māori language saying that translates into English as: "I can shelter from the wind.

Kapowairua campsite

Rawene-Kohukohu

Hokianga car ferry

Ngawha Springs

A place where warriors once relaxed after battle campaigns.

Ngawha (the springs)

This sign announces what goes on at Whananaki.

Whananaki - the road less travelled

Whananaki on a busy day

Great Barrier Island - Aotea.

You seriously want to go here. You can fly and it's relatively cheap.

Aotea / Great Barrier

Tiritiri Matangi - birds

Tiritiri

Pakiri - spooky beauty

Pakiri holiday park

Horse treks

Whatipu - raw beauty

Whatipu Lodge

The Whatipu Dances

Whatipu cave dances painting and news paper article.

The Pinnacles - Coromandel - hard walk,with rewarding views, hot springs on the way home

The Pinnacles

Hoffman's pool

Raglan - surfers will understand this picture

Raglan visitors centre

Kawhia

Things to see and do in Kawhia

Rotoiti

The hot springs near Lake Rotoiti - truly magical

Waitangi soda springs

Whakatane - Mataatua country

Muriwai's cave

Whakatane

Te Kaha (strength) - Tai Rawhiti (the east side)

4 reasons to escape to the cape

Lake Waikaremoana - walk around the lake

Walking the lake

Gisborne -Tai Rawhiti (east side)

Things to see and do in Gisborne

Napier - Deco capital of NZ

Things to see and do in Napier

Tongariro

The crossing

New Plymouth - Taranaki (or the Naki)

Visit New Plymouth

Len Lye

Colour Box

Taranaki summit track

The Whanganui River

The story of the Whanganui river

Explore the Whanganui

Kapiti Island

Kapiti tours

Wellington

Discover Wellington

Task:

1. Use your device or a class iPad to investigate one or two of these places.

Transport: How do you get there? How do you get around the region?
Accommodation: What are the options?
Activities: kayaking? Walking? Fishing? Hot springs?
Things to see: volcanic activity, native birds, whales, architecture, marae etc?
Food: Places to eat and drink?
Shopping: any interesting stuff to buy?
Culture: are there museums, historical sites etc?
Time of year: Is this a good time to go there?

2. Come together as a class and share what you've learned.

Ngawha Springs

Whananaki on a busy day

Tiritiri Matangi - birds