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 lived near the sea for 3 days in Khobar. It was fascinating to watch clean and fast flowing water.

No,I don't live there. But actually , I wish to live near the sea . I love seeing the waves of the sea and listening to their sound. I think it's the ideal place for relaxing . People live there know well what i mean . By the way , I want to ask people who live there if they could enjoy the sea or when people used to have a precious gift ,they couldn't .

Yes, I attually live 8 minutes from the sea. It's a pleasure and I feel every single day that I'm a lucky person to live here, in Lisbon- Portugal. It's a wonderfull place to live.

i live so far from the sea, 300 km between the coast and my city to be exactly. i was born in a little town from argentina, it's a great place but in holidays time, i usually go to the sea

I don't live near the sea beause i was born and grew up in a small town near moutains. So i love going to the sea. The first time i was on holiday in the sea when i was 20 years old. Now i have chance to travelling around the world et 5 continents and i visited lots of different seas and oceans. I prefere hot sea in tropical coutries beaucause we can enjoy the sea all year. in notherne Europe, the sea water is quite cold do we can swim only in summer. so i try to protect my skin from the UV high level sunshine. Honestly,a holiday in the sea makes me happy and gives me energy

No, I'm not, so I scared to swimming.

I used to live in a city overlooking the sea, I was afraid swimming in the open sea, but my father pushed me and taught me to swim very well. I was had jet ski, It was very entertaining.

I used to.I love the water but l can't swimming because I'm afraid toswim.

No, I’m not living near the sea. But I adore sea and would like to live.

I use to. I miss the cool breeze by seaside

Keeping a conversation going

Preparation

Transcript

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Discussion

Language level

Online courses