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 (39 votes)
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Submitted by Silvia Lago on Sat, 26/02/2022 - 01:14

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I don't live near the sea, but I would like to. My dream is to live close to the sea, in contact with nature, in a beautiful house all decorated and sustainable (with solar energy, garbage recycling, vegetable garden and own energy generation).

Submitted by younes01 on Tue, 01/02/2022 - 10:03

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when I was a kid I used to live near the sea, it were lovely days and I miss them too much.

Submitted by kimalex123 on Mon, 24/01/2022 - 12:20

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Well, I'm currently living in Myanmar, Yangon city. To be honest, I do not live near the sea because many apartments are taken place around the city in Yangon. So, a lot of people go to the countryside if they want t get the seaside view.

Submitted by Miguelitorico1996 on Mon, 17/01/2022 - 00:56

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I live in the center region of Colombia, in a city called Villavicencio, we are far away from the coast but we've got a lot of rivers.

Submitted by hichem202008 on Sun, 12/12/2021 - 13:25

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Yes i do , i love living there ,what a beautiful place especially in summer , new fresh air and quiet place

Submitted by Suraj paliwal on Wed, 01/12/2021 - 16:39

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No, I'm not live in near the sea. I live in a city near a river this river is very dirty.

Submitted by ANOUAR on Wed, 24/11/2021 - 10:54

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Yes I do, and I like the sea beacuase it has a fresh air on it.

Submitted by ElzbietaEla on Mon, 01/11/2021 - 18:34

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During my vacation, I lived by the sea