Common responses

 

Echoing:

Another easy way to keep the other person talking is to echo the key thing they're saying, like this:

A) I'm going to the movies tonight.

B) The movies?

 In this dialogue the speakers echo one another to maintain clarity. Guess the words in the gaps.

A) I'm going to the movies tonight.

B) The _______?

A) Yes, I'm going to see a new anime movie.

B) An _______ movie?

A) It's a new one from Studio Ghibli.

B) ___________! I love those movies.

A)You _____ them?

B) Of course - what's the title?

A) The _____ - I'm not sure. I'll google it.

B) Okay ______ it. If I haven't seen it, could I come along?

A) Sure, you can _____ _____... Here it is - it's called Ponyo.

B) ______ - I don't think I've seen that one.

A) Well, it's on a 6.45 tonight.

B) ______. Great. I'm keen to come.

A) _____! Let's meet here at school at 5.15 and then walk down to the cinema.

B) _____. Sure thing, I'll be here.

Check

 

A) I'm going to the movies tonight.

B) The movies?

A) Yes, I'm going to see a new anime movie.

B) An Anime movie?

A) It's a new one from Studio Ghibli.

B) Studio Ghibli! I love those movies.

A) You love them?

B) Of course - what's the title?

A) The title - I'm not sure. I'll google it.

B) Okay google it. If I haven't seen it, could I come along?

A) Sure, you can come along... Here it is - it's called Ponyo.

B) Ponyo - I don't think I've seen that one.

A) Well, it's on a 6.45 tonight.

B) 6.45. Great. I'm keen to come.

A) Great! Let's meet here at school at 5.15 and then walk down to the cinema.

B) 5.15. Sure thing, I'll be here.

 

Common responses

Quizlet practice

Reacting to questions

When someone asks you a question, try commenting on the question before you answer it.

Oh, it's funny you should ask me that because...

I was wondering if you'd ask me that.

I wasn't expecting that question.

That's an interesting question.

I like the question.

That's a tricky one

This question makes me feel happy because...

I was hoping you'd ask me that.

Oh not that question!

Hmmm. Let me think about that.

Can you be more specific?

Can you rephrase the question?

What do you mean exactly?

Good question.

Tough question.

Nice question.

Prompts like these elicit further input from a conversational partner. Use them!

Really?
Interesting.
Go on?
Okay.
Yes?
Great.

Continue.
Did you really?
Perfect.
Nice.
How terrible.
Oh.
And?
Then what?
So?
Crazy!
Amazing.
No!?
You're kidding, aren't you?
Funny. Keep talking!
Good one.
Good for you.
Of course.
No way!?
Ha ha.
Yeah.
Yeah?
Yeah!

Showing Interest A2

Noelia: Morning, Bob.

Bob: Oh, good ________. 

Noelia: It's so rainy today. The weather in this country is horrible!

Bob: Yes … yes … The ________ was even worse when I lived in Canada.

Noelia: Oh, I didn't know that you lived in __________, Bob. How cool!

Bob: One winter it was _______ cold and windy _____  I fell on the ice and broke my leg in three places.

Noelia: Oh no! You're ________!

Bob: I wish I _________, Noelia, I wish I was. I was never the same after that winter. And my leg is still bad today.

Noelia: Really? I'm sorry to _______ that. Poor you.

Bob: But it's not all bad. I met my wife in the hospital. She was the doctor who looked at my leg!

Noelia: __________! 

Bob: It was love at first ________! 

Noelia: Ah, ______’s brilliant!

Bob: Yes, and we're _________ in love 40 years later …  

Noelia: So in the end, breaking your leg was ______________ that could have happened.

Bob: Yes, I _________ it was!

 

Keeping a conversation going (B1, Speaking)

Noelia: Hi, Bob!

Bob: Oh, morning, Noelia.

Noelia: So, what's _____? 

Bob: New, hmm, let me ______. Hmm … Nothing _____. Oh, hang on. My dog Bertie had his 14th birthday on Monday! 

Noelia: Oh, he's getting old ______?

Bob: I guess ____ … but not as old as his owner. 

Noelia: Haha … er, _________ …

Bob: How _______ you, Noelia? How's it going? 

Noelia: Great, actually. Yeah … ______ good.

Bob: _____ the way, I ________ to ask you, where in Spain are you from?

Noelia: I'm from Santander.

Bob: Oh, _______. Wonderful to grow up near the sea. 

Noelia: Yeah, it was perfect. Ah, I miss the sea. 

Bob: I know what you ______. I used to live in Spain and I _________ loved it.

Noelia: Really? I _______ know that, Bob! 

Bob: Yeah, I had a little bar on the Costa Brava.

Noelia: Wow! So do you speak Spanish ______?

Bob: Oh, _____ much. Ah, those were the days! Excuse me. Perdona, Noelia. Tengo que irme. Me necesitan en el segundo piso. ¡Hasta pronto! 

Noelia: Wow! 

 

Alex: You won’t believe what happened to me yesterday.
Jamie: R_____?

Alex: I ran into my old school teacher at the airport.
Jamie: I__________.

Alex: And guess what—he remembered my name after ten years.
Jamie: G___ ___?

Alex: He even asked about that science project I failed.
Jamie: O____.

Alex: Then he started laughing about it like it was the best thing ever.
Jamie: Y___?

Alex: And he said it was actually his favorite project because it exploded.
Jamie: G____.

Alex: Apparently, he tells that story to every class he teaches now.
Jamie: C_______.

Alex: He even showed me pictures he kept of the mess.
Jamie: D__ ___ r______?

Alex: Yep, still had them on his phone!
Jamie: P______.

Alex: I couldn’t believe it either.
Jamie: N___.

Alex: But then he told me the school had to repaint the whole lab.
Jamie: H__ t_______.

Alex: Yeah… I felt a bit bad about that.
Jamie: O_.

Alex: But wait, there’s more.
Jamie: A__?

Alex: He said that incident inspired three students to become scientists.
Jamie: T___ w___?

Alex: One of them even works at a big research company now.
Jamie: S__?

Alex: So my failure kind of helped people succeed!
Jamie: C_____!

Alex: I know, right?
Jamie: A_______.

Alex: He even thanked me for it.
Jamie: N__!?

Alex: I swear, I’m not making this up.
Jamie: Y_____ k_______, a_____ y__?

Alex: Not at all!
Jamie: F____. K___ t______!

Alex: Then we grabbed coffee and talked for an hour.
Jamie: G___ o___.

Alex: He said I was one of his most memorable students.
Jamie: G___ f__ y__.

Alex: I guess I made an impression.
Jamie: O_ c______.

Alex: And get this—he offered to write me a recommendation letter.
Jamie: N__ w__!?

Alex: Yep, just like that.
Jamie: H_ h_.

Alex: I walked away feeling pretty great.
Jamie: Y___.

Alex: You think that’s lucky, right?
Jamie: Y___?

Alex: Best airport trip ever.
Jamie: Y___!

Alex: You won’t believe what happened to me yesterday.
Jamie: Really?

Alex: I ran into my old school teacher at the airport.
Jamie: Interesting.

Alex: And guess what—he remembered my name after ten years.
Jamie: Go on?

Alex: He even asked about that science project I failed.
Jamie: Okay.

Alex: Then he started laughing about it like it was the best thing ever.
Jamie: Yes?

Alex: And he said it was actually his favorite project because it exploded.
Jamie: Great.

Alex: Apparently, he tells that story to every class he teaches now.
Jamie: Continue.

Alex: He even showed me pictures he kept of the mess.
Jamie: Did you really?

Alex: Yep, still had them on his phone!
Jamie: Perfect.

Alex: I couldn’t believe it either.
Jamie: Nice.

Alex: But then he told me the school had to repaint the whole lab.
Jamie: How terrible.

Alex: Yeah… I felt a bit bad about that.
Jamie: Oh.

Alex: But wait, there’s more.
Jamie: And?

Alex: He said that incident inspired three students to become scientists.
Jamie: Then what?

Alex: One of them even works at a big research company now.
Jamie: So?

Alex: So my failure kind of helped people succeed!
Jamie: Crazy!

Alex: I know, right?
Jamie: Amazing.

Alex: He even thanked me for it.
Jamie: No!?

Alex: I swear, I’m not making this up.
Jamie: You're kidding, aren't you?

Alex: Not at all!
Jamie: Funny. Keep talking!

Alex: Then we grabbed coffee and talked for an hour.
Jamie: Good one.

Alex: He said I was one of his most memorable students.
Jamie: Good for you.

Alex: I guess I made an impression.
Jamie: Of course.

Alex: And get this—he offered to write me a recommendation letter.
Jamie: No way!?

Alex: Yep, just like that.
Jamie: Ha ha.

Alex: I walked away feeling pretty great.
Jamie: Yeah.

Alex: You think that’s lucky, right?
Jamie: Yeah?

Alex: Best airport trip ever.
Jamie: Yeah!