Keeping a conversation going

In this video, Noelia and Bob talk about Spain. Listen to the language they use for keeping a conversation going and practise saying the useful phrases.

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.

Preparation

Speaking B1: Keeping a conversation going – preparation

Transcript

Ana: Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!

Do you know what to say when you want to keep a conversation going? Listen out for useful language for keeping a conversation going. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.

Noelia: Hi, Bob!

Bob: Oh, morning, Noelia.

Noelia: So, what's new?

Bob: New, hmm, let me think. Hmm … Nothing much. Oh, hang on. My dog Bertie had his 14th birthday on Monday!

Noelia: Oh, he's getting old then?

Bob: I guess so … but not as old as his owner.

Noelia: Haha … er, anyway …

Bob: How about you, Noelia? How's it going?

Noelia: Great, actually. Yeah … all good.

Bob: By the way, I wanted to ask you, where in Spain are you from?

Noelia: I'm from Santander.

Bob: Oh, lovely. Wonderful to grow up near the sea.

Noelia: Yeah, it was perfect. Ah, I miss the sea.

Bob: I know what you mean. I used to live in Spain and I absolutely loved it.

Noelia: Really? I didn't know that, Bob!

Bob: Yeah, I had a little bar on the Costa Brava.

Noelia: Wow! So do you speak Spanish then?

Bob: Oh, not much. Ah, those were the days! Excuse me. Perdona, Noelia. Tengo que irme. Me necesitan en el segundo piso. ¡Hasta pronto! [Excuse me, Noelia. I've got to go. They need me on the second floor. See you soon!]

Noelia: Wow!

Ana: Hello again! Wow! Bob is full of surprises. So, did you notice the useful phrases used for keeping a conversation going? Listen to me and then repeat.

So, what's new?

Let me think ...

Nothing much.

Anyway …

How about you, Noelia?

How's it going?

By the way, I wanted to ask you ...

I know what you mean.

Really? I didn't know that!

Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you want to keep a conversation going in English. Bye for now!

Discussion

Do you live near the sea?

Download

Worksheet95.48 KB

Language level

B1 Intermediate

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Yes, I live in the province of my country which is famous for its scenic beaches. I leave a stone throw away distance from a beautiful beach. I love it here, I like to jog on this beach and stroll on the beach to clear my head sometimes. Many tourists from around the world visit this beach. We also have a restaurant near the beach so in case you visit this beach you will find me nearby.

Yeah, I was born and grew up in a city near the sea. I like seaside towns because I think the atmosphere in the towns is open and people living by the sea are kind. Of course, just in my opinion and only by my own experience.

I don't know if is near or not but I would say not, the sea is two hours from where I live.

I live in Manaus, wich stays in the middle of Amazon Rain Forest, so we don't have sea; but, in the other hand, we live by the biggest river in the world: Amazonas.

I'm not so sure but I think Nile is the biggest.

I don't live near the sea but the beach is just far about 50 km from my house. And sometimes my family spend 2 days to go to the beach to have the rest, usually at the weekend. on the first day, we usually swim, sunbathe, built sandcastles, flew kites, and eat a lot of seafood. In the morning on the next day, we get up early to stroll along the beach, breathe in the fresh sea air, and enjoy the sunrise across the water. Beaches are always the best places to be, and a vacation by the beach can help me regain energy and give me an unforgettable experience.

I´m afraid not. Instead of enjoy the beach, people from here (Yucatán, Mexico) prefer to go to "Cenotes". Cenotes means a deep natural well or sinkhole, especially in Central America, formed by the collapse of surface limestone that exposes ground water underneath, and sometimes used by the ancient Mayans for sacrificial offerings.

No, I don't but my husband was born and grew up near the sea. He's madly in love with the sea and talks a lot about those years. I wish I had a house near the sea where I can go now and then to renew my energy.

Keeping a conversation going

Preparation

Transcript

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Discussion

Language level

Online courses