This warmer gives students suggestions for how to politely interrupt someone who is speaking.

Procedure:

In groups, students take turns choosing a topic and talking about it (topics can be written on pieces of paper, face down). The others try to interrupt appropriately, using one of the phrases on the list below:

  • Sorry, but...
  • Excuse me for interrupting, but...
  • Can I add here that...
  • I’d like to comment on that.
  • Can I add something?
  • I’d like to say something, if I may.
  • Can I ask a question?
  • May I ask something?

When the speaker goes back to the topic, they can use one of the following transition phrases:

  • Anyway, ...
  • In any case, ...
  • To get back to what I was saying, ...
  • Where was I?

Topics