Speaking: Functional Language A1 - Lesson 2: Asking for and Giving Personal Information

Speaking: Functional Language A1 - Lesson 2

Function: Asking for and Giving Personal Information

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to perform the function of asking for and giving basic personal information like location, job, and phone number.

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Conversation Scenario: Exchanging Information

After you introduce yourself, you might want to get to know the person better. Let's see how Samnang and Kimsan continue their conversation to exchange details.

Kimsan: So, Samnang, do you live here¹ in Battambang?

Samnang: Yes, I do. I live near the university. How about you?

Kimsan: I live in the center of town. And what do you do?²

Samnang: I'm a student. I study graphic design.

Kimsan: That's interesting! I'm a shopkeeper.

Samnang: Cool. Can I get your phone number?³ We should have coffee sometime.

Kimsan: Sure. My number is⁴ 097-123-4567.

Samnang: Great, thank you.

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Your Functional Toolkit

Here are the tools you need to exchange information.

Function: Asking for & Giving Information

1. Where do you live? / Do you live here? (Question) | តើអ្នករស់នៅឯណា? | Use this to ask about someone's location. ↩
2. What do you do? (Question) | តើអ្នកធ្វើការអ្វី? | The most common way to ask about someone's job or studies. ↩
3. Can I get your phone number? (Question) | តើខ្ញុំអាចសុំលេខទូរស័ព្ទរបស់អ្នកបានទេ? | A polite way to ask for contact information. ↩
4. My number is... (Phrase) | លេខរបស់ខ្ញុំគឺ... | The phrase to give your phone number. ↩
5. I'm a... / I study... (Phrase) | ខ្ញុំ​ជា... / ខ្ញុំ​រៀន... | Phrases to state your job or what you study.

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record_voice_over Pronunciation Focus: Saying Phone Numbers

In English, we say phone numbers digit by digit (one number at a time). We also often say "oh" for the number zero (0).

• The number 097 is pronounced "oh-nine-seven" or "zero-nine-seven".
• We often pause between groups of numbers to make it easier to understand.

Example: 097-123-4567
You say: "oh-nine-seven, [pause] one-two-three, [pause] four-five-six-seven."

lightbulb Asking Questions Politely

The words you choose can make your questions sound more polite and natural.

• Asking about a job: "What do you do?" is often softer and more common than "What is your job?".
• Asking for contact info: "Can I get your number, please?" is much more polite than "What is your number?". The phrase "Can I..." and the word "please" turn a demand into a polite request.

sports_esports Practice Exchanging Information

Activity 1: What's the Question?

Look at the answer and say or write the correct question.

1. Answer: "I'm a graphic design student."
   Question: What do you study? / What do you do?
2. Answer: "I live near Phsar Nath market."
   Question: Where do you live?
3. Answer: "My number is 012-555-444."
   Question: What's your phone number? / Can I get your phone number?

Activity 2: Role-Play Interview

Work with a partner. One person is a new student. The other person works at the school office. The office worker must ask the new student for their name, where they live, and their phone number to complete a form.

task Your Functional Mission

This week in Battambang, your mission is to perform the function of "exchanging personal information".

With a friend or classmate, ask them one question from this lesson, like "What do you do?" or "Where do you live?". Listen to their answer, use a reaction phrase ("Oh, interesting!"), and then be ready to answer their question to you.