Speaking: Interactive Communication A1 - Lesson 3: Asking "What's your name?" / "How are you?"

Speaking: Interactive Communication A1

Asking "How are you?"

Listen to the example conversation.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use different common phrases to ask how someone is and give a variety of natural answers.

Conversation Example 💬 (Click 🔊)

While "I'm fine, thank you" is correct, native speakers use many different phrases. Using them will make you sound more natural.

Sokha: Good morning, Piseth! How are you?

Piseth: Hi Sokha! I'm good, thanks. How about you?

Sokha: Not bad. A little busy today.

Piseth: Me too!

Ways to Answer "How are you?" (Click 🔊)

Here are some common and natural ways to answer, depending on how you feel.

😊 Positive

• I'm good, thanks.
• I'm very well, thank you.
• Great!

😐 Neutral / Okay

• I'm okay.
• Not bad, thanks.
• I'm alright.

🥱 A Little Negative

• I'm a little tired.
• A bit busy today.
• Could be better.

Tips for Sounding Natural

🗣️ Intonation Shows Your Feeling

The "music" of your answer is very important. It tells the listener how you really feel.

• When you say "I'm great!" with a high, happy intonation , it sounds like you are truly happy.
• When you say "I'm okay." with a low, flat intonation , it sounds like you are maybe not really okay.

Try to use a friendly, positive intonation when you say you are good or well!

Practice Your Conversations 🎯

Activity 1: Mix and Match

Read the feeling, then click the best answer.

Activity 2: Role-Play with Feeling

Work with a partner or practice alone. Ask each other "How are you?". One person should pretend to be very happy and use a positive answer. The other should pretend to be a little tired and use a different answer. Click 🔊 to hear the lines first. Try to use intonation that matches your feeling!

Person A: Hello, how are you?↗

Person B: [Choose a happy answer, e.g., Great!] How about you?

Person A: [Choose a tired answer, e.g., I'm a little tired.] What's your name?↘

Person B: My name is [Your Name].

Person A: Nice to meet you, [Student B's Name].↘

Person B: Nice to meet you, too.↘

Key Phrases & Variations

• I'm good. / I'm very well. | ខ្ញុំសុខសប្បាយធម្មតា
  A positive and friendly answer to "How are you?".
• I'm okay. / Not bad. | ខ្ញុំធម្មតា / គ្រាន់បើ
  A neutral answer. You are not good, not bad.
• I'm a little tired. | ហត់បន្តិច
  A polite way to say you do not feel 100% good.
• How about you? | ចុះអ្នកវិញ?
  A common and natural way to return a question, instead of "And you?".
• Intonation | សំនៀង
  The rise (↗) and fall (↘) of the voice when speaking (the 'music').

Your Communication Mission ⭐

This week, your mission is to move beyond "I'm fine, thank you."

1. The next time someone asks you "How are you?", try using a different answer from this lesson, like "I'm good, thanks" or "Not bad".
2. When you return the question, try using "How about you?".