Did you know that English conversation can take you on a fun adventure?
Conversing (talking) with others in English opens up a whole new world of opportunities.
Each set of conversations contains six questions on a particular topic. Most topics are suitable for pre-intermediate through intermediate level classes (B1/B2). The topics can be discussed in pairs, small groups or large groups. You should set aside 5-10 minutes for the activity. A good strategy for using these sorts of questions is as follows. Short dialogues 1 Practical conversations. Small Talk; At a Hotel; At a Restaurant; At the Bank; At the Library; Taking the Bus; Shopping; Daily Life; Dating; Food; College Life; Health; Travel; Employment; Buying a Car; Driving; Renting an Apartment page 01 - page 02 - page 03. Oct 17, 2016 Are you a Beginner Level English Student? Start practicing English Speaking early. Our classes will help you improve accent and develop natural fluency. Spoken English Practice is trusted by over 1 million students from over 160 countries. We will improve your English speaking in 4 week or get your money back! Open-ended questions typically begin with “who,” “what,” “where,” “when” and “why.”. They are important to make your English conversation informative and productive. See more examples here. When the person you are talking to is asking you a question, listen for the.
Thanks to English, you will be able to talk with people who don’t speak your native language.
This lets you hear ideas and opinions from people who grew up in different cultures. You might even make new lifelong friends!
Talking in English will also be adventurous because you will probably feel a little nervous and excited.
But if you push your English speaking “comfort zone” and just open your mouth, you will feel so accomplished (proud) and motivated to keep learning!
Plus, your English will improve a lot if you have more conversations.
So let’s get started! To help you on this trip, we’ve put together a friendly guide to English conversation for beginners, filled with useful, basic phrases—from greetings and small talk to saying goodbye—that will take you on your first conversation adventure.
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Starting an English Conversation
If you need a push to start having conversations in English, watch the clip below for motivation.
Then, any polite conversation starts with a greeting (saying hello). There are many ways to greet someone, and your choice will depend on who you are talking to.
It may be an informal conversation with a friend or an acquaintance (someone you know, but not very well). Or you may use a more formal dialogue when having an English conversation with a colleague, a teacher, a stranger or a government employee.
Informal greetings
Let’s start with informal greetings. Here is how you can say hello:
- Hello!
(A universal greeting that works for every conversation.)
- Hi!
(A neutral and friendly greeting.)
- Hey!
(An informal and relaxed greeting.)
- Greetings!
(This is quite formal and rare these days, but could be used humorously among friends.)
Formal greetings
For a more formal way to greet someone, use the model “good + [time of day]”:
- Good morning!
(Reserved for any time before noon.)
- Good afternoon!
(Typically used between noon and 5-6 p.m.)
- Good evening!
(Any time after 6 p.m.)
Remember that “good night” normally means that you are saying goodbye. It is also commonly used right before going to bed.
Introductions
What if you have never met the person you are talking to before? Then, after greeting them, it would be polite to introduce yourself and ask for their name. Here’s how:
- My name is _____. What’s your name?
(This is simple, neutral and always works well!)
If you met somebody once before, but you do not remember their name, you can say this:
- I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name. You are…?
(This is a bit more informal.)
If you want to introduce a person to someone else, you can simply say:
- Please meet + [name]
Please meet my friend Tom!
(Formal introduction)
- This is + [name]
This is Tom!
(Common introduction)
Now that you have introduced yourself, use one of the phrases below to respond to someone’s introduction.
- Nice to meet you!
(The most common)
- Pleased to meet you!
(Simple and polite)
- It’s a pleasure!
(Informal, but nice)
Easy Dialogue For Esl Students
You can hear the first one in this video, where two people meet for the first time and then start a conversation. Better yet, since that video is available on FluentU, you don’t have to worry about missing a word. Just click the interactive subtitles for an instant definition. There are also flashcards, fun quizzes and other learning tools built in.
Check out a free FluentU trial to watch that video—and thousands of other real-world English videos—with all the learning features.
Making Small Talk in English
Great job! You are already having a conversation in English!
After you have exchanged names and greeted each other, you may go on to make some “small talk.”
Small talk is common in many English-speaking countries, especially in the U.S., Canada and England. It is considered polite to add small talk to the beginning of the conversation before talking about the subject of the conversation, whether it is personal or professional.
The most widespread (common) question is “How are you?” In fact, it is so common, that it becomes automatic for people to say, even when they hardly know the person! “How are you” is often even considered part of the greeting (i.e. “Hi, how are you?”). That is how necessary it has become!
There are several ways to ask someone how they are doing:
- How are you? / How are you doing?
(Neutral)
- How’s it going?
(More informal)
- How are things?
(Informal)
- What’s up?
(Very informal)
An interesting thing about asking these questions is that an answer is not really required. Unless you are very close friends with someone, they are not expecting you to tell them an honest answer about your day—as this funny video shows:
Instead, a simple answer and a “how are you” in return is enough for a typical conversation in English:
- I’m well. How are you?
- It’s going well, thank you. How are you doing?
- Fine, thanks. And yourself?
Note that you might often hear people say “I’m good” when they mean that they are well and doing well. “I’m good” is grammatically incorrect in this context, but it is very common in spoken English, just like a few other mistakes English speakers make, so be careful!
Easy Conversation Starters For Esl Students
Small talk can also be the primary goal of a conversation, especially when you are talking to people you don’t know and are unlikely to meet again. There are many ways to use small talk successfully, even when you’re still getting comfortable with English conversation for beginners.
Asking and Answering Questions
A conversation is an exchange of ideas, questions and thoughts. The best way to keep a conversation going is to ask questions!
There are two types of questions you may ask: closed-ended and open-ended questions.
Closed-ended questions are also called “yes/no” questions, because their goal is to confirm or deny certain information. For example:
- Are you having a good day?
- Did you just get to the office?
- Have you seen my email?
Compare the examples above to the open-ended questions below. They will ask a person to elaborate—that is, to give more information instead of simply saying “yes” or “no.”
- How is your day going?
(A perfect example of small talk!)
- When did you arrive at the office?
- What do you think about that email I sent?
Open-ended questions typically begin with “who,” “what,” “where,” “when” and “why.” They are important to make your English conversation informative and productive. See more examples here.
When the person you are talking to is asking you a question, listen for the keywords and pay attention to the verb being used. This will help you construct your answer using proper grammar.
Don’t worry about using difficult words—it is fine to keep things simple! And if you don’t understand a certain question or word, don’t be afraid to ask. Boardmaker version 5 free download.
As a beginner, you may have trouble understanding everything being said in English. This is okay! You are still learning.
Asking for Clarification
You are getting good at conversations in English, but suddenly you realize that you are lost. Maybe the other person is speaking too fast. Maybe she has an unfamiliar accent. Maybe you didn’t hear the last thing she said.
It is perfectly normal to ask for clarification or to repeat something. Just remember to be polite!
If you don’t understand something, let’s say a word or even some idea relating to your conversation, you could say:
- I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Could you please repeat that?
- I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Could you please explain that?
or even…
- Care to elaborate?
(This very informal question is the short version of “Do you care to elaborate on this?”)
If you simply didn’t hear something, just say it like this:
- I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that. Could you please repeat?
- I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you please repeat?
or even…
- Could you say that again, please?
Don’t be shy to ask for help. People are generally very happy to explain or repeat something! Please don’t forget to thank them after they do.
Bringing an English Conversation to a Close
Say you have got all the information you need from the person. It is time for you to go. Maybe you are running late and want to keep the conversation brief. No matter the reason, it is always nice to let the person know you cannot continue talking to them for much longer.
There are many ways to do it depending on the situation. For example, if you are late, say:
- I have to get going. / It’s time for me to go.
(This is polite and neutral.)
- I have to run—can we continue later?
(This is more informal, but also polite.)
And if you have all the information you’d wanted:
- Thank you so much for your help!
(A very common and useful expression)
- Got it, thanks!
(Very informal and friendly)
- I think I have everything I need, thank you!
(This is formal and may come across as rude if you don’t thank the person after, so use it with caution.)
Using Small Talk to End a Conversation
Hey, guess what? Small talk can be used at the end of an English conversation too! Before saying goodbye, it is polite to say something like…
- Have a good day!
(This works in any situation.)
- Enjoy your day!
(This one is a bit more formal.)
- Good luck!
(If the person needs it; it will depend on the situation.)
- Talk to you soon!
(This is neutral and does not necessarily mean that you will really talk to the person soon.)
- Great seeing you / Great talking to you!
(This is informal yet common.)
- Catch you later!
(This is very informal and fun.)
And after that, the only thing left to do is…
Saying Goodbye in English
This one is easy. You really cannot go wrong with just a simple “goodbye” or “bye” in spoken English. You can also use any small talk expression to complement your goodbye. For example:
- Bye! Have a good day!
- Catch you later! Bye-bye!
And, as mentioned at the very beginning of this guide…
- Good night!
Simple, right?
You are now an English conversation master!
Having a conversation in English does not have to be complicated. You may feel a little awkward and shy about your English speaking at first, but it is okay.
If you are scared of making a mistake, it is understandable. But mistakes are going to happen when you get started with spoken English—it is absolutely normal. Making mistakes is a big part of learning English conversations for beginners. This is how you get better, so just go for it. Just start talking, because now you know what to say!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
And One More Thing…
Want to hear real English conversations without leaving your home?
FluentU provides real-world English videos—like movie trailers, TV commercials, hilarious YouTube clips and more—that come with built-in language learning tools.
For example, every video comes with interactive subtitles. Click any word for an instant, in-context definition. You’ll also see grammar info and example sentences.
Tap on the word “brought,” and you see this:
After you watch a video, FluentU will give you flashcards, fun quizzes and useful questions. That way you can be sure you’ll remember everything you learned.
It’s the perfect way to learn English the way native speakers really use it. The videos are conveniently organized by format and level (beginner through advanced) so it’s super easy to find the ones that work for you.
Best of all, you can practice conversational English on FluentU anytime, anywhere on your computer or with the mobile apps for iOS and Android.
If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn English with real-world videos.
“All right everyone, pair up!”
This sentence can be met in many ways.
Blank stares. Two class troublemakers reaching for each other’s hands.
The shy kid in the class trying very hard to become invisible.
It’s no secret, getting students to work well in pairs can be hard, and it doesn’t stop with just having them pair up.
ESL students doing pair activities can often try to skive off doing the activity at hand. Shyer students can be tempted to let their partner do all the work.
As far as the teacher is concerned, it can be tough making sure that the students who are actually working are speaking correctly.
Well, it’s time for all those problems to be ancient history. Here, you’ll find the ultimate guide to perfect pair work.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Techniques for ESL Pair Work
The first mistake many teachers make when assigning pair work is letting students choose their pairs.
While that may be fun for those in the class who are already friends, your job as the teacher is to assess each student’s strengths and weaknesses and put them with someone they can work with well. In other words: you make the pairs.
If you know that two students are particularly good at conjugation, it might be interesting to put them together so that they have a real challenge. If one student is exceptionally shy, don’t stick them with the class loudmouth; they’ll only be overshadowed.
The best way to set up pair work in the classroom is to allow no expectations amongst students that they’ll be picking their own partners.
“We’re going to go about this activity in pairs! Sasha with Kevin. Lucy with Mary.”
By making it obvious that you’ll be the one deciding who works with whom, no one will get upset or try to fuss.
Once the pairs have been established, it’s time for your most important role: monitoring pair work.
While most pair work should finish with a group discussion or individual evaluation, the purpose of the pair work is lost if you aren’t listening and gently correcting. While you should be wary of over-correcting and silencing a student, do wander the room, listening for errors that you know a student can correct him or herself. Then you can gently remind the student how to properly use that language.
This serves two purposes: not only does it reinforce correct use of English, but it also ensures that students know you’re listening. This way, they’re sure to give the pair work activity their all.
Not all classroom activities are designed for pair work. The best time to use pair work is during oral activities, as these activities allow students to get more speaking time than they would in a class setting.
But you can’t just ask students to talk to each other for two minutes—you need a bit more structure than that!
Here are 7 great ESL pair work activities that you can use in a variety of ways to get your students talking.
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1. Investigative Journalist
Investigative journalist is a classic pair work activity for a reason: it works!
It can be used in a variety of scenarios and tailored according to specific grammar or vocabulary points that you’ve been reviewing in class.
The basis of investigative journalist is for students to interview one another in pairs and present their findings. It can be used for groups at all skill levels from beginning to advanced, as long as you tailor it to their levels.
Beginners may do a simple version, asking their partners about their family structure, favorite colors and foods, pets and hobbies. Intermediate students could use investigative journalist to practice past tense structures by asking about their interlocutor’s childhood. Advanced students might benefit from a murder mystery version of the game, where each student is assigned a character to play and the game concludes with the “murderer” being sussed out as a result of the questions.
A great way to prepare students for this versatile activity, no matter their level, is with authentic videos of English conversations. Tools like FluentU offer fun, real-world English videos they can watch either once you’ve paired them up, or ahead of class for homework.
The FluentU videos are all organized by level and come with interactive captions, flashcards and exercises to help students pick up new words as they watch. Through these supercharged English dialogues, news reports, interviews, movie clips and more, they’ll get comfortable with the types of basic English conversations investigative journalist requires.
Have fun with this game, and remember: if you give your students the tools to succeed, they’ll surprise you!
2. Debate
Debate is another classic that can incorporate pair or group work, depending on the size of your class. Create groups and assign each group or pair a side of an argument. Use pair work time to allow students to develop their argument and conclude with a class-wide debate.
Debate is made even more interesting when you present students with authentic materials to use as support for their claims.
3. What’s Your Secret?
What’s your secret? is a pair work activity that truly involves the whole class. In this game, which is a play on investigative journalist, each student writes a secret down on a piece of paper, things like: “I play the clarinet.” or “I have a twin.” The papers are placed in a hat and each student draws one: that’s where the game begins.
What’s your secret? can either be played by allowing students to mill about the classroom freely or by setting up a speed dating scenario, where each pair has 1 minute to speak before rotating. Students may ask one another yes/no questions—they may not ask directly if what’s on the piece of paper is true about them or not.
Students then must guess to whom the secret they drew belongs.
4. It’s Your Turn: Teach a Class!
Teach a class! is a fun activity for advanced ESL students. In this activity, you assign each pair a grammar, vocab or culture point that they’ll have to teach to the class. The pair works together to prepare activities and lesson plans and teaches the point to the class.
Unlike many of these other activities, the conclusion portion of this activity is built right in: when the pair teaches the class, the teacher should play the role of the student, but you may evaluate the lesson at the end and feel free to correct any mistakes the “teachers” make!
5. Following Directions
Following directions is an interesting game that offers a change from classroom routine.
In this game, each student in the pair draws a picture, keeping their paper shielded from the eyes of their partner. Ideally, pictures should be fairly geometric. Once the picture is complete, they explain to their partner, using words only, how to replicate the image.
For example, if a student has drawn the stereotypical square house with a triangle roof, he might say: “Draw a square in the middle of the paper that’s about a third of the size of the paper. Draw an equilateral triangle on top of the square, using the top side of the square as the bottom side of the triangle.”
The goal of this game is for each partner to replicate the other’s drawing going by these spoken directions.
6. Games! Yes, No
Many pair work activities can feel like games, but sometimes it’s fun to introduce some real games into the mix.
Yes, no is a game where the only two words that students aren’t allowed to say are yes and no. Pair students off and play. When a student loses, he or she is out and the winning partner is paired with another winning partner. In this way, you can create a tournament of yes, no.
Other versions of the game also forbid “maybe” and “I.” Consider these versions when the game is lasting too long or students need an extra challenge.
7. Games! Guess Who
Guess who is a version of 20 questions that focuses entirely on people.
Students draw the name of a famous person out of a hat (you’ll need to prepare these slips in advance!) and their partner tries to guess who’s on the paper by asking a series of yes/no questions.
Like yes, no, guess who can be turned into a tournament-style game.
Concluding a Pair Work Activity
Remember: a pair work activity isn’t a lesson in and of itself.
There should be a brief introduction, letting students know what you expect them to do during the activity.
There should especially be a conclusion. Be sure to budget it into your class time or the pair work activity will be useless.
During your conclusion, you should gather the information gleaned during the activity and go through it as a group. This will allow you to correct errors and it’ll also allow students to learn from their peers.
Many pair work activities also benefit from being followed up by an individual activity such as a written response, worksheet for homework or short oral presentation to the group presenting the student’s findings.
Once you’ve mastered the art of pair work, your students will be speaking up (and correctly!) before you know it!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
And One More Thing…
Want your students to learn more about how native English speakers talk? Check out FluentU! FluentU takes real-world videos—like music videos, cartoons, documentaries and more—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons for you and your students.
Dialogue For Beginning Esl Students
It’s got a huge collection of authentic English videos that people in the English-speaking world actually watch on the regular. There are tons of great choices there when you’re looking for songs for in-class activities. You’ll find music videos, musical numbers from cinema and theater, kids’ singalongs, commercial jingles and much, much more.
On FluentU, all the videos are sorted by skill level and are carefully annotated for students. Words come with example sentences and definitions. Students will be able to add them to their own vocabulary lists, and even see how the words are used in other videos.
Conversation Dialogues For Esl Students
For example, if a student taps on the word “brought,” they’ll see this:
Plus, these great videos are all accompanied by interactive features and active learning tools for students, like multimedia flashcards and fun games like “fill in the blank.”
It’s perfect for in-class activities, group projects and solo homework assignments. Not to mention, it’s guaranteed to get your students excited about English!
If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to teach English with real-world videos.