English for Japanese learners/ false friends/ British and American English
Student A
Work with someone who has the other worksheet, without showing your worksheets to each other. By first of all reading out the word in italics and then the whole sentence, decide if the word you have and the word your partner has have the same of different meanings.
- I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard about the nine eleven World Trade Center attack.
- I think sneakers should only be worn for sport, not as everyday clothes and certainly not with a school uniform.
- I keep a torch near my front door in case there is a disaster like an earthquake.
- I think having one of my days off in the middle of the week instead of on a Saturday would be okay.
- My family are so busy that we usually communicate by leaving notes for each other on the fridge door.
- I have my eyes tested once a year but I don’t ever remember having a hearing test.
- I think they way that the news cameramen stick their video cameras and microphones in to famous people’s faces is horrible.
- I would never give a job to someone who doesn’t wear a watch.
- I don’t think it’s worth paying extra for a luxurious hotel room when you only sleep there and spend most of the day out sightseeing.
Check as a class. Then with the same partner, decide if the things divided by a slash have the same meaning (S) or different meanings (D).
- A bargain/ A sale
- A carrier bag/ A plastic bag/ A shopping bag
- A demo/ A demonstration
- A flight attendant/ Cabin crew
- A hint/ A clue
- A master/ A landlord
- A milky tea/ A white tea
- A movie/ A film
- A snack bar/ A bar
- A sofa/ An armchair
- A spell/ The spelling
- A supermarket/ A market
- A theatre/ A movie theatre
- A truck/ A lorry
- Classic music/ Classical music
- Cunning/ Cheating
- Football/ Soccer
- Rough clothes/ Casual clothes
- Stress/ Accent
- The steering wheel/ Handlebars
- Your hip/ Your waist/ Your buttocks
Student B
Work with someone who has the other worksheet, without showing your worksheets to each other. By first of all reading out the word in italics and then the whole sentence, decide if the word you have and the word your partner has have the same of different meanings.
- If my child went missing for even five minutes, I would phone nine one one.
- I often put on my trainers and go for a jog around the park.
- Always take a big flashlight with you when you go camping. It not only lights your way but can also be an effective weapon for self-defence.
- The summer holidays are always so hot and crowded that it’s better just to stay at home.
- I write all my English down neatly in a notebook, but then never look at it again.
- The most difficult part of TOEIC is the listening test.
- I can’t tell the difference between pictures by professional photographers and a normal person’s holiday snaps.
- Having a clock on the wall you can check the time with during work makes the day seem to go slower.
- I think Julia Roberts is the most gorgeous actress on the screen.
Do you think any of the sentences above are true for your partner? Tell them which sentences and check.
Check as a class. Then with the same partner, decide if the things divided by a slash have the same meaning (S) or different meanings (D).
- A bargain/ A sale
- A carrier bag/ A plastic bag/ A shopping bag
- A demo/ A demonstration
- A flight attendant/ Cabin crew
- A hint/ A clue
- A master/ A landlord
- A milky tea/ A white tea
- A movie/ A film
- A snack bar/ A bar
- A sofa/ An armchair
- A spell/ The spelling
- A supermarket/ A market
- A theatre/ A movie theatre
- A truck/ A lorry
- Classic music/ Classical music
- Cunning/ Cheating
- Football/ Soccer
- Rough clothes/ Casual clothes
- Stress/ Accent
- The steering wheel/ Handlebars
- Your hip/ Your waist/ Your buttocks
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