<<Unit 13 Breakdowns>>

Introductory Questions

• What is a vehicle recall?
• Why do companies issue a vehicle recall?
• Why are there so many vehicle recalls in the past few years?
• What are the five most recalled car brands?
• How can you check if your car is being recalled?
• What do you have to do if your car gets recalled?
• What are the most common causes of a car recall?

1. precautionary measure taken by car manufacturers to  issue a request for return when the manufacturer discovers a defect that might pose a threat to the car owner
2. To prevent heavy fines, exposure to lawsuits, bad reputation
3. less time to introduce a new car, sharing of common sources and generic parts
4. Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, Volvo, BMW, Honda
5. https://car-recalls.eu/
6. The car dealer / garage will contact you.
7. accelerator defects, airbag failures, brake failure, fires, system failure,  batteries

To talk about cause and effect in English, we us certain words and phrases:

• Eating too much junk food can lead to child obesity.
• The crisis of 2008 stemmed from the bursting of the housing bubble.
• His poor driving ability has resulted in a terrible accident.
• Over-reliance on credit also contributed to the situation.
• This sudden acceleration caused thirty-four deaths.

• Due to John's laziness, he didn't pass the test.
• Thanks to his intelligence, he managed it well.
• As he arrived late again, he will be fired.
• As a result of the rain, we cancelled the picnic.

• He failed because of his bad study habits.
• David couldn't attend the meeting owing to his illness.
• He was fired as a consequence of his bad behaviour.
• He failed the test because he didn't study well.
• The picnic was cancelled since it was raining.
• David couldn't attend for he was ill.

Task:

Choose your favourite car model and check out the latest recalls on https://car-recalls.eu/.

Write sentences describing the cause and the effects. Use different vocabulary as shown above. Here are three examples of the EQC 400.

Exercises:

https://www.grammarbank.com/relative-pronouns-exercises-1.html

https://testyourenglish.net/english-online/grammarquiz/relative.html

https://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/who_whom_1.htm

https://www.english-grammar.at/online_exercises/relative-pronouns/rp001-relative-pronouns.htm

https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/pronouns/relative_pronouns.htm

https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/pronouns/relative_pronouns2.htm

https://www.english-4u.de/en/grammar-exercises/relative-pronouns.htm

https://www.english-4u.de/en/grammar-exercises/relative-pronouns2.htm

https://www.english-4u.de/en/grammar-exercises/relative-pronouns3.htm

Phrases to check someone's understanding

• Do you understand what I mean?
• Are you following me?
• Does it make sense to you?
• Do you know what I mean?
• Are we all on the same page?
• Am I being clear?
• Do you get it?
• Are there any questions?

Phrases to reassure what you said

• “Would you please say what you heard me say, so I can be sure that I was clear?”
• “So that I can make sure I communicated clearly, would you please tell me what you heard me say?”
• “I just want to make sure that I am clear. Would you please tell me what you understood me to say?”
• “I’d like to make sure I said that clearly. Please tell me what you heard?”
• “I’m not sure that I am conveying my idea the best way. What have you heard me say?”
• “I may have said that in a way that does not really communicate what I’m trying to say. If I did, I’d like a chance to rephrase it. What message did you hear?”

Phrases to double check

• Can I rephrase what you said/have/said?
• So, you mean/think/believe that ...
• Let me see if I’ve understood you correctly. You ...

Phrases to ask for clarification

• Could you repeat that, please?
• I'm afraid I don't understand.
• Could you say that again?
• Could you repeat that?
• I'm afraid I may have misunderstood you.

Sample Dialogue- Getting Directions

Neighbor 1: Hi Holly, could you help me out?
Neighbor 2: Sure, what can I do?

Neighbor 1: I need directions to the new supermarket.
Neighbor 2: Sure, that’s easy. Take a left on 5th Ave., turn right on Johnson and continue straight ahead for two miles. It’s on the left.

Neighbor 1: Just a moment. Could you say that again? I’d like to get this down.
Neighbor 2: No problem, take a left on 5th Ave., turn right on Johnson and continue straight ahead for two miles. It’s on the left.
Neighbor 1: I take the second right on Johnson, don’t I?
Neighbor 2: No, take the first right. Got it?

Neighbor 1: Uh, yes, let me just repeat. Take a left on 5th Ave., turn right on Johnson and continue straight ahead for two miles.
Neighbor 2: Yes, that’s it.

Neighbor 1: Great. Thanks for your help.
Neighbor 2: No problem.

Task

You are a local and you have to describe the directions to the railway station to a stranger. The tourist you are talking to is extremly insecure and needs a lot of help and support. Use phrases to

• ask for understanding
• reassure what you said
• double-check
• to  clarify

Write a short dialogue with a least 6 takes indicating the speaker at the beginning of the line (local / tourist). Include as many expressions from above.

Task

Report hail damage to your insurance company. Tell them

• what the damage caused
• how it occured
• what was damaged
• when it happened

Write a short dialogue between a customer and a representative on the phone. Structure your dialogue as followed:

• Greet.
• Ask about the problem.
• Explain the problem.
• Ask for more details.
• Respond.
• Ask for clarifications.
• Respond.
• Suggest actions.
• Respond.
• Say good-bye

Report a claim: https://www.axa.ch/en/forms/report-a-claim/property-claim/other-natural-event.html