Speaking: Interactive Communication A1 - Lesson 4
Basic Turn-Taking (Listen and Respond)
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to listen to what someone says and respond in a way that shows you are paying attention.
The Big Idea: A Conversation is a Two-Way Street
Good communication is not just about speaking. It is also about listening! Turn-taking1 means listening to your partner, and then responding to what they said before you say your own idea. This makes the conversation interactive and shows you are interested.
Let's look at the difference:
A "Bad" Conversation (Not listening):
Sokha: Hi! My favorite food is beef noodles.
Nary: Hello. I am a student.
(Problem: Nary did not respond to Sokha's idea. It feels like two people talking to a wall.)
A "Good" Conversation (Listening and Responding):
Sokha: Hi! My favorite food is beef noodles.
Nary: Oh, really?2 I like beef noodles too. I also like chicken rice.
(Good! Nary showed she was listening by responding to Sokha's idea first.)
Key Interaction Phrases (Reaction Phrases)
- Turn-taking (Noun) | ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរវេនគ្នា | The process of listening and responding in a conversation, so it flows back and forth. ↩
- Oh, really? (Phrase) | អញ្ចឹងអ្ហេ? | A phrase to show you are surprised or interested in what someone said. ↩
- Oh, wow! (Phrase) | អូហូ! | A phrase to show you are very surprised or impressed. ↩
- That's interesting. (Phrase) | គួរឱ្យចាប់អារម្មណ៍ | A phrase to show you think their idea is interesting. ↩
- I see. (Phrase) | ខ្ញុំយល់ហើយ | A phrase to show you understand the information they gave you. ↩
- Me too. (Phrase) | ខ្ញុំក៏ដូចគ្នា! | A phrase to show you have the same situation or opinion. ↩
Intonation of Reaction Phrases
The "music" of these short phrases is very important. It shows your true feelings.
- "Oh, really? ↗" - Your voice should go UP at the end to show interest and ask for more.
- "Oh, wow! ↘" - Your voice should go up high and then fall down to show strong surprise.
- "I see. ↘" - Your voice should fall down to show you have received and understood the information.
How to Be an Active Listener
Being an active listener is easy if you follow three steps.
Step 1: Listen for Keywords.
When your partner says, "I am from Siem Reap," the keyword is "Siem Reap".
Step 2: Use a Reaction Phrase.
Show you heard them by saying, "Oh, really?"
Step 3: Add Your Comment or Question.
Connect their idea to your idea. "Oh, really? I am from Siem Reap." OR "Oh, really? I like Siem Reap. Angkor Wat is beautiful."
Practice Responding
Activity 1: Choose the Best Response
For each statement, choose the best, most interactive response.
- Statement: "I have two brothers and three sisters."
Response: a) My name is Dara. b) Oh, wow!3 That's a big family. c) I like coffee.
(Correct answer is b) - Statement: "I am a student at the University of Siem Reap."
Response: a) I live in a house. b) I don't like homework. c) Me too!6 What do you study?
(Correct answer is c)
Activity 2: The Listening Game
Work with a partner. Student A makes a simple, true statement (e.g., "I like spicy food."). Student B must reply using a reaction phrase from this lesson and then add their own information (e.g., "That's interesting.4 I don't like spicy food."). Then, switch roles.
Your Communication Mission
This week in Siem Reap, your mission is not to speak, but to listen and react.
When you have a conversation, after your friend says something, use a reaction phrase like "I see" or "Oh, really?" before you say your own idea. This one small change will make you a much better communicator!