Speaking: Interactive Communication B2 - Lesson 1: Managing & Guiding Conversations
Welcome to a new series on interactive1 communication! At the B2 level, it's time to move from being a passive participant to an active driver in conversations. This means learning how to politely take control, guide the topic, and ensure the discussion is productive and stays on track2.
Your Conversation Management Toolkit
A skillful communicator has a range of phrases to manage the flow of conversation. Here are some of the most important tools.
- 1. To Interrupt Politely
- Use when you have an important and relevant point to add.
- "Can I just jump in here?"
- "Sorry to interrupt3, but I just wanted to mention..."
- 2. To Hold Your Turn (Prevent Interruption)
- Use when someone interrupts you before you have finished your thought.
- "If you'll just let me finish..."
- "Just one moment, I haven't completed my point."
- 3. To Change the Subject Smoothly
- Use to transition to a new topic.
- "Speaking of [topic], that reminds me..."
- "Oh, by the way, I've been meaning to ask you..."
- 4. To Bring the Conversation Back on Track
- Use in meetings or discussions when people have lost focus.
- "Getting back to what we were discussing..."
- "Let's circle back to the main issue."
Scenario: A Team Meeting
Listen to this meeting excerpt. Notice how the speakers use different phrases to manage the conversation and ensure all points are heard in a structured way.
Manager: "So, the main agenda item is our Q3 marketing budget. We need to finalize the numbers today. Vichea, you had some thoughts?"
Vichea: "Yes, thank you. I believe we should allocate more funds to digital advertising because our recent data shows..."
Sophea: "Can I just jump in here? I think the data might be misleading because..."
Vichea: "If you'll just let me finish, I was about to address that point. The data seems misleading, but if you look at the demographic breakdown, it's clear that our target audience is online."
Sophea: "I see. Thank you for clarifying."
Vichea: "No problem. Speaking of our target audience, that reminds me of the new packaging design. Have we received feedback on that yet?"
Manager: "An important point, but a separate one. Let's not get sidetracked. We can discuss packaging later. For now, let's get back to the budget allocation."
Cultural Awareness: Interrupting Politely
How we manage4 conversations can be very dependent on culture. In many Western business contexts, a polite, well-timed interruption is seen as a sign of confidence and engagement. However, in many Asian cultures, including Cambodia, interrupting a senior or elder can be seen as disrespectful.
A good strategy:
- Know Your Audience: Be more direct with peers or in international settings. Be more cautious and respectful with seniors or in a more traditional Cambodian setting.
- Use Softer Language: When speaking with a superior, soften your interruption: "Excuse me, Your Excellency/Manager, may I ask a quick clarifying question?"
- Wait for a Natural Pause: The most respectful way to enter the conversation is always to wait for the other speaker to pause for breath.
Practice Quiz: What's the Function?
Read the phrase and identify the speaker's intention.
1. "That's a valid point. However, I think we're getting off-topic. Let's circle back to the main agenda."
A) Changing the subject.
B) Interrupting politely.
C) Bringing the conversation back on track.
→ Answer: C. The phrase "let's circle back" is a clear signal to return to the main topic.
2. "If I could just add one thing before we move on..."
A) Interrupting or taking a turn.
B) Holding your turn.
C) Changing the subject.
→ Answer: A. This is a polite way to enter the conversation and add a point.
Your Mission: The Active Communicator
Your mission this week is to practice one of these active communication strategies in a real conversation.
- Listen actively in your next group meeting or discussion in English.
- Identify an opportunity to use one of the strategies from this lesson.
- Choose one and try it.
- Politely interrupt to ask a question: "Sorry to interrupt, but could you clarify what you mean by 'Q3'?"
- Guide the conversation back: "Getting back to your original point..."
- Change the subject smoothly: "That reminds me, I wanted to ask about..."
- The goal is not to dominate the conversation, but to feel the confidence that comes from being able to help guide it effectively.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Interactive: (Adjective) - អន្តរកម្ម - Involving communication between two or more people; allowing a two-way flow of information. ↩
- On track: (Phrase) - តាមការគ្រោងទុក / លើផ្លូវត្រូវ - Making progress and likely to achieve a goal. ↩
- Interrupt: (Verb) - រំខាន - To say or do something that makes somebody stop speaking. ↩
- Manage: (Verb) - គ្រប់គ្រង - To have control over something or someone and make decisions about it. ↩
- Turn-taking: (Noun) - ការផ្លាស់វេននិយាយ - The skill of knowing when to start and finish a turn in a conversation. ↩