General English Level 4 V 3
UNIT 04 What happened? TOPIC 03 This happened to me
LANGUAGE FOCUS 05 Conversation strategies
When someone is telling a story there are many strategies we use to keep the conversation going.

1. Commenting and giving feedback

Ming and Lucas say:
Lucas:
Well, I just hung on for dear life. I was terrified. I had never gone so fast on a horse before. And there were lots of people on the beach…
Ming:
Oh! Sounds dangerous.

When someone is telling a story it is polite to let them know we are listening. We comment on what they have said, to show we are listening. This is called giving feedback.

Here are some other ways to comment and give feedback:

1 Read the examples.
2 Listen to the examples.
3 Practise saying each example. Use the Pause button.
Mmmm
Ah huh
I see.
That sounds nice!/ terrible!/ great!/ wonderful!
That's great!/ terrible!
Oh dear!
Oh no!
Too right!
What a pity!/ shame!
Great!

2. Expressing surprise

Jackie, Lucas and Ming say:
Jackie:
So. How did you stop the horse Lucas?
Lucas:
Well before I get to that, there's more…
Jackie and Ming: What?

When we are listening to a story and we hear something that surprises us it is normal to show our surprise. Here are some other ways to express surprise:

1 Read the examples.
2 Listen to the examples.
3 Practise saying each example. Use the Pause button.
What?
Wow!
Ooh!
Really?
I don't believe it!
That's amazing! / surprising! / incredible!
You're joking! / You must be joking!
You're kidding! / You can't be serious!
No way!

3. Encouraging the speaker to continue

Lucas, Jackie and Ming say:
Lucas:
That sounds awful!
Jackie:
Yeah and the parachute fell on top of you and you almost drowned, didn't you Ming?
Ming: Yes Jackie that's right. But luckily I managed to get out from under it and someone pulled me into the boat.

Jackie is encouraging Ming to continue his story. She already knows that he almost drowned. She wants to hear the next part of his story so she asks him a question.

Ming, Jackie and Lucas say:
Ming:
Are you good at horse riding Lucas?
Lucas:
No, not really, I'm a novice.
Jackie: So, go on, did you rent the horse?

Jackie really wants to hear Lucas' story so she encourages him to keep going.

Here are some other ways we encourage a speaker to keep telling a story:

1 Read the examples.
2 Listen to the examples.
3 Practise saying each example. Use the Pause button.
What happened next?
Go on!
Ah huh
And…
And so did he get fired?
What happened then?
What did you do?
How did that happen?

4. Interrupting

Lucas, Jackie and Ming say:
Lucas:
Oh no, what happened then?
Ming:
The boat driver had to suddenly stop the engine and I dropped from the sky, 30 metres into the water!
Lucas: Hang on a minute, you dropped 30 metres? That sounds awful!
Jackie: Yeah and the parachute fell on top of you and you almost drowned, didn't you Ming?

Lucas can't believe Ming fell 30 metres into the water. He interrupts him and checks to see if it is true.

Here are some other ways to politely interrupt a conversation:

1 Read the examples.
2 Listen to the examples.
3 Practise saying each example. Use the pause button.
Hang on a minute…
Err, just a minute…
Excuse me…
Sorry but, …
Can I ask something?

5. Changing the topic

Lucas and Jackie say:
Lucas:
That reminds me of something that happened to me at the beach...
Jackie:
Oh really, what happened?
Lucas: Well, while I was on vacation last year, I was sun bathing when a local guy came along with a horse and asked if I was interested in hiring the horse for an hour.

The group were talking about a parasailing trip that Ming went on. Lucas wants to talk about an experience that he had, so he changes the topic.

Here are some other ways of changing the topic:

1 Read the examples.
2 Listen to the examples.
3 Practise saying each example. Use the Pause button.
That reminds me…
By the way…
Oh, before I forget…
Speaking of…
Anyway…

Now go to 06 SPEAKING Conversation strategies.