Speaking: Interactive Communication A1 - Lesson 1: Greetings & Saying Goodbye

Speaking: Interactive Communication A1

Greetings & Saying Goodbye

Listen to the full conversation here.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to start, have, and politely end a simple conversation in English.

A Complete Conversation Model 💬 (Click 🔊)

A real conversation has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Let's look at a full, natural conversation between Vanna and Srey. Click 🔊 to hear each line.

Vanna: Good morning, Srey!

Srey: Good morning, Vanna! How are you today?

Vanna: I'm very well, thank you. And you?

Srey: I'm okay, thanks. It's a sunny day today!

Vanna: Yes, it is. Well, I have to go to work now. It was nice to see you.

Srey: You too! Have a good day!

Vanna: Thanks, you too. See you later.

Srey: Goodbye.

The 3 Parts of a Simple Conversation

Even a short conversation has a clear flow. Let's look at our model dialogue.

1. The Opening (Start)

   Vanna and Srey say "Good morning" and ask "How are you?". This is the polite way to begin.

2. The Middle (Small Talk)

   Srey talks about the weather ("It's a sunny day!"). This is called "small talk". It's a short, simple topic to be friendly.

3. The Closing (End)

   Vanna signals the end by saying "I have to go to work now." Then they say nice things ("Have a good day!") before finally saying goodbye.

Tips for Sounding Natural

🗣️ Sounding Friendly and Polite

Your intonation (the music of your voice) shows your feelings. A flat voice can sound bored.

• When you ask "How are you today?↗", let your voice go up at the end to show you are interested.
• When you say "Have a good day!↘", let your voice go down at the end. It sounds warm and sincere.

Activity 1: What's the Job of the Phrase?

Read the phrase. What is its function (job) in a conversation? Click "Show Answer" to check.

1. "I have to go now."
   Show Answer

   Helps to end a conversation politely.

2. "How are you today?"
   Show Answer

   Helps to start a conversation or continue it.

3. "Have a good day!"
   Show Answer

   A polite phrase used when saying goodbye.

Activity 2: Role-Play a Full Conversation

Work with a partner or practice alone. Use the dialogue at the top of the lesson as a model. Practice starting, having small talk (try changing the topic from weather!), and ending the conversation politely. Use the 🔊 buttons to help with pronunciation and intonation!

Key Interaction Phrases

• How are you today? (Question) | តើអ្នកសុខសប្បាយទេថ្ងៃនេះ?
• And you? (Question) | ចុះអ្នកវិញ?
  A quick, easy way to return a question like "How are you?".
• I have to go now. (Phrase) | ខ្ញុំត្រូវទៅឥឡូវហើយ
  A polite phrase to signal that you need to end the conversation.
• It was nice to see you. (Phrase) | រីករាយដែលបានជួបអ្នក
  A friendly phrase used when ending a conversation.
• Have a good day! (Phrase) | សូមអោយមានថ្ងៃល្អ!
  A common and polite way to say goodbye during the day.
• You too. (Phrase) | អ្នកក៏ដូចគ្នា!
  A simple reply to "Have a good day!".
• See you later. / Goodbye. (Farewell) | ជួបគ្នាពេលក្រោយ / លាហើយ
  Common ways to say goodbye.

Your Communication Mission ⭐

This week, your mission is to have one complete English conversation.

With a friend, practice the full flow: Start with a greeting, ask how they are, make one small talk comment (e.g., "The classroom is cold today!", "This coffee is good!"), and then end the conversation politely using phrases like "I have to go now" and "See you later".