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 (30 votes)
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Submitted by EMF_12 on Thu, 16/06/2022 - 17:43

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Answering the discussion question, I don't live near the sea. However, my aunt has a beach house on Mollendo (a place on Peru's coast), and all the summers (including midyear holidays and every time we can go), my family goes there and enjoys the view of the sea and landscape.

Submitted by AngDor on Fri, 10/06/2022 - 03:17

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sadly no, I don't live near the sea, although I think I'll like the idea of it

Submitted by Yamen.G on Fri, 27/05/2022 - 14:10

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I miss my family, I actually miss the people in my country, they are very kind.

Submitted by Van wong on Mon, 23/05/2022 - 07:42

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Yes, when I was young. I lived close to the sea. It is picturesque, peaceful, and breezy. I always love spending time alone in nature. it can reduce my physical and mental stress.

Submitted by venus kim on Tue, 10/05/2022 - 15:13

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No, I was born in business capital of my country. So, there is no sea or beach near me only tall and numerous apartments and shopping centres.

Submitted by Camila Medina on Sun, 08/05/2022 - 21:11

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No, I don't live near the sea, I'm from Santiago, Chile, but the sea is to 1 hour in a car travel and I go there once or twice at the year.

Submitted by cams on Tue, 19/04/2022 - 03:40

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no, unfortunally. i used to live near a river, actually, it was pretty amazing to me

Submitted by qwertyzxcwasd1234 on Fri, 15/04/2022 - 15:24

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I've never lived near the sea, but I would probably like to live that way. The sea, the beach, the sand, etc. - that's what I love.

Submitted by Fabiano on Wed, 30/03/2022 - 16:36

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Yes, I love the sea because when I was young my family had an apartment near the sea. All my vacations I went to apartment on the beach, it was perfect

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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).