Speaking: Interactive Communication A2 - Lesson 1: Starting & Ending Simple Conversations

Speaking: Interactive Communication A2

Starting & Ending Simple Conversations

Listen to the example conversation.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use a variety of more natural phrases to start and politely end a simple conversation.

A More Natural Conversation 💬

At A2 level, we can sound more natural. Let's look at a conversation between Srey and Bora, who meet at a café. Click 🔊 to hear each line.

Srey: Excuse me, is this seat taken?

Bora: Oh, no, please. Go ahead. Hey, you look familiar. Haven't we met before?

Srey: I think so. Did you go to the tech workshop last month?

Bora: Yes, I did! I'm Bora. It's nice to see you again.

Srey: I'm Srey. You too! ... (They talk for a few minutes)...

Bora: Anyway, I should get going. I have a meeting soon.

Srey: Okay. It was really nice talking to you.

Bora: You too! Take care.

Your A2 Interaction Toolkit 🛠️

Learn phrases based on their function. Click 🔊 to practice.

Phrases for Starting a Conversation

• Is this seat taken?
• You look familiar.
• Haven't we met before?

Phrases for Ending a Conversation

• Signal: Anyway, I should get going.
• Polite Closing: It was really nice talking to you.
• Final Farewell: Take care. / Let's catch up soon.

The Anatomy of a Natural Conversation

A good conversation has a clear structure that is easy to follow.

1. 1. The Opener

   Instead of just "Hello," you can ask a question about the situation (e.g., "Is this seat taken?") or make a comment ("You look familiar.").

2. 2. The "Pre-Closing" Signal

   This is very important for politeness. Before you say goodbye, give a signal that you are ready to leave. This prepares the other person. Phrases like "Anyway, I should get going..." are perfect signals.

3. 3. The Closing

   After the signal, you say a final nice phrase ("It was nice talking to you," "Take care") and then you can say "Bye."

Tips for Sounding Polite

🗣️ Intonation of Polite Phrases

Your intonation (the 'music' of your voice) helps you sound friendly. Click 🔊 to hear.

• "Excuse me? Is this seat taken? ↗" - Voice rises.
• "It was really nice talking to you. ↘" - Voice is warm and falls.
• "Anyway... ↘︎" - Falling tone, then pause.

Practice Your Skills 🎯

Activity 1: What's the Function? (Self-Check)

Match the phrase (1-3) to its job (A-C) by choosing from the dropdown. Click "Check" to see the answers.

1. It was nice talking to you.

-- Choose Function -- A. Opening a conversation. B. Giving a pre-closing signal. C. Closing a conversation politely.

2. Anyway, I should get going.

-- Choose Function -- A. Opening a conversation. B. Giving a pre-closing signal. C. Closing a conversation politely.

3. You look familiar.

-- Choose Function -- A. Opening a conversation. B. Giving a pre-closing signal. C. Closing a conversation politely.

Activity 2: Role-Play Scenario

Work with a partner or practice alone. Imagine you are talking, but you are late for a meeting. Your mission is to end the conversation politely. Use a pre-closing signal, a nice closing phrase, and then say goodbye.

(Try using the phrases from the Toolkit section!)

Key Vocabulary

• familiar (Adjective) | ស្និទ្ធស្នាល / ធ្លាប់ស្គាល់
  Someone or something you recognize because you have seen them before.
• get going (Verb Phrase) | ចាកចេញ / ទៅហើយ
  A casual way to say you need to leave.
• take care (Phrase) | រក្សាសុខភាព / លាហើយ
  A common, friendly way to say goodbye.
• catch up soon (Phrase) | ចាំជួបគ្នាពេលក្រោយ
  To meet and talk again in the near future.
• intonation (Noun) | សំនៀង
  The rise and fall of the voice when speaking (the 'music').

Your Communication Mission ⭐

This week, your mission is to practice ending a conversation naturally.

In one conversation, when you are ready to leave, use a pre-closing signal first. Say, "Anyway, I have to go now." Then, say "It was nice to see you. Take care." before you say "Bye." Click 🔊 to hear.

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