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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Language level

Average: 4.2 (63 votes)
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Submitted by zlatin123 on Sun, 12/07/2026 - 12:31

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I am living 15 minutes away from the black sea.I am inlove in it, it's like a magnet.Wherever i go i come back near it.Congrats to everyone who is trying to write, even if is not perfect like mine.

Submitted by Bohdan on Tue, 07/07/2026 - 09:35

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I don't live near the sea. I live near the river, and it's called the New Bug. I like swimming in the river, but I no longer swim in the river because the nearby plant polluted the water and made it dangerous to swim in it.

Submitted by Zamzam Mohamme… on Fri, 26/06/2026 - 22:40

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No,i didnt live near the sea,but i live near the river 

Submitted by mintiluiitt on Fri, 26/06/2026 - 15:00

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no, I don’t live near the sea, but my country has many beautiful beaches because I live in Indonesia. Even I don’t live near the sea, I sometimes visit the beach during holidays with my family

Submitted by AI-Aseel on Sun, 21/06/2026 - 21:55

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No , I don't live near the sea , but I live in a city that has two rivers .

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Submitted by Sengra.2026 on Sun, 31/05/2026 - 14:45

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I don't live in near  the sea, but I 'd love to visit it, when I have free time. I really enjoy walking along the beach , listening the sound of the waves and watching sunrise and sunset . If I have a chance I would visit again.

Submitted by Sr. Gr on Thu, 07/05/2026 - 13:09

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I don't live near the sea.

I live in Brazil and the city where I live is further from the sea, about two hours away.

Thank you teacher FD. 

Submitted by MaeFly237 on Sun, 26/04/2026 - 21:35

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Do you leave near de sea?

No, I did'nt leave near the sea but i leave in the coastline of m'y country. The river in my city is call Wouri.

Submitted by Happiness on Fri, 24/04/2026 - 10:49

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do you live near the sea?

I didn't used to live near the sea because I live in small city where it hadn't sea. However ı used to love to live city that located near the sea and now ı live in İstanbul. My home dont located to near the sea but ı can visit sea when ı want . One day ı would like to live near the sea not İstanbul .