conversation tips
TRANSCRIPT
Preparing for your first Skype call
How to introduce myself?
Greet with smileMaintain eye contactTell them your nameAsk for the other person’s nameRepeat the other person’s name
How to have a great conversation? Relax and forget about yourself Listen Ask questions Use a friendly tone Choose your words and questions carefully Neither interrupt a person in the middle of his thought,
nor speak on top of it Compliment the other person Thank them for a great conversation
How to handle a difficult question? Personal, intimate question
I’m sorry, but I’d prefer not to answer this question. Question you don’t know the answer
I have no idea. Question you didn’t catch
Can you repeat the question? Question you don’t understand because of unfamiliar
words or question structure
I’m sorry, but I don’t understand your question. Would you mind telling it in different words?/What do you mean by…?/What does…mean?
How to improve speaking?
Listening and reading aloud Writing Networking and making friends Greeting people on the street Having small talks in public Watching foreign movies with English subtitles Joining one-on-one conversations, conversation and
common interest groups
Resources
Daily Conversations:
http://www.worldenglishclub.com/daily-english-conversations
EBooks:
http://www.gutenberg.org
Phrases and Expressions for Speaking:
http://www.eslgold.com/speaking/phrases.html
How to improve listening?
Speaking to English speakers
Watching TV and movies
Listening to radio
Reading audio books
Singing English songs
Practicing pronunciation
Joining conversation groups/one-on-one conversations
Resources
Listening Lab:
http://www.esl-lab.com
Listening Activities:
http://www.manythings.org/e/listening.html
Audio Books:
http://librivox.org
http://www.audiobooks.org
http://www.audiobooks.net
How to improve comprehension? Reading picture books or comics Reading newspapers and magazines Asking questions during conversations Watching TV and movies Browsing English websites Consulting dictionaries Constantly learning new words Clarifying meaning of slang and idioms Knowing grammar
Resources
Idioms:http://www.idiomconnection.com Slang Words:http://www.eslcafe.com/slang/list.html Reading Comprehension Exercises:http://www.englishcorner.vacau.com/reading/reading.html Listening Comprehension Exercises:http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/eslvideo/ Vocabulary Games:http://www.vocabulary.co.il
How to improve pronunciation?
Listening to native English and imitating Reading along with audio books Speaking, being corrected or asking for
correct pronunciation and repeating after Paying attention to letter combination sounds,
stressed syllables, word linkage and intonation
Training speech organs position, shape and movement of English sounds
Resources
Accent School:
http://www.accentschool.com/run_software.html Some Pronunciation Rules:
http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/index.htm
http://www.fonetiks.org Pronunciation Exercises:
http://www.pronunciationworkshop.com/pronunciationexercises.htm
http://www.englishmedialab.com/pronunciation.html
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/pronex/pronex.htm
http://www.manythings.org/pp/ Dictionaries with Pronunciation:
http://www.merriam-webster.com
http://www.howjsay.com
http://www.thefreedictionary.com
http://dictionary.cambridge.org
How to improve grammar?
Reading, listening, writing and speaking Using subject-verb structure Differentiating questions from statements Understanding parts of speech Practicing verb tenses Knowing words beyond their meaning Learning phrasal verbs Doing grammar exercises Quizzing yourself
Resources
www.eslflow.com http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk http://www.onestopenglish.com http://www.waze.net/oea http://www.englishclub.com http://www.eslgold.com http://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/esl-printables-
worksheets.html