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 (30 votes)
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Submitted by Lingaung on Tue, 28/11/2023 - 23:41

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No, I live three hours away from the Atlantic Ocean.

Submitted by gerbo on Mon, 23/10/2023 - 18:56

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hi everyone,fortunally i was born by the sea and a think i'm very lucky because is one of the most thing that i appreciate here in my city,when i travel in a places where the sea miss i feel a lot of sadness,anyway i thought that the sea is a very important part of my life.

Submitted by dohamohamed on Mon, 09/10/2023 - 00:57

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Hello everyone, I live in a beautiful country and have a sea.it’s very important for us because it has affected for us such as Diving and wonderful views!
So,I really grateful for this country

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Submitted by Ramiro Solana on Thu, 28/09/2023 - 19:04

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I live in Buenos Aires which is near a river but far from the sea. By the way, my grandfather was born in Santander as Noelia! But he had to migrate to Argentina when he was 11 years old and only accompanied by his older brother (14). The first years of the 20th century were really difficult times for many Spaniards.

Submitted by Soufiane on Sun, 24/09/2023 - 14:28

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No i do not, but there are a lot of beaches in my country, I went there a lot when I was young and I miss them a lot

Submitted by Saraaliomar on Wed, 16/08/2023 - 17:41

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No , I do not
I miss going to the sea! this summer my parents didn’t take me there , they are so boring really, by the way the distance between our house and the sea is just about 30 minutes by car! Not far , but I think my parents getting old and lost interested in those things :(

Submitted by marriita on Thu, 03/08/2023 - 22:07

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I live about one hour drive from the sea, and a friend of mine has a free time he gives me a ride there! However it is the North Sea with a dull grey colour I like it very much and feel its power which is more impressive for me than blue colour southern seas.

Submitted by hebba_ben on Mon, 03/07/2023 - 17:00

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hi i hope Everyone who's reading this comments is doing great so
i live in Algeria it's the biggest country located in the north of Africa ...i wouldn't lie if i say that my country has the most beautiful sea in Africa even that i live in the Sahara where there's no sea but i enjoy my time while visiting the north of Algeria every summer ....so i will be glad if you guys one day come and visit my beautiful country ♥

Submitted by kemblyhp on Wed, 28/06/2023 - 05:58

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Hi everyone! I'm from Cancún, México. So, definitely I live by the sea but not as close as everyone think. To get to the beach from home is around 20min by car. It's really close but... I prefer mountains and the woods than sea!

Beach local is fun, but not forever. I often travel one time in the year and normally, 3 or 4 days. I love the mountains too