Conversation tips
- 1. Preparing for your Skype call
- 2. How to introduce myself? Greet with smile Maintain eye contact Tell them your name Ask for the other person’s name Repeat the other person’s name
- 3. 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
- 4. 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?
- 5. 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
- 6. 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
- 7. 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
- 8. 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
- 9. 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
- 10. 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
- 11. 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
- 12. 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
- 13. 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
- 14. 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