Socialising 2: Keeping conversations going

After struggling to break the ice, the next obstacle is to keep the conversation going beyond the initial conversation. For this reason, this lesson aims to provide students with a bank of around 15 questions that they would feel comfortable asking in a conversation with a new acquaintance. They will also learn more general techniques involving different types of questions and the skill of turn-taking. Finally, they will practise all the skills from the lesson in a role-play game.

Topic: Socialising and keeping conversations going
 
Level: Intermediate (B2) and above
 
Aims:

  • To raise awareness of some techniques for maintaining a conversation with a person you have just met.
  • To analyse the effect of different types of questions, and to practise making different types of question.
  • To come up with and analyse a bank of questions that can be used to keep conversations going.
  • To analyse and practise a technique for turn-taking in a conversation.


Plan components
 
Lesson plan: download

Worksheets: download

By Jeremy Day

The plans and worksheets are downloadable and in pdf format - right click on the attachment and save it on your computer.

Copyright - please read

All the materials on these pages are free for you to download and copy for educational use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place these materials on any other web site without written permission from the BBC and British Council. If you have any questions about the use of these materials please email us at: teachingenglish@britishcouncil.org

Research and insight

Browse fascinating case studies, research papers, publications and books by researchers and ELT experts from around the world.

See our publications, research and insight