How to Keep a Conversation Going in English

Eat Sleep Dreamers, how are you today?

I hope you are well.

Today we're going to be looking at three really useful ways to keep a conversation going.

Now Im sure you've had this just like me.

You are talking to someone, maybe that you don't know that well or like a colleague and

suddenly the conversation just stops!

Because you've run out of things to say.

Ok, you've talked about the weather, you've talked about the food in your hand and there's

nothing else to talk about.

Have you had that?

I'm sure you have alright.

I'm sure I'm not the only one.

So I don't know about you but I start to feel very embarrassed, very awkward.

I go red in my cheeks and my body language starts to change.

Alright, so if I have it, I'm sure you have it as well.

So, what can we do in English to help us avoid this situation?

Alright, we're going to look at three really useful ways to continue the conversation.

Ok, my first main tip is to ask questions.

Now if we ask questions we are doing two things.

Firstly, we are showing interest in the other person which is always great.

Secondly, we are taking the pressure off ourselves to speak.

Because there's a lot of pressure when we are speaking in another language, in this

case English, it's really hard to think of the words to say.

So, if we are asking a question we are taking the pressure off ourselves to do so.

Now my wise Mum once said to me that conversation is like a game of tennis.

Ok, because you always have to hit the ball back to the other person and I guess questions

are our way of hitting the ball back to the other person.

Alright, so let's have a look at one or our first very special question to help us keep

conversation going.

Our first phrase is 'How are things (with you)?'

This is a great way to open a conversation and to ask someone about their life in general.

The with you part is optional ok so you don't need to say that.

Let's have a look at an example.

'Hey Jasmine, how are things?'

And she replies 'Good thanks' 'Not bad thanks'.

Now these are both really common ways to respond to this question.

Ok, let's look at the pronunciation of this sentence.

Now we have two words, how and are.

When we say them we blend the sounds together.

Ok, so let me show you.

How are.

One more time.

How are.

Ok, they are kind of blended with the 'w' sound kind of comes to bring them together.

Let me show you one more time and then you practise ok?

How are things?

How are things?

Ok, let's put that into a sentence.

'Hey Isabel, how are things?

'Hey Isabel, how are things?'

Alright, good job, let's have a look at our second useful question.

Ok, here we go with our second useful phrase and the phrase is 'How's something going?'

This is a great way to ask someone about something they are doing now.

Some examples might be 'How's work going?'

or 'How's university going?'

or even 'How's everything going with your new flatmate?'

Ok, the key point her for the pronunciation is to contract how and is to make them one

one sound.

Ok, so 'how's' 'how's' so 'How's your job going?'

'How's your job going?'

Alright, let's check out our third useful question.

Ok, our third and final one is 'How is' or 'How was'.

Now these are great ways to ask someone opinion of the quality of something or to ask if they

are enjoying something at this time.

So you can use the present tense or the past tense depending on the situation.

Let's have a look at some examples.

'How was the film?'

'Hows' your hotel?'

'How was your flight?'

Alright guys, that's it, that's all we've got time for today.

We've had three great ways to keep a conversation going.

Alright so the next time you are speaking to someone you won't feel like I've got to

go, well at least hopefully you won't feel like that.

Now, if you would like a very special e-book with all this information that we've looked

at today, I've made one.

The link is below this video.

Ok, click that link, you can download the free e-book.

It's amazing.

There's extra exercises and it looks all colourful and beautiful and nice just for you.

Also you can check out my website which is EatSleepDreamEnglish.com alright and there

you've got loads of videos, pronunciation videos, vocabulary loads of good stuff alright

for you to check out.

Alright guys, thank you so much for hanging out with me today, I really appreciate it.

Hopefully I'll see you back here again really soon but until then this is Tom from Eat Sleep

Dream English saying goodbye.