Could You Help Me? Polite Requests and Offers

About This Resource

A complete Grade 6 ESL speaking pack on polite requests and offers: Can you…? Could you…? Would you mind + -ing?, asking for permission with Can I…? and May I…?, offering with Shall I…? Would you like…? and I'll…, and polite ways to say yes and no. Students choose the most polite form, complete dialogues, role-play and write a polite email. Includes slides, a lesson plan, worksheet, quiz, homework, flashcards, a rubric and answer keys.

Overview

Students learn how to ask for things and offer help politely in English. They practice requests that range from friendly to very polite (Can you…? Could you…? Would you mind opening…?), asking for permission (Can I…? Could I…? May I…?), and offers (Shall I…? Would you like…? I'll…). They also learn how to accept and refuse politely, giving a reason when they say no. Students decide which form suits each person and situation, complete and perform dialogues, role-play everyday situations and write a short polite email to a teacher.

Resource Details

Subject: ESL
Topic: Making Polite Requests and Offers
Category: Speaking
File Type: PDF
File Size: 352.2 KB
Published: 09 Nov 2026
Downloads: 0

Members Only

Upgrade to Teacher Pro (from ฿199/month) to download this resource.

Upgrade to Pro Login

Looking for something different? Request a Resource.

Grade 6 ESL (ages 11–12), A2–B1 50 minutes Speaking functional language politeness listening writing an email

Learning Objectives

Make polite requests with Can you, Could you and Would you mind + -ing.
Ask for permission and make offers with Can I, May I, Shall I, Would you like and I'll.
Accept and refuse requests and offers politely, choosing language that suits the situation.

How to Use This Resource

Start with the slides: compare "Give me the pen." with "Could you pass me the pen, please?" and ask how each one sounds.
Teach the forms with the slides and flashcards, then do worksheet activities 1 and 2 together.
Students complete activities 3 to 6 and the role-plays, then use the quiz and send the email homework home.

Classroom Activity Ideas

Politeness ladder: put request cards in order from least polite to most polite.
Role-play cards: at the library, in a shop, at a friend's house; pairs act out requests and offers.
Polite or not? The teacher reads requests in a rude or polite tone; students hold up a smiley or a frowning card.

Differentiation

Support: give a phrase card with requests, offers and answers sorted into columns. Challenge: students use more formal language such as "I was wondering if you could…" and explain when it is used.

Assessment

Use the worksheet and quiz to check forms and choosing the right level of politeness. Use the rubric during the role-plays and for the email homework.

Teacher Tips

Tone matters as much as words. Practice a friendly intonation and always adding please. Remind students that Would you mind…? is followed by the -ing form, and that the polite answer to Would you mind…? is "No, not at all" if they agree.

What's Included

10-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (6 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (6 activities)
Quiz / assessment (3 parts)
Homework practice page
Printable flashcards: 6 A5 picture cards (separate PDF)
Assessment rubric (4 levels)
Lesson slides (editable PowerPoint)
Editable Word version of all student pages
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

Lesson Slides (PPTX)
Editable Student Pages and Lesson Plan (DOCX)
A5 Flashcards (PDF)
Answer Key (PDF)

First, Next, Finally: Understanding Instructions and Procedures

Understanding Instructions and Procedures

A complete Grade 6 ESL listening and reading pack on following instructions and procedures...

View Resource