Speaking: Interactive Communication C1 - Lesson 1: Leading & Guiding Conversations with Skill

Speaking: Interactive Communication C1

Leading & Guiding Conversations with Skill

Listen to the "Good" conversation scenario.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use advanced phrasing to set the agenda, steer a discussion, and guide a group toward a productive conclusion.

Beyond Participating: Guiding 🧭

At the B2 level, you learned to *participate* in conversations. At the C1 level, you learn to *guide* them. A C1 speaker manages the flow, ensures the conversation is productive, and helps a group reach a consensus or goal.

A "Drifting" Conversation (B-Level) Driftwood 🪵

Dara: Okay, so... the new marketing project.

Rithy: Yeah, I think we should use Facebook.

Dara: But TikTok is so popular now.

Rithy: Speaking of popular, did you see that new AI video tool? It's amazing... (Conversation drifts for 10 minutes)

(10 minutes later...)

Dara: So, what did we decide about the project?

Rithy: I'm not sure. We didn't really decide anything.

A "Guided" Conversation (C1-Level) Ship 🚢

Vanna: Right, thanks for meeting. The main goal for us today is to finalize our Q4 marketing strategy. (Agenda Setting)

Dara: Speaking of marketing, I saw this new AI video tool...

Vanna: That's a fascinating point, Dara, and let's definitely add that to our 'new tools' list. For now, let's circle back to the core budget. (Steering)

Rithy: I still think we should put 100% on Facebook.

Sophea: That's too safe! We'll have no growth. We need 100% on TikTok!

Vanna: So, if I'm understanding correctly, Rithy, you're prioritizing stability, and Sophea, you're focused on new growth. Both are valid. Can we find a consensus? What if we trial 80% on Facebook and 20% on TikTok for one month? (Synthesizing & Guiding)

Rithy: ...Okay, that seems like a reasonable compromise.

C1 Leadership Techniques 🛠️ (Click 🔊)

A C1 speaker acts as a guide. Here are the key techniques Vanna used:

1. Setting the Agenda & Framing

Start the conversation with a clear purpose.

• "The purpose of this conversation is..."
• "What we need to decide today is..."
• "The main goal here is to..."

2. Steering & Refocusing

Politely pull the conversation back when it goes off-topic.

• "That's a valid point, but let's circle back to..."
• "Let's not get sidetracked. The main issue is..."
• "That's interesting, but we should table that for now."

3. Synthesizing & Concluding

Find agreement and state the final plan.

• "So, what we're essentially saying is..."
• "Can we find a consensus here?"
• "To wrap up, the action plan is..."

Pronunciation Tip

🗣️ The Intonation of Polite Authority

To lead without sounding rude, your intonation is key. When you steer or set the agenda, your voice should be firm, clear, and generally have a falling tone at the end. This sounds confident and decisive.

• Guiding: "Let's focus on the budget.↘" (Sounds like a clear instruction)
• Asking (B1): "What do you think?↗" (Sounds like an open question)

Practice saying "Let's circle back to the main point" with a clear, falling tone at the end to sound like a confident leader.

Practice Your Leadership Skills 🎯

Practice Quiz: What Would a Leader Say?

Read the situation, then choose the *best* C1-level response. Click "Check Answers" when done.

1. Situation: You are starting a meeting to plan a company party.

You say:

• A) "Okay, so... party. What do you all think?"
• B) "Right, the purpose of this meeting is to decide on a budget and a date for the party."
• C) "I think we should have the party at a hotel."

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2. Situation: During the party planning, a colleague starts talking about a problem with his computer.

You say:

• A) "Oh no! What's wrong with it?"
• B) "That's not important right now. Let's talk about the party."
• C) "Sorry to hear that. Let's note that for IT, but for now, let's get back to the guest list."

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3. Situation: After 20 minutes, you have a list of tasks. You need to end the meeting.

You say:

• A) "Okay, that's everything. Goodbye."
• B) "So, to summarize: Dara will book the venue, Sophea will handle food, and I'll send the invitations. Is that correct?"
• C) "It seems like we talked a lot about food."

Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)

• To steer (a conversation) (Verb) | ដឹកនាំ (ការសន្ទនា)
  To guide the direction of a discussion.
• To get sidetracked (Verb) | បង្វែរទិសដៅ, ចេញក្រៅប្រធានបទ
  To lose focus and start talking about something irrelevant.
• Consensus (Noun) | ការព្រមព្រៀងជាឯកច្ឆន្ទ
  A general agreement that everyone in a group supports.
• To synthesize (Verb) | សំយោគ, បង្រួមគំនិត
  To combine several ideas into a single, coherent summary.
• To table (an idea) (Verb) | ផ្អាក (គំនិត)
  To postpone discussion of a topic until a later time.
• Pertinent (Adjective) | ដែលពាក់ព័ន្ធ, សមរម្យ
  Relevant or applicable to a particular matter.
• To pivot (Verb) | បង្វែរ, ផ្លាស់ប្តូរទិសដៅ
  To quickly change direction or strategy.

Your Mission: The Meeting Moderator ⭐

Your mission is to practice all three stages of conversation leadership in one session.

1. Find a small group (2-3 friends or colleagues) to discuss a real topic (e.g., "What is the best way to improve our city?" or "Plan a weekend trip.").
2. Your Goal: Your job is *not* to give your opinion the most. Your job is to be the leader.
3. Use the Framework:
   • Start by Setting the Agenda. (e.g., "Right, our goal is to decide...")
   • Manage the discussion by Steering. (e.g., "That's a good point, but let's get back to...")
   • End the discussion by Synthesizing & Concluding. (e.g., "So, to recap, we've decided on...")

After, ask your friends if they felt the conversation was clear and productive. That is the true test of a C1 leader!