Designing a café first conditional discussion
first conditional/ describing places/ food and drink/ English for architects
Imagine that you and your partner own a café. Suggest ways to improve the café such as one of the ideas below, explaining the good consequences of that change. See if your partner agrees. Discuss that change for as long as you like, then take turns choosing other changes to do the same with.
When your teacher stops you, share one idea you agreed was good and its positive consequences and see what the class thinks.
Ask about any ideas below which you don’t understand, discussing what the good and/ or bad consequences would be each time.
Which things below are bad ideas and why?
Grammar presentation
What is the structure of the first conditional in the agreeing/ disagreeing sentence below?
“If + ___________ + ________ , ___________+ __________ + __________”
Freer speaking
Describe a perfect café for you (including things that should not be aspects of that café) and see which aspects your partner agrees with, then do the same with their ideas.
Do the same for a perfect restaurant and/ or a perfect bar.
| Useful language for sharing your ideas “In our café, I think we should/ I think it’s a good idea to… (If we…)” Useful language for agreeing and disagreeing “It’s a good idea/ bad idea. If we…, customers/ passersby/ staff/ it/… + will definitely/ will/ will probably/ may well/ might/ probably won’t/ won’t/ definitely won’t…” |
Possible changes to make to a café
- allow customers to bring their own food
- allow staff to choose the music
- ask customers to move on after one hour
- ask customers to order or move on if their drink is finished
- ask customers to share tables when the store is busy
- ban English lessons
- ban laptop computers
- ban smoking
- ban studying
- charge customers for wifi – offer free wifi
- give customers a discount for bringing their own cup or flask
- give free samples of the food
- grind the coffee in the café
- have a jukebox that allows customers to choose the music
- have cafés inside shops, banks, post offices, etc
- have different music every day
- have different specials every day
- have more luxurious drinks with cream etc
- have more unusual designer décor
- have no music
- have seasonal music, e.g. Xmas music
- have seats outside
- have sockets (electrical outlets) at each seat – stop customers using sockets
- have table service
- have uncomfortable seats – have very comfortable sofas
- offer 17 different kinds of tea
- offer a free meeting room
- offer blankets
- offer free extra espresso shots
- offer free refills
- offer hot meals
- sell (uncut) fresh fruit
- sell alcohol
- sell pots of tea
- stay open all night
- wake up customers who are sleeping
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