Hi, I'm Georgiana, your English teacher.
Thanks for joining me for a new episode of the Speak English Now podcast.
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That would mean a lot.
Thanks.
Before we start, visit my website, speakenglishpodcast.com and subscribe to my free mini course.
In the next five days, you will discover how to enhance your English fluency.
Okay, let's start.
Have you ever wanted to talk to someone for longer but you got stuck because you didn't know what to say anymore?
When we speak a foreign language, we're often afraid to start a conversation or to ask questions.
We're worried that they won't understand us or that they'll merely lose their patience as we try to formulate our sentences.
If you still don't know how to continue a conversation in English, you'll need to learn or the communication will end much too soon and you might not get a second chance to talk to that person anymore.
You can't always rely on the other person to make all the effort and keep the conversation going.
That's exhausting for many people and they may decide not to talk to you again.
Despite not having a very high level of English, you have no excuses.
You must learn to be a fun and enjoyable talker.
And don't worry, I'll teach you some tricks.
Imagine if you went to an event where everyone speaks English.
Wouldn't it be a shame not to be prepared for that kind of event?
Let's be realistic for a moment.
No one likes uncomfortable silences, especially if we talk to this person for the first time.
Sometimes seconds pass.
And if you don't say anything or ask a question right away, the conversation is over.
That's why it's essential to show interest in the other person.
Ask where they're from, what they do for a living, or ask about any common interest.
When you're having a chat and you suddenly get stuck because you just can't come up with any new interesting topics.
It's time to ask a few questions.
These questions need to show your genuine interest and curiosity.
One of the greatest secrets of being a great communicator is to allow the other person to talk about themselves as well.
Knowing how to listen will also help you to ask the right questions, and that's how you'll end up being an amazing communicator.
Lately, people are talking about themselves a little more than they should and often fail to listen to the person in front of them.
Surely we all have something fascinating to say, but that doesn't mean we should talk only about ourselves.
And even if we want to impress someone, we should start by listening first and getting to know the other person better.
If you've just met the person you're talking to, you can ask them simple questions about why are they visiting your city or company.
It's how you start to learn about the person's background.
Here are some examples that you could use.
Ask them, why are they here?
Why are you in San Francisco?
What brought you here today or tonight?
What brings you here to San Francisco?
Ask them where are they from.
To know more about the person you just met, start asking them about what they do.
You'll learn a little more about the person and if you have anything in common.
You could ask them, What are you working on these days?
Or, What are you up to these days?
It's always a good idea to ask the person about their occupation, even if you've met them while you were off work.
After all, we spend the most important part of our time working and it's interesting to know about their profession.
It allows you to know more about their lifestyle and interest.
Another great way to create a bond and make the conversation flow is to offer your help.
It's a powerful way to continue your conversation and get to know the other person.
Socializing is all about helping people out.
Especially if you work in the same field, you may have the knowledge and the resources to help this contact.
Or you could recommend someone you know.
In this situation, you could say, What do you need help with?
If you're at a party or event, you should consider offering them a drink or some food.
You could ask, Can I get you anything?
And if they're already eating or having a drink, you could simply say, That looks good.
What's that?
Or Where did you get that?
It's another great way to start talking with someone you don't know, but how to end the conversation.
Let's say you've been talking for some minutes now and it's been quite entertaining, but it's time to end the conversation, if you want to do this in a polite way.
Above all, remember to smile and be nice at the end of the talk.
This way, the person will know that you had a good time, Make a positive comment and then say you need to go or give a reason to end the conversation.
After you've met someone for the first time, you should end the conversation by restating that you enjoyed meeting them.
Use this phrase to end the conversation.
Hey, it was nice chatting with you, but I should get going.
And if you want to be more formal, you could say something like this.
Sorry, but I'm afraid I need to get back to work or leave.
I hope you're enjoying today's episode.
I'm sure that you will make many new friends the next time you apply these useful tips.
Now, let's move on to the next section.
I've created a new mini-story so that you can practice your speaking.
It's about Billy, an attractive man who decides to flee to a deserted island.
Let's see how the mini-story works.
I'll give you some information, a phrase or two.
Then, I'll ask simple questions.
After each question, there will be some seconds of silence.
It's your turn to answer the question.
Just try to give an easy and short answer.
Not a complex one.
After you answer, I'll give you a correct answer.
This process will continue.
And little by little, I'll be telling you a story using questions and answers.
Let's get started.
Billy was a very shy 26-year-old man with a big problem.
He hated talking to people.
Was Billy 25 years old?
No, he was 26 years old Was he old?
No, he wasn't old.
He was young Was the man shy or brave?
He was shy, not brave.
Billy was a shy man.
Who had a problem, Billy or Willie?
Not Willie.
Was the problem big or small?
Big.
The problem was big.
Did Billy love or hate talking to people?
He didn't love talking to people.
He hated talking to them.
He was so handsome that all the women wanted to be around and talk to him.
Was he handsome or ugly?
He wasn't ugly.
He was handsome.
Who wanted to be around him?
All the women or just some women?
Not just some women.
All women wanted to be around him.
Did all the women want to talk to him?
Yes, all the women wanted to talk to him.
Why did women want to be around and talk to him?
Was he rich?
No, no, he wasn't rich.
He was just handsome.
Billy got so fed up with the situation that he fled to a deserted island.
Was Billy happy with the situation?
No, no.
He wasn't happy with the situation.
He got fed up.
Did he stay or did he flee?
He didn't stay.
He fled to a deserted island.
Where did Billy flee?
To Hollywood?
No, no.
He didn't flee to Hollywood.
He fled to a deserted island.
Did he flee to a deserted or a crowded island?
Not a crowded island.
He fled to a deserted island.
The island wasn't entirely deserted.
There he met a beautiful mute woman.
Was the island deserted?
No, the island wasn't entirely deserted.
Were there people on the island?
Yes, there were people on the island.
How many people did he meet?
One or twenty?
Only one.
He only met one person.
He met a beautiful woman.
Did he meet a beautiful chatty woman?
He didn't meet a beautiful chatty woman.
She was mute.
Where did he meet the beautiful woman?
In his hometown?
No, no, not in his hometown.
He met the beautiful woman on the island.
Billy quickly fell in love with the mute woman and asked her to marry him.
Billy fell out of love, right?
No, no, Billy didn't fall out of love.
He fell in love.
How did he fall in love?
Quickly or slowly?
He fell in love quickly, not slowly.
With whom did Billy fall in love?
He fell in love with a mute woman.
Did he ask her to marry him or to chat with him?
He'd never ask her to chat with him.
He asked her to marry him.
She answered yes through gestures, and so they lived happily ever after.
She said no, right?
She didn't say no.
Her answer was yes.
Did she reject him?
No, no.
She didn't reject him.
She said yes to him.
How did she answer Billy?
Through gestures or speaking?
Not speaking.
She answered Billy through gestures.
Did they live happily ever after or full of misery ever after?
They didn't live full of misery ever after.
They lived happily ever after.
Great!
This is the end of this short exercise.
As you can see, answering many simple questions can improve your speaking, just like in a real life conversation.
Today, you've only seen a small example of how the question and answer technique works.
Do you want to unlock this full potential?
I have a huge announcement.
A new course is now available to help you with your pronunciation.
And it's for all levels.
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