Conversation Lesson 15: Making Suggestions and/or Giving Advice

Advisor: It looks like you’ve got too many courses here. Student: What’s the maximum number of courses I can take? Advisor: It depends. If you’re a full-time student you can take up to six courses. Student: Is it possible to take seven courses? Advisor: Only if get the dean’s permission. But you’d be better off dropping one course. Seven courses will be a lot of work. Student: Do you think so? Advisor: Definitely. If I were you, I would drop one course. This is your first semester. No need to overdo it. Student: OK. Thank you for your advice.

Culture Note Americans like to “do their own thing” and “mind their own business,” so suggestions and/or advice on personal matters are usually given only to close friends or when someone asks for advice. When Americans turn down a suggestion or advice, they usually give an explanation. A: Why don’t you travel to Europe on vacation? B: I can’t do that because I haven’t got enough money for such a big trip.

To make suggestions and/or give advice, you can say I was wondering if you’d ever thought of … I think it might be a good idea to... I (strongly) advise you to... I suggest (to you) that you (should)... I (strongly) recommend that you (should) … You (really) ought to/should... If I were you, I’d... Why don’t you... ? You’d better...

To accept someone’s suggestions/advice, you can say That’s a good* idea/suggestion. I’ll do that. You’re right. All right. OK. *Instead of good you can say great, excellent, wonderful, etc.

Practice Making Suggestions and/or Giving Advice Work in pairs. Read each of the following situations and practice how to make suggestions and/or giving advice.

Making Suggestions and/or Giving Advice - Situation 1 You and your close friend. You have just graduated from a university. Now you have to choose between two jobs. One job is exciting with a low salary; the other job is boring with an excellent salary. You ask your close friend for suggestions. You can either accept them or turn them down.

Making Suggestions and/or Giving Advice - Situation 2 You and your friend. Your friend weighs over 100 kg. He/She is eager to lose weight. He/She has tried many different methods but none of them worked. When he/she asks you for help, you give him/her some advice. He/She can either accept your advice or turn it down.

Making Suggestions and/or Giving Advice - Situation 3 You and your close friend. You are thinking about marrying a person who is unlike you in may ways. You’re messy, he/she is neat; you’re talkative, he/she is quiet; you’re lazy, he/she is hardworking; you’re a good cook, he/she can’t cook at all; you’re always cheerful, he/she rarely smiles. You hope to get some advice from your close friend. You can either accept or turn it down.

Making Suggestions and/or Giving Advice - Situation 4 You and your colleague. Your colleague tells you that he/she has been feeling very tired recently because he/she is working two jobs. He/She has a child who needs money badly so he/she took a second night job. You advise him/her to quit the night job and tell him/her why. Your colleague can either accept your advice or turn it down.