PERFECT PHRASES FOR ESL CONVERSATION SKILLS SECOND EDITION

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Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction:WhoCanBenefitfromUsingThisBook?
Part1PhrasesforConversation
Chapter1SmallTalk
Openers:ExcuseMe…
TalkingAboutYourself
ShowingInterest
IntroducingYourself
BreakingtheIce
StayinginTouch
SayingGood-Bye
Dialogue:SmallWorld
TopicsforPractice
Chapter2PastExperiences
Openers:Greetings
MakingIntroductions
CatchingUp
PastExperiences
TransitionsandConnectors


DiscourseMarkers
EnjoymentandPleasure
ExpressingEmotions

EndingtheConversation
TimeExpressions
Dialogue:LongTimeNoSee
TopicsforPractice
Chapter3Likes,Dislikes,andInterests
Openers:FeelingThingsOut
Likes
Dislikes
Preferences
Interests
DesiresandDependency
Indifference
MakingOffers
DatesandInvitations
ExpressingEmotions
Compliments
Dialogue:What’sforDinner?
TopicsforPractice
Chapter4ObjectsandProcesses
Openers:TakeaLook!
DescribingObjects
PropertiesandFeatures
CostandEstimates


UseandAvailability
MakingComparisons
MakingContrasts
EvaluationsandJudgments
GivingInstructions

ExpressingEmotions
Dialogue:TheNewSmartphone
TopicsforPractice
Chapter5ProblemsandAdvice
Openers:What’sWrong?
StatingaProblem
AskingforHelporAdvice
IdentifyingtheCauseofaProblem
SympathyandUnderstanding
AdviceandAssistance
AppreciationandGratitude
MakingSomeoneAwareofaProblem
Complaints
Reassurances
ReluctanceandAvoidance
ExpressingEmotions
Dialogue:What’stheMatter?
TopicsforPractice
Chapter6DecisionsandGoals
Openers:WhatAreWeGoingtoDo?
OptionsandAlternatives


ReasonsandPurpose
AdvantagesandDisadvantages
MakingaDecision
IndecisionandHesitation
SettingSchedulesandDeadlines
GoalsandPlans
Encouragement,Recognition,andCongratulations

ExpressingEmotions
Dialogue:AToughDecision
TopicsforPractice
Part2PhrasesforDiscussions
Chapter7Opinions
Openers:AskingforanOpinion
StatinganOpinion
ValueJudgments
Generalizations
AgreeingandDisagreeing
SupportinganOpinion
FiguresandStatistics
MakinganArgument
SolutionsandRecommendations
ExpressingEmotions
Dialogue:TheBestIdeaI’veHeardSoFar
TopicsforPractice
Chapter8GroupDiscussions


Openers:OpeningtheFloor
LeadingaDiscussion
ParticipatinginaGroupDiscussion
Interruptions
ClarificationandExplanations
Misunderstandings
ManagingtheDiscussion
InConclusion
Dialogue:TheHolidayParty
TopicsforPractice

Chapter9SeriousSubjects
Openers:CommonConcerns
OfferingSolutionstoGeneralProblems
LevelsofLanguage
Directvs.IndirectLanguage
Irony,Sarcasm,andEuphemism
ComplaintsandDemands
RulesandConditions
BadNewsandGoodNews
CausesandConsequences
CertaintyandPossibility
ApologiesandAgreements
Dialogue:AHardBargain
TopicsforPractice
Part3PhrasesforSpecialOccasions


Chapter10SpecialOccasions
Openers:WordsofWelcome
HonorsandAwards
SpecialOccasions
Vacations,Holidays,andTrips
Dining
PersonalNotes
Dialogue:HappyBirthday!
Part4PhrasesforTelephoneConversations
Chapter11TelephoneBasics
MakingaCall
ReceivingaCall
CheckingDetails

ConnectingaCall
InformationandServices
TelephoneEtiquette
EndingaCall
MakingSmallTalk
Dialogue:TouchingBase
Practice
Chapter12TelephoneMessages
GivingDetailsoverthePhone
LeavingaMessage
TakingaMessage
EnsuringCommunication


ReturningaCall
AnsweringMachines,VoiceMail,andTextMessages
Dialogue:AMessage
Practice
Chapter13TelephoneBusiness
MakingAppointments
MakingBookingsandReservations
ChangesandCancellations
OrdersandServices
DiscussingaProblem
InConclusion
Dialogue
TopicsforPractice


Acknowledgments

I

wouldfirstliketoexpressmygratitudetoMcGraw-HillProfessionalfor
theopportunitytopublishthisbookandtomyeditor,HollyMcGuire,for
choosingmeforthisparticularproject.
Iwouldalsoliketoacknowledgethevaluableinsightsmycolleagueand
friend,BarbDonaldson,hasprovidedalongtheway.
Mythanksgooutaswelltomystudents:Yuko,Joo-Weoun,Hye-Sin,ChaeRin,Mayumi,andSatokofortheirperceptivefeedback.
Lastbutnotleast,myappreciationtomyhusband,Erich,forhissupportand
encouragement.


Introduction
WhoCanBenefitfromUsingThisBook?

PerfectPhrasesforESL:ConversationSkillswaswrittenforESLstudents
andlearnerswhowanttoimprovetheirconversationskillsinsideand
outsideoftheclassroom.Thecontentwasselectedtofamiliarizeyouwiththe
kindoflanguagenativeEnglishspeakersuseregularlyineveryday
conversationsanddiscussionsathome,school,andwork.Althoughitwas
writtenwithintermediate-levelspeakersinmind,thereissomethingforevery
motivatedlearnerwhoaimstodevelophisorherabilitytoparticipatein
conversationsanddiscussionsonabroadvarietyoftopics.

HowtoUseThisBook
Thebookconsistsofthirteenchaptersdividedintofourparts:phrasesfor
conversation,discussions,specialoccasions,andtelephoneconversations.
Progressingindepthanddifficulty,thissecondeditioncoverstopicsrelevant
toeverydaylife.

Objectives
Theseindicatetheskillsyoucanexpecttogainfromusingthephrasesineach
chapter.

Phrases
Parts1to3


Thefirstthreepartscoverphrasesforeverydayconversation.
Eachchapterbeginswithtypicalconversationopenersandcontainsa
collectionoftopic-relatedphrasesthatwillguideyouthroughanatural
conversationordiscussion.Althoughthephrasesareorganizedthematically,
theyarenotexclusivetoanyonetopic.Whereappropriate,referenceismade
tophrasesthatappearinpreviouschaptersandcomeinhandywhenyou
discussdifferentsubjects.

Part4
Thethreechaptersinthissectionpresentphrasesthatarecommonlyusedwhen
youmaketelephonecallsforbothpersonalandbusinesspurposes,andthese
areorganizedfromformaltoinformal.Becausethecontentofatelephone
conversationdoesnotdiffergreatlyfromaface-to-faceconversation,the
symbolrefersyoutousefulphrasesfromParts1and2.Youwillfindthese
phrasesunderthegivensectionheadingandpagenumber,e.g.,Discourse
Markers,page30.
Becauselanguageiscloselytiedtoacountry’scultureandcustoms,many
phrasesareorganizedfromformaltoinformal,indirecttodirect,strongto
mild,andindegreesofpolitenesssothatyoucanchoosethephrasesthatare
appropriatetouseindifferentsituations.Theinformation symbolwillalso
alertyoutolanguageorculturetips.

Youwillseethatsomephrasesandpartsofphrasesappear:
inboldtype
betweenslashes(/)
Boldtypeindicatesphrasesthatrequireadditionalinformation.Forexample:
Letmeintroducemyfiancée,Alice.(Chapter2)
Whydon’tyoutrydoingvolunteerwork?(Chapter3)
Slashesareusedtoshowhowaphraseinboldtypecanbecompletedwith
variousinformation.Forexample:
Don’tyoulookcharming/pretty/handsometoday!(Chapter3)
Pleaseacceptmyapologiesforthemistake/oversight/inconvenience/
trouble.(Chapter9)


Slashesalsoindicatehowaphrasecanbevariedwiththeuseof
prepositions,gerundsorinfinitives,orsynonyms.Forexample:
Iplantosail/planonsailingaroundtheworldsomeday.(Chapter6)
What’syourview/take/stand/positiononthechangestoour
curriculum?(Chapter8)
Phrasesthatarenotindicatedinboldtypearefixedexpressionsandcan
standontheirown.Forexample:
Whatapity!(Chapter5)
Icouldn’tagreewithyoumore!(Chapter7)
Ofcourseitisnotnecessaryforyoutomasterorevenattempttomasterall
ofthephrasesundereachheadingandsubheading.Oneortwomaysuityour
purposesquitenicely.Choosethephrasesthatfityourpersonalstyle,andonce
you’recomfortableusingthem,youcantryoutanotherone.Listencarefullyto
nativeEnglishspeakersandmakeanoteofthephrasesthatyouhearthemuse.

Dialogues
ThedialogueineachchaptershowsyouhownativeEnglishspeakersmight

usetheparticularphrasesinatypicalconversation.IfyouarelearningEnglish
inaclassroomsituation,youcanactoutthedialogueasaskitoruseitasa
modelforaconversationrole-play.

TopicsforPractice
Attheendofeachchapteryouwillfindalistoftopicstostimulate
conversation.Practicewithafriendorclassmate.Themorepeopleyouinclude
intheconversation,themerrier.

VocabularyNotes
Thereareblanklinedpagesattheendofeachchapterforyoutorecordnew
vocabulary.MakeapointofwritingdowntheEnglishdefinition.Asyouwill
notice,somewordsandphrasescannotbeeasilytranslatedintoyournative


language.Remember:ItwillbemucheasiertoconverseinEnglishifyoulearn
tothinkandexplainyourselfinEnglish.

AFinalNote
Intheend,thebestandonlywaytodevelopyourconversationanddiscussion
skillsistotalk.IsincerelyhopethatPerfectPhrasesforESL:Conversation
Skillswillaccompanyandguideyouontheroadtosuccessfulcommunication!
Goforit!


PART1
PhrasesforConversation
“Conversationisthelaboratoryandworkshopofthestudent.”

—RalphWaldoEmerson

CHAPTER

SmallTalk
Objectives
tointroduceyourself
tocarryonabasicconversationaboutyourselfandothers

ChanwoniswaitingforhisconnectingflighttoSeattle.He’scometotheUnited
StatesforayeartostudyEnglishbeforehereturnstoKoreatofinishhisdegree
inelectronicengineering.Hehasbeenonshortholidaysabroadwithhisfamily,
butthisisthefirsttimethathewillbelivinginanEnglish-speaking
environmentwithanEnglish-speakingfamily.Ofcoursehe’snervousabouthis
abilitytocommunicateinalanguagehehasonlystudiedinschool.He’dliketo
talktosomeonewhilehe’swaitingforhisplane,buthe’snotsurehowtobegin
orwhattosay.Whatifheusesthewrongword,ornooneunderstandshim?
Andwhatifsomeoneaskshimaquestionhedoesn’tknowhowtoanswer?If
onlyhehadmorevocabulary!Ifonlyhecouldspeakasnaturallyaseveryone
aroundhim!


oucouldbelikeChanwonwaitingforyourflightattheairportwithalongtrip
aheadofyou.Youcouldbehavingacoffeeinacaféoramealina
restaurant,standingsomewhereinaline,socializingataparty,or
interactingwithpeopleyou’veonlyjustmet.Situationsinwhich
peoplestrikeupaconversationoutofcuriosityormutualinterest,orjusttobe
sociable,presentthemselveswhenyouaretravelinginaforeigncountry.
Whetheryou’remeetingsomeoneforthefirsttimeorconnectingwithan
oldfriendoracquaintance,mostconversationsstartoutonapersonalnote.At

firstyou’remostlikelytotalkabout:

Y

whereyouliveorcomefrom;
whatyoudoforaliving;
whatbringsyoutoaparticularlocation.
Iftheconversationcontinues,you’llusuallymoveontoeverydaysubjects
withwhichyou’refamiliarsuchas:
personalinterestsandhobbies;
theweather;
yourenvironment(theairport,restaurant,hotel,park,beach,etc.);
yourlocation(city,country,school,orworkplace);
currenthappeningssuchassportsandculturaleventsorthenews.
AlthoughEnglish-speakingpeopletendtoengageeasilyinconversations
withstrangers,therearecertaintopicsthatmaybeconsideredtoointimate.
Topicsthatshouldbeavoidedare:
maritalstatus,
age,
income,
religion,
politics.


Phrases
Openers:ExcuseMe…
Mostoftenaconversationbeginswithasimplequestion,arequestfor
information,oracommentabouttheweatherorsurroundings.Dependingon
thepersonyou’retalkingtoandthesituationyou’rein—isthesituationformal
orcasual,isthepersonclosetoyourage—therearetwoapproachesyoucan

take.
Theindirectapproachisapoliteandunobtrusivewaytotestthewatersin
casetheotherpersonisn’tinterestedintalkingatlength:
May/couldIborrowyournewspaper/magazine/thesaltandpepper?
CouldyoutellmeifthisiswheretheplaneleavesforHouston?
Wouldyouhappentoknowagoodrestaurant/anicehotel?
Iwaswonderingifyou’refromaroundhere.Thisismyfirstvisitto
London.
Sorrytobotheryou,butisthisseattaken/isanyonesittinghere?
Wouldyoumindtellingmewhereyougotthatbook?
CouldItrouble/botheryouforchange?Idon’tseemtohaveanyquarters.
Youwouldn’thappentoknowifthere’sacafé/abank/agrocerystore
nearhere?
Thedirectapproachtakestheinitiativeinafriendly,openmanner:
Excuseme,doyouhavethetime?
Thisisagreathotel,isn’tit?
Ican’tbelievehowbusytheairportistoday.
Niceday,isn’tit/eh?
So,whatbringsyouhere?
Doyoucomehereoften?
Areyoufromhere?


TalkingAboutYourself
Aconversationwithastrangerisagoodopportunitynotonlytopassthetime
butalsotopracticeyourEnglish.Ifthepersontowhomyouarespeakingisin
themoodtocontinuetheconversation,mostlikelyheorshewillbeinterested
infindingoutmoreaboutyou.
Nationality

I’mKorean/Japanese/German/Mexican.

Residence

I’mfromSeoul/Kyoto/Hamburg/Guadalajara.



IcomefromKorea/Japan/Germany/Mexico.

Age*

I’mtwenty-five/thirty-two/inmyforties.

Maritalstatus**

I’msingle/married/divorced/widowed.

Job

I’manengineer/ateacher/astudent/asystems
analyst.



I’minadvertising/inelectronics/ininsurance.



I’mself-employed/retired.

I’mwithMcGraw-Hill/AT&T/Siemens.

Hobbiesand
interests


I’minterestedinsports/fashion/traveling/art.
I’mintoaerobics/gourmetcooking/pottery.

ShowingInterest
Itisimportantandpolite,ofcourse,toshowinterestinwhatyourconversation
partnertellsyou;otherwisewhat’sthepointoftalkingtosomeone?Whileitis
courteoustorespondtothepersonyouhavejustmet,itisevenmoreimportant
tobesincereandtoreplyinacomfortable,naturalmanner.


IntroducingYourself
Ifyouandthepersonyou’vebeentalkingtohititoff,youmightwantto
introduceyourself.Herearesometipswhenmakingintroductions:
InEnglish-speakingcultures,itisusualforpeopletointroducethemselves
withtheirfirstnamesratherthantheirfamilyorsurnames.Itisveryrarethat
AmericansorCanadianswillintroducethemselvesasMr.orMrs.Brown.If
theygiveboththeirfirstandlastname,forexample“I’mJudySmith”,they
willusuallyexpectyoutocallthembytheirfirstname.AlsointheEnglish
languagethereisnodistinctionbetweenformalandfamiliaraddress,asisthe
caseinmanyotherlanguages.“You”is“you”regardlessofage,socialstatus,
orfamiliarity.

Becarefulnottoconfuse“howareyou”and“howdoyoudo.”Howareyou
isaquestionandrequiresananswer:I’mfine,thanksorNottoobad(see
AskingaboutSomeone’sWell-Being,page22-23).Howdoyoudolookslike
aquestionbutisreallyagreeting,anditisacceptabletorespondwithHowdo
youdo,oroneofthephrasesthatfollow.Ifyouwanttoknowaboutsomeone’s
health,it’sbettertoask,Howareyoufeeling?orHowareyou?
Traditionallypeopleshakehandswhentheymakeintroductions,particularly
inbusinessorformalsituations.Menalmostalwaysshakehands,whereas
womenmayormaynot.Whenmeetingawomanforthefirsttime,waitforher
toofferherhand.


Inmorecasualandinformalsituationsshakinghandsisnotalwaysthe
custom.Youngpeoplewillusegestures,suchaswavingtheirhand,to
acknowledgetheperson.Ifyouarenotsurewhattodoinaparticularsituation,
doasothersdo.
Weusetheverbtomeetwhenwewanttosaythatwemakeaperson’s
acquaintance.Ifsomeoneasksyou:Howdidyoumeetyourhusbandorwife,
theymeanhowwereyoufirstintroduced,notwhendidyouseehimorherlast.

Example:
A:Howdidyoumeetyourhusband?
B:Actuallyhewasafriendofmybrother ’sfromhiscollegedays,andat
firstIdidn’tevenlikehim.

Responses

BreakingtheIce
Talkingtosomeoneyou’vejustmetcanbeawkward,especiallyifyou’renot
surewhattosayorask.Walkingawayorcuttingtheconversationshortcan

appearrudeandunfriendly.Sowhatcanyoutalkabouttobreaktheice?
Ifyoufeeluncomfortableaboutaskingdirectquestions,“yesorno”
questionsshowthatyou’reinterestedintheotherpersonandallowtheother
persontoelaborateiftheywishto.NativeEnglishspeakersareoftenmore
directandwillalmostalwaysaskstrangerswherethey’refromandwhatthey
doforaliving.