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E10 G - Ask for information about a programme

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E10 G - Ask for information about a programme

Mini-description: Ask polite questions and write a short email about a fictional gap-year or volunteer programme. You first understand useful English, then respond, analyse, communicate, get feedback, revise and transfer your skills to a new situation.

Level: English as a first foreign language, Klasse 10, G-Niveau, Baden-Württemberg. Clear structure, frequent vocabulary, short connected texts and step-by-step help.

I can ...

I can understand the main information in a short programme profile and clear standard audio.
I can ask polite questions about costs, dates, accommodation, tasks and support.
I can write a short, structured email asking for information.
I can check and improve word order, politeness and clarity.
I can transfer the language to a new fictional programme.

Start: What do you already know?

Look at the picture. In pairs, say three simple ideas in English:

What are the people doing?
What information would you need before joining a volunteer programme?
Which question words could help: what, where, when, how long, how much, who?

Support: Start with: I would like to know ... / I need information about ...

Understand

Listening and Viewing: polite English

Watch once for the main idea. Do not try to understand every word.

First viewing: What makes a question sound polite?

Second viewing: Write down two useful starters.

Optional third viewing: Repeat one short phrase quietly. Clear communication is more important than accent imitation.

Listening and Viewing: requests in a dialogue

Listen twice. First follow the situation. Then listen for could, would and please. First identify the phrases. Only then use one in your own question.

Quick check: Which sounds more polite in this situation? Send me the details, please. or Could you send me the details, please?

Reading: a fictional programme

Green Steps Volunteer Programme — fictional profile

Information	Details
Place	Harbour Coast Nature Centre
Time	July and August
Length	Two to six weeks
Age	From 16
Tasks	Beach clean-up, visitor support, simple nature projects
Work time	About 20 hours per week
Accommodation	Shared rooms
Training	Basic training at the start
Costs	Not listed
Weekend activities	Not listed

Read in three steps: First find the topic. Then find five facts. Finally mark two information gaps that you want to ask about.

Context vocabulary

Word	Simple English meaning	Useful chunk
programme	organised activities for a period of time	join a programme
volunteer	a person who helps without a normal salary	work as a volunteer
accommodation	the place where you stay	shared accommodation
fee	money you pay	programme fee
duration	how long something lasts	ask about the duration
available	free to use or join	places are available
requirement	something you need	age requirement
supervision	support and guidance from responsible adults	ask about supervision
included	already part of the price or offer	meals are included
apply	ask officially to join	apply for a place

Strategy: Learn words in chunks, not as isolated lists.

Pronunciation: useful chunks

Say the chunks slowly, then at normal speed:

Could you tell me ...?
I would like to know ...
Could you please send me ...?
Thank you for your help.

Stress the important information word: COST, DATES, ROOMS, TRAINING. You do not need to sound like a native speaker. Aim for clear rhythm and understandable words.

Recording is optional: If you record yourself, keep the file private unless your teacher gives a clear, safe task. No upload is needed.

Respond

Build polite questions

Use these patterns:

Purpose	Pattern	Example
Ask for a fact	Could you tell me + question word + subject + verb?	Could you tell me where the volunteers stay?
Ask a yes/no question	Could you tell me if + subject + verb?	Could you tell me if meals are included?
Add another point	I would also like to know + ...	I would also like to know how long the training lasts.
Ask for something	Could you please + verb + ...?	Could you please send me more information?

Accuracy target: After Could you tell me ... use normal statement word order.

Where do the volunteers stay? → Could you tell me where the volunteers stay?

Speaking: information desk

Work with a partner. Student A is interested in Green Steps. Student B is the programme contact.

Round 1: Ask two prepared questions.

Round 2: Ask one follow-up question: Sorry, could you explain that again? or Could you tell me a little more about that?

Round 3: Switch roles.

Use fictional information only. You may speak live; a recording is not required.

Analyse

Grammar in function: direct and indirect questions

Compare:

Direct question	Polite indirect question
Where do volunteers stay?	Could you tell me where volunteers stay?
How much does it cost?	Could you tell me how much it costs?
Are meals included?	Could you tell me if meals are included?

One rule at a time: Keep the polite opener. Then check subject before verb. For yes/no information, use if.

Error clinic

Correct the three sentences:

Could you tell me where do volunteers sleep?
I want know how much it costs.
Can you tell me are meals included?

Help: Find the opener first. Then check the word order. Do not add extra grammar that you do not need.

Communicate

Writing: a short information email

Watch for greeting, purpose, useful questions and ending. You do not need every phrase from the video.

Model email — fictional:

Subject: Questions about Green Steps Volunteer Programme

Dear Programme Team,

I am a 16-year-old student from Germany and I am interested in your summer volunteer programme. Could you tell me how much the programme costs? I would also like to know what is included in the accommodation. Could you tell me if volunteers have free time at weekends?

Thank you for your help. I look forward to your reply.

Best wishes,
Alex M.

Your writing frame:

Part	Help
Subject	Questions about ...
Greeting	Dear Programme Team,
Reason	I am interested in ...
Question 1	Could you tell me ...?
Question 2	I would also like to know ...?
Optional question 3	Could you tell me if ...?
Ending	Thank you for your help.
Closing	Best wishes,

Target length: about 70–100 words. Clear and correct is better than long.

Mediation: pass on the key idea

A friend says in German: Frag bitte, ob Mahlzeiten dabei sind und wie lange die Einführung dauert.

Do not translate every word. Pass on the important meaning in two natural English questions.

Support: Could you tell me if ...? / I would also like to know how long ...

Feedback and revise

Two-step feedback

Step 1 — meaning: Can the reader understand what information you need?

Step 2 — accuracy: Check only these targets:

polite opener
subject–verb order after Could you tell me
capital letter and question mark
greeting and closing

Peer feedback: Give one positive comment and one clear suggestion.

Revision sentence starters: This is clear because ... / Please check ... / A more polite form is ...

Keep your own first version so you can see what you changed.

AI and source check

You do not need an external AI tool for this course. If an AI tool is allowed by your teacher, keep your own draft, check suggested phrases with reliable class materials or dictionaries, and do not send real personal data, real applications or private recordings to an external service. AI output can be wrong, so you remain responsible for the final text.

Do not use culture clichés. Ask about programme facts and individual experiences instead of making general claims about a country or group.

Transfer

New situation: River Care Week

River Care Week — fictional profile: one-week volunteer project, age 16+, outdoor tasks, basic equipment provided, accommodation and meals unclear, travel not included.

Your task:

Ask four polite questions.
Include at least one Could you tell me if ...? question.
Write a 70–100 word email.
Revise it with the four accuracy targets above.

Can-do check

I can ...	Not yet	With help	Yes
understand the main point of a short programme description	□	□	□
find missing information	□	□	□
ask polite information questions	□	□	□
use statement word order in indirect questions	□	□	□
write and revise a short email	□	□	□

Next course: E10 G - Write a simple application email

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

Which is the best polite opener for a question? (Could you tell me ...) (!Tell me ...) (!I want ...) (!You must tell me ...)

Which word order is correct after "Could you tell me"? (where the volunteers stay) (!where do the volunteers stay) (!where stay the volunteers) (!where the volunteers do stay)

Which subject line is clear for an information email? (Questions about Green Steps Volunteer Programme) (!Hello) (!Important message) (!My English homework)

What should the opening of the email do? (Say why you are writing) (!Tell your full life story) (!Give private account data) (!Repeat the subject line only)

Which closing is suitable for this short polite email? (Best wishes) (!Give me an answer now) (!Bye bye forever) (!No closing is needed)

Which question asks about duration? (How long does the programme last?) (!Where is the programme?) (!Who organises the meals?) (!What equipment is blue?)

Which is a polite indirect yes or no question? (Could you tell me if meals are included?) (!Are included meals?) (!Tell me meals are included?) (!If meals included?)

What is the best goal for the first viewing of a video? (Understand the main idea) (!Write every word) (!Copy the speaker's accent perfectly) (!Translate every sentence)

What should you check when revising your email? (Content politeness and word order) (!Only the number of words) (!Only difficult vocabulary) (!Only handwriting speed)

What is the safe rule for this course? (Use fictional data and keep optional recordings private) (!Upload every recording publicly) (!Use real application data) (!Send private data to any external tool)

Memory

accommodation	place to stay
duration	how long something lasts
fee	money you pay
availability	whether places are free
supervision	support and guidance
requirements	things you need to join

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Could you tell me ...	polite request for information
I am interested in ...	reason for writing
I would also like to know ...	add another question
Thank you for your help.	polite ending sentence
Best wishes	email closing

...

Kreuzworträtsel

programme	What word means an organised set of activities?
volunteer	What do you call a person who helps without a normal salary?
accommodation	What word means the place where you stay?
duration	What word means how long something lasts?
greeting	What comes at the start of a polite email?
revision	What process improves a first draft?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Programme questions: Write five simple direct questions about Green Steps. Then turn two into polite questions.
Vocabulary map: Create a small word map with six words from the context vocabulary and one useful chunk for each.
Email puzzle: Cut the model email into parts or copy its parts onto cards and put them in a logical order.
Private speaking practice: Practise three polite questions with a partner. An audio recording is optional and stays private.

Standard

Information gap: Create a fictional programme card with three missing details. A partner asks for the missing information.
Role-play: Perform a short programme information call. Include one follow-up question and one request for repetition.
Email writing: Write a 70–100 word email about a fictional volunteer programme and ask three clear questions.
Feedback and revision: Exchange fictional emails, give one positive comment and one improvement tip, then revise your own text.

Schwer

Compare registers: Write one direct question and two more polite versions. Explain which version fits an email to a programme office.
Error analysis: Create four typical question-word-order errors and correct them. Add a short rule in simple English.
Mediation task: A German-speaking friend gives you three questions about a fictional programme. Pass the key meaning on in clear English without translating every word.
Transfer project: Design a one-page fictional gap-year or volunteer programme. Add a short profile, five possible applicant questions and a model reply. Use no real personal data or real application.

Lernkontrolle

Information gap analysis: Read a new fictional programme profile. Identify three important missing details and explain why a potential participant needs them.
Politeness transfer: Change four direct questions into suitable polite questions. Explain one word-order change.
Email structure: Put mixed email sections in a useful order and justify your sequence.
Communication repair: In a short dialogue, the listener does not understand one detail. Add a polite request for repetition and a follow-up question.
Revision task: Improve a short email with unclear wording, one impolite request and two word-order errors. Mark your changes.
Source and AI check: You receive one useful phrase from an AI tool and one from a class dictionary. Describe how you would check both before using them in your own email.

Lernnachweis

For a successful learning record, show that you can:

understand the main information in a short fictional programme profile
identify information that is still missing
form at least four polite information questions
use correct word order after Could you tell me
write a clear 70–100 word email with subject, greeting, reason, questions and closing
respond to feedback and improve your own draft
use fictional data and protect private recordings
explain briefly how you checked language suggestions or sources

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