The English language is essential if you want to have conversations in English, travel or live in an English speaking country and it becomes vital when you need it to work. So how can you progress in the English language?
Speaking English is not about pronouncing English perfectly or losing your accent, the key to having a conversation in English is to be able to communicate. To be able enough to try to speak, even if you aren't confident, and to listen enough to others so that you can understand and be understood.
English is a global language that is spoken by a large percentage of the world's population. Gone are the days when knowing how to speak good English or converse with others in the English language was a plus. It is now a necessity, especially if you want to consider a career in the corporate world.
Another reason learning the English language is important is that it gives you a sense of belonging in English-speaking countries. If you're a tourist, business owner, or a student who plans to study in an English speaking country, you need to learn the language. There is no better time to start English conversation practice than now.
All of these brings to mind very important questions like:
- How can I learn English quickly?
- What are some important English rules to learn to understand the language better?
- Is it possible to learn the language in a month or less?
To answer these questions, you must understand that the primary essence of learning a language is to communicate. Many people striving for perfection or trying to get a new accent have lost touch with the goal. Communication means your audience can understand what you're saying, and you can also listen to them and get what they are saying.
You don't have to be perfect at the English language before you start speaking it. All you need is the courage to converse with the hope that you will get better each time.
Since the English language is vital here in Canada and many countries worldwide, Superprof provides you with some tips to help you have better conversations in English.
What is a conversation in English?
Conversation accompanies us throughout a typical day whether it is small conversations with passers-by or more in-depth discussions with our friends and family.
Conversations essentially are the same no matter which language you are speaking, the only thing that changes are the words that you use and your expression of it. Conversation in English or any other language is about communication, which involves speaking and listening. When we get up in the morning, we talk with our family, we share ideas in the office with colleagues, or we say hello when we buy bread from the local baker. Most of us are social beings that need to talk and talk to our fellow humans throughout our lives. So when we go abroad, in an English-speaking country, it is normal to do the same.
Asking for directions, buying bread or merely talking about the weather with a stranger met on the tube are commonplace.
You see people interacting with themselves in the streets of Toronto, Vancouver and other places in Canada, whether in the marketplace, school, or religious centers. Our lives are centered on conversations, and sometimes we have these conversations with ourselves in soliloquy. Regardless of the language you're speaking, conversations mean the same thing. The only difference is the manner it is expressed.
When we talk about having a conversation in English, we mean English is the primary means of expression between all the parties involved. For a culturally diverse country as Canada, it is possible to have conversations in other languages like French and even Spanish. When you greet a colleague, say hello to a classmate, or attempt to buy groceries from a store, you need to converse. And when it is done in English, it’s described as an English conversation.
What are the gestures of conversation?
In a regular conversation, it is mandatory to know how to be polite and courteous. Politeness is quite crucial in the English language, and this is more important in formal situations where you don't know the person. While the reason for conversation is the same worldwide, the way to express that conversation can be a bit different depending on the country that you are visiting. While conversation is often seen as mostly verbal, body language is just as important. For example, if you say "hello, pleased to meet you" and roll your eyes. This communicates an entirely different message from someone who says the same thing but smiles while they say it.
Your words and body come together in conversation and communicate to the listener about what it is that you are saying. This is why when you are communicating you should focus on keeping your body and words in line so that you are giving an authentic message. Conducting a conversation in English will help you to improve your English level by practising both your listening and speaking skills. But before that, it is necessary to know some common words used in the English vocabulary.
What are the useful phrases in a conversation with a new person?
What role does gesture play in English conversation?
Conversation happens primarily in three ways - written conversations, spoken words, or conversation by gestures. Making gestures while conversing helps you bring your body, mind and words together. Here, your hands, eyes, and other parts of your body try to explain what you're saying.
Gestures are vital when conversing in English because they help your audience understand what you're saying better. A survey has it that individuals who communicate with gestures easily have their audience's attention more than those who don't.
Notwithstanding the importance of gestures in conversation, politeness is mandatory. It will help if you communicate with your words and body movements in the most courteous way possible. For example, when greeting a colleague for the first time, a smiling face will be the best gesture. Also, when you hear a new idea in the conference room, an expression of surprise is a gesture that can follow such.
It is your duty as a communicator to keep your body in check at all times. Your mouth should not be saying something different from what your body is expressing and vice versa. As you improve your English speaking skills, you should also work on your body movements.
How to meet new people?
When you start a conversation with someone you do not know:
- It is customary to use: "good morning ", "good afternoon", "good evening" or simply "hello" or "hi".
- To tell someone your name, you can say "my name is..." or "I'm...".
- The person will probably answer with: "nice to meet you! " or "pleased to meet you".
- They might tell you their name, but if they do not, you can ask them with the sentence "what's your name?".
- To ask how the person is, you can say "how are you?"
- You are expected to answer that you are fine: "fine, thank you", "I'm ok, thank you", "I'm alright, thank you", "I 'm good, thank you."
- You may be asked where you are from noting that you have an accent. You should say: "I'm from..(your country)."
- To talk about your job, it is appropriate to say: "I work as a..." or to talk about your studies, you can say "I study...".
- To ask what the person does, say, "what do you do? "
- To talk about your family, you can say, "I have a brother/sister, and I'm the oldest/youngest. " To learn the same from the person, ask: " what about you?".
- This question " what about you? " is a valid question to ask to obtain the same information that you just gave.
- To find out what someone enjoys you can ask "do you have hobbies? " Or " what do you do when you're not working? ". A good answer is: "I like going out with friends/playing football/watching movies..."
You can use these phrases to learn English and to have easy conversations with strangers or friends.
How do you have daily English conversation with new people?
There is a common saying in English that “the first impression always lasts longer,” and you may never get a second chance to create a good first impression. As such, you must know how to communicate well with new people.
Let's start with the basics - greeting!
When you meet someone for the first time, you're expected to greet them based on the time of the day, and that could be 'good morning", good afternoon," or "good evening." Alternatively, if you're not sure of what to say, you can say "Hello, pleased to meet you" or "Hi, my name is..."
At every point of the conversation, you should keep the flow. So, when you tell people your name, and they don't tell you theirs, you can ask politely - "sorry, what's your name?" When they tell you their name, you can smile and find something to compliment them.
Another way to approach conversations with new people is always to ask "how about you?" each time you want a response to a question you were asked.
For example, if the person asks you - "where are you from?" You can reply to them by saying, "I'm from Canada, how about you?" Not only is this a valid question, but it also keeps the conversation going, and you might just be meeting a new friend already.
Worthy of mention is the need to meet new people for a better understanding of the English language. By interacting with different people, especially native English speakers, you can understand phrases and words better.
What are the commonly used words and phrases in social conversations?
If you want to learn English online or at home quickly, there is nothing better than English conversational nights! It's better than an English lesson because it allows you to learn and listen to English as it is used in real situations. Often the way people speak in English is not the same as what you learn in your ESL lessons. Here are some conversational phrases that are very useful for giving the illusion that you are fluent in English.
- What's up? :An informal expression to ask what is going on at the moment or how someone is feeling.
- Here you are! : You can say it is when you find someone you have been looking for.
- You know/you see: Is a transition at the beginning or end of the sentence. It just confirms that the person has understood you, although you don't expect an answer when you say that, nevertheless the person may nod.
- Does that make sense (to you)? : It is a way of knowing if you both share the same point of view.
- By the way: This injects a piece of unrelated information into the conversation.
- Anyway: It's a transition to change the subject or to end the conversation.
- Lovely/wonderful/amazing: All positive adjectives that mean "nice".
- It's up to you: Means that you must decide whatever you are talking about.
- See you (later/soon): It is like saying goodbye and is one way to leave a conversation smoothly.
- Oh wow/oh dear: Two little expressions to mark the surprise. In the first case, it's a positive surprise ("great!"). In the second, it's a bad surprise ("oh no", "I'm sorry").
- Have a good day/trip/holiday: This term wishes you well!
- Here you go! : This is used when the other person has been expecting something, and it's ready. It's an informal expression which means it is available.
- Are you following me? : It is a way of ensuring you and the person you're conversing with are on the same page. It is also a great way to carry your audience along, especially when talking to more than one person at a time.
- Oh, that's awesome: It is a way to express interest in something someone said while conversing. You can also use it to refer to something impressive you notice about the other person.
- Please take good care of yourself: It is used to wish the other person well, mostly when you depart from them. It is always courteous to end every one of your conversations with someone using this phrase.
Conversing with new people is a great way to build your language skills. Source: Pexels
Of course, the list is not exhaustive and the best way to progress in conversations is actually to have them as often as possible. They may not be particularly comfortable at first, but the more you talk, the more natural it will become for you. Your vocabulary will be enriched, you will better understand and be able to speak fluently.
Languages don't only have rules that differentiate them from others; they also have certain words and phrases peculiar to them. In your quest to learn English, you should pay attention to these words and phrases to improve conversations.
Social media can be a great place to learn both formal and informal English words and phrases. By reading social media posts and comments on Twitter and Instagram, you can learn a lot of words that will improve your English dialogue.
How to practice conversations in English with a Superprof Teacher
To learn to speak English, you should speak and then speak some more. Try your best to have these conversations with native English speakers, preferably professionals from Superprof and do your best to not forget any new terms, phrases and expressions as you learn them.
Finding someone who you can have regular conversations with is a fantastic training for you to become a fluent English speaker. You can practice at home, watching original TV series with English subtitles, listening to audio books and listening to the radio in English.
Superprof English teachers have the experience you need to help you become fluent in English. On Superprof, you will find English classes for all levels. You can also choose from the different tutor profiles displayed and easily find the one that is closest to you.
While you learn English with a trained teacher, try to identify the phrases that suit your verbal expression and work to incorporate them into your speaking. Feel free to take notes when you acquire new vocabulary and progress in English.
On Superprof, you can also get help from an English teacher in private or group lessons. You can devote part of your course to conversations and correcting mistakes. Whether you live in Vancouver , Toronto or anywhere in Canada, it's easy to find an English teacher near me on Superprof.
Besides, you can work in pairs with friends or family members who want to improve as well. Join English conversation classes or a club; it's rather fun. You will not work on the details of your speaking like verb tenses and things, but you will improve your ability to speak English conversationally.
Get an ESL teacher online and start learning.
For a more efficient language exchange, do not hesitate to go to bilingual cafes or bars. Many offer informal moments where native English speakers are present to discuss and support your progress. Also, think about Skype which makes a great virtual environment to learn a language with people from anywhere in the world.
Many English people are also looking to learn your native language. Find an English speaker on a language app like Babbel or social network like Facebook groups and make an appointment to meet once or twice a week to speak partly in English and partly in your mother tongue. This kind of exchange is precious, and everyone wins. Using some or all of these techniques can take you from a beginner or intermediate level to advanced level very quickly. Further, you will make lots of new friends on the way.
Do you want to learn how to communicate in an English interview.
How can you get better at English dialogue?
In simple terms, the best way to get better at speaking English is to invest in constant English conversation practice. The English language is dynamic. What might sound like correct English today may be modified tomorrow. However, the more you speak with friends and colleagues, the faster you can familiarize yourself with these words and changes.
The best way to converse well in English is to speak with native English speakers. From these people, you will learn both informal and formal expressions used in daily English conversation. You don't need to speak to everyone to communicate better. All you need is someone available to converse.
Another way to familiarize yourself with English words and phrases is to watch TV series that have subtitles. As you watch, pay attention to the subtitles to learn new words. When you come across words that are difficult to spell or pronounce, you can check the dictionary for their correct spelling and pronunciation.
The internet is also a rich place to learn certain phrases. By reading through blog posts, articles and listening to podcasts, you can identify words that go well with your verbal expression. When trying to learn how to converse in English, you should have a pen and note at all times. Write new words, look them up in your dictionary, and incorporate them into your conversation.
You can also hire an English teacher from Superprof for private English lessons. For a fun experience, you can learn as a group and get ideas from other students. Superprof also offers online English lessons you can take anywhere in Canada. Regardless of your level - beginner or intermediate - you can find an English tutor or English lessons that suit your needs.
So are you ready to have a chat or improve your oral test skills?
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