CHAPTER 1: GET TALKING

GROUP 1
 MEMBER
STT Name Task

1 Trinh Lan Anh (Leader) Part 1 + 2 + 3 + 4

2 Hoang Ha An Role paly 1

3 Vu Thi Dinh Role paly 1

4 Dinh Phuong Anh Role play 2

5 Nguyen Huu Ngoc Anh Role play 2

 1. STARTING INFORMAL CONVERSATION

• JANE: Hi, Helen! How’s it going?

• HELEN: Fine, thanks – and you?
• JANE: Just fine. Where are you off to?
• HELEN: To the library. I’ve got a history exam next week and need to start
studying. Ugh.
• JANE: Oh, no. Well, I’ll see you later then. Good luck.
• HELEN: Thanks. See you later.
* Language note

• “Hi” is an informal way of saying “hello”

• “How’s it going?” is an informal way of saying “How are you?”

• “Fine, thanks - and you?” Remember to ask

questions too – don’t
just talk about
yourself
* Language note
• “Where are you off to?” is an informal way of saying “Where are
you going?” + HELEN’s answer “Don’t answer in one-word sentences. Try to
give more information or say something
interesting about yourself”.

• “Oh, no” is a way of saying “I sympathize with you” or “I understand

you are not happy”.

• “See you later” is an informal way of saying “Goodbye”.

* Useful expressions
• + Hi
• + How’s it going?
• + Where are you off to?
• + See you later
2. RESPONDING
*PRACTICE
• A. Multiple Choice
1. … is an informal way of saying “How are you”.

A. How do you do? B. How’s it going? C. How do like that

2. …is an informal way of saying “Where are you going?”

A. Where are you on to? B. Where do you move to? C. Where are you off to?
* PRACTICE
B. Reorder the words given to make correct sentences

• 1. Is/ long/ a/ it/ not/ it/ flight/,/ • 1. It’s quite a long flight, isn’t it?
is/quite/?.
• 2. I know what you mean.
• 2. mean/ you/ what/ know/ I.
• 3. Did/ the/ I/ last/ that/ I/ trip/ • 3. I remember the last time I did that
remember/ time. trip.
• 4. Next/ had/ where/ to/ go/ I/ • 4. Guess where I had to go next?
guess/?.
• 5. You were saying, you’re going to
• 5. Going/ were/ saying/ to/ you/
Delhi?
Delhi/ are/ you/?/,.
ROLE PLAY 1
 DIALOGUE

Hi Dinh, is that you? How are you doing?

Oh, An. I’m OK. Long time no see. Where are you going?

I’m going to the supermarket. How about you?

Me too, let’s go there together.

Yeah, sure. Ah, last night you posted a photo of you

and Thu, didn’t you?

Yes, I did. She is my neighbor and we’ve been best friends

since childhood. Do you know her?
Coincidentally, Thu is my colleague. We soon became
good friends after the first time I showed up and we
usually eat lunch together.

Really? I didn’t know that. So, what do you do?

I’m a translator. It has been my dream since I was a child.

Oh. That sounds great! I used to work as a translator in

the AD company. But, when I got married I found no time
to take care of my family, so I moved to another job. How
long have you worked there?
 I have worked here for 10 months. The time is neither
too long nor too short, but I have learned a lot and I see
that there’s still room for promotion.

What about you? You were saying - you had a

new job, what exactly do you do for a living now?

I work as a teacher in AMES English Center. The

schedule here is quite flexible. I could arrange some
family time between shifts.

I think so, it’s good to hear that. Ah, I remember I have

a friend, she is searching for an English online course.
Does your center have any course that is suitable for her?
 An online course? Yes, it does. Has she studied
English before?

No, she hasn’t. But she is looking for a job in

international companies so I think it would be
great for her to learn English through the Internet.

Well, she could always work for domestic enterprises but

she will have more job opportunities if she has an
English certificate. Don’t you think?

Yes, I do get what you mean. I will let her contact you.
 2 Tips used the most throughout
the conversation:

 Tip “Don’t answer in one-word sentences. Try to give

more information or say something interesting about
where you come from, your job, etc.” from Unit 1

 Tip “Use any information the speaker gives you. If

the speaker mentions something, continue and
expand on that topic further” in Unit 2.
 For example:

A: Yeah, sure. Ah, last night you posted a photo of you

and Thu, didn’t you?
B: Yes, I did. She is my neighbor and we’ve been best
friends since childhood. Do you know her?

B: Oh. That sounds great! I used to work as a translator in

the AD company. But, when I got married I found no time
to take care of my family, so I moved to another job.
…
A: What about you? You were saying - you had a new
job, what exactly do you do for a living now?
 Useful tips Unit 1
• Try to find something in common with your listener:

01
Last night you posted a photo of you and Thu, didn’t you?

=> A realized that Thu is the mutual friend of both A and B and
the conversation is started naturally.

• Try to match the mood of your listener. Don’t try to be light-

hearted if they seem serious.

02
That sounds great!
I think so, it’s good to hear that.
=> The listener cheers up while raising the intonation to
congratulate the speaker.
 Useful tips Unit 1

• Remember to ask questions too - don’t just talk about

yourself.

A: I have worked here for 10 months. The time is neither too

long nor too short, but I have learned a lot and I see that there’s

03 still room for promotion.

What about you? You were saying - you had a new job, what
exactly do you do for a living now?

=> A does not forget to ask the partner the same information
and show her care for B.
 Useful tips Unit 2

• Echo the speaker’s words. This shows that you have been
listening, and gives you a way to expand on something the
speaker has said.

A: I think so, it’s good to hear that. Ah, I remember I have a

01 friend, she is searching for an English online course. Does your

center have any course that is suitable for her?

B: An online course? Yes, it does. Has she studied English

before?

=> We can see that B pays attention to the conversation.

 Useful tips Unit 2
• Ask open-ended questions - so that you don’t just get a yes
or no answer. That helps to keep the conversation going.

How are you doing?

Where are you going?

02 What do you do? / What exactly do you do for a living now?

How long have you worked there?
=> Help us exchange the information efficiently

Last night you posted a photo of you and Thu, didn’t you?

=> falling intonation at the end in order to receive confirmation

from B.
 Useful tips Unit 2

03
• Ask for the speaker’s opinion on something you have just said.

Don’t you think?

- Tell the speaker about a similar experience you have had.

04 I used to work as a translator in the AD company.

=>That A mentions her current job as a translator reminds B of

her past experience when she worked on the same position.
3. INTERRUPTIONS
• Girl (G): So, Maria, I was thinking we could meet next Monday.

• Boy (B): I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation. Are you talking to Maria?

• G: I’m sorry, Maria. Michael just came in and wanted to tell me something. One second, please… Yes,
Maria. We’ll talk again after the call, okay? Maria, does Monday morning work for you?

• B: I’m sorry but I have to jump in here and tell you that Paul just scheduled a department meeting
for next Monday. Maybe Maria can meet on Tuesday.

• G: Maria? Michael just told me that we have a meeting here on Monday. Are you free on
Tuesday? ...Great. Let’s…

• B: I’m really sorry for interrupting again, but I could just say something? I just need to tell you and
Maria about the attachment I emailed earlier.

• G: Oh, let me just put this call on speakerphone.

* Useful expressions

I’m sorry but I

I’m sorry but I
have to jump in
have to jump in
here and tell you
I’m really sorry for here and tell you
I’m really sorry for
interrupting again,
interrupting again,
but I could just say
but I could just say
something?
something?
Useful tips
• Wait for an appropriate time in the
conversation to add something that is relevant.

• Use an opening phrase (in formal situation,

preferably with an apology).
4. EXCHANGING INFORMATION
*Useful tips
• Offering appropriate information first:
“He’s a very talented guy. I think his coverage….. for us was fantastic .”

• Asking question indirectly:

“You’re doing that fashion shoot with Rick, aren’t you?”

• Creating a personal and friendly relationship:

• “That’s so true, Katie.”
• “I hear you used to work….some of our earlier campaigns.”
• “I think his coverage….. for us was fantastic.”
• “But between you and me, I don’t think he…..without his team.”
* Useful expressions
STT Phrases What you have heard What you think

1 It seems/appears that …

2 I heard a rumor that …

3 Apparently, …

4 I overheard him talking to …

5 According to …,

6 I suppose …

7 I’m sure that …

ROLE PLAY 2
 Language notes
Interruptions
- “Will the location be Yen So Park just like last year?”
When we communicate, we need to listen and wait for the
appropriate time to add relevant information. But in this case,
Phuong Anh interrupted while Ngoc Anh was speaking. However,
she was not sure about the information.
 It is an impolite interruption.
- After interrupting, Phuong Anh said “Sorry, you were saying” to
make it clear that she would like Ngọc Anh to continue.
- “Excuse me. May I interrupt?”. It is a polite interruption because
Phuong Anh asked for permission before interrupting the
conversation.
 Exchange information
- “I heard that you were sick, weren’t you?”, “We don’t have to
prepare food and drink for the BBQ party, do we?”
When we exchange information, we need to exchange skillfully
without gossiping. Especially, ask question indirectly. Use
statements with question tags rather than direct questions.
- “I heard our director is going to hold a picnic for all employees
next weekend.”
 In this situation, Phương Anh create a personal relationship with
Ngọc Anh. In particular, Phương Anh used “our” in conversation.
*There are useful tips we need to notice when making a conversation.