ESLG 1130: Pronunciation for Graduate Students

Conversational Speech Practice

Directions: In your midterm reflections, there were two themes that came up – one was wanting to do more impromptu
practice and one was practice with informal conversations. One of the keys of informal conversations is being able to ask
good questions and respond smoothly to conversational questions.

Google “Random Number Generator” and set the number from 1 to 30. Each group member will answer a randomly
selected question (different questions for each member) and try to talk about each topic for at least one to two minutes.
You should have a group member time you to make sure you talk for the full length of time.

Group members, as you listen, rank the speaker on a scale of 1 (Needs Improvement) to 5 (Excellent) of how much you
hear each of the following features in their impromptu speech. Send them a private message in the chat with your
evaluation.

 ___ Word Stress

 ___ Focus Word Emphasis
 ___ Thought Group Pauses
 ___ Reductions and Linking
 List any unclear/mispronounced words:

If you finish, you can repeat the same activity until your group’s time is up and you switch groups.

Conversational Questions

1. What is your favorite movie and what happens in it?

2. Tell me about your family.
3. Tell me about your pets or the pet you would like to have.
4. What kind of music do you like to listen to and why.
5. Tell me about what you watch on TV.
6. Describe your favorite holiday and how you celebrate it.
7. When is your birthday and what did you do for your last birthday? What do you want to do for your next birthday?
8. Describe something you are passionate about and why you love it.
9. Describe how one aspect of your culture differs from American culture.
10. Describe what happens in your favorite movie and why you like it.
11. What is your favorite game to play?
12. What is your favorite sport and why?
13. What are you excited about that’s going to happen soon?
14. Where have you lived and which was your favorite place?
15. What does your room look like?
16. Tell me about your favorite book?
17. Describe one historical event form your country which was very impactful and important on the country’s history.
18. What is your favorite thing about your major and why?
19. What are some things you don’t like to do and why?
20. What do you like to do when you’re alone?
21. What do you like to do in the winter?
22. What do you like to do in the summer?
23. If you could meet anyone, who would it be and why?
24. Who is your favorite historical figure and why?
25. What do you like to do with other people?
26. What animal would you be and why?
27. What are your favorite foods? What are some foods you don’t like?
28. If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go?
29. If you could live anywhere, where would you live and why?
30. Describe what qualities you look for in a friend and describe one friend who fits these qualities, where you met,
etc.