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.

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

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Average: 4.2 (41 votes)

Submitted by Awa9102000 on Thu, 20/04/2023 - 08:19

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Hi everyone, I m from Comoros Islands and I live there, so I m needlessly near the sea, or should I say I see the sea from every side. I like going to the beach when I m not working. By the way, I usually go with my coworker and at once friend. My friend swims whereas I just wet my body.

Submitted by Awa9102000 on Wed, 19/04/2023 - 08:00

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Hi everyone, As I am from Comoros islands, in the Indian Ocean, I needlessly live near the see, I can even say that I see the seas from all sides. Haha, here in Comoros, we speak comorian language, an idiom made up of Swahili, Portuguese, Arabic and French, actually the language of our neighbor countries

Submitted by I.es91 on Mon, 10/04/2023 - 03:47

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yes sure. I'm from Jeddah it's located in western of KSA near the red sea. but now I moved to Riyadh the capital city of KSA and it's far away from the sea. I really missed the sea it was lovely place because we can visit it anytime.

Submitted by Eman Samir on Sun, 02/04/2023 - 21:12

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Do you live near the sea?

No, I live in a small city in Egypt. It's full of green fields.

Submitted by Ibrahimyousef on Sat, 01/04/2023 - 13:29

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Actually, l live a near the mountain in the city center in addition to my country is not find a river yet fourthermore, I like to live a near river it is stunning view.

Submitted by mariakiss on Thu, 16/03/2023 - 14:04

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No, I live in the northern part of Thailand so here, there is no sea unfortunately. But we have lots of mountains! and beautiful landscapes of jungles. I guess this can be replaced by the sea.

Submitted by loanphuong on Mon, 06/03/2023 - 04:44

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I had lived near the mountain before. I live in the big city now, not near the sea. I prefer mountains or the plain to the sea. Sometimes, I go on vacation by the sea on my holiday, but I do not want to live near the sea.

Submitted by mohsen8869 on Tue, 28/02/2023 - 18:08

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actually, i am living in a city locates 150 km away from the sea. to be honest, i dont prefer living near the sea althought it is lovely to visit the beach from time to time and have nice events there.

Submitted by Masimo on Fri, 17/02/2023 - 16:07

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no but i used go to me aunte's house because she live near the sea and i really liked the place there.

Submitted by dieptieuyen on Fri, 17/02/2023 - 11:26

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I used to live near the mountain, but now I'm living in a city center.