Speaking

= = How to avoid silence in English conversations Sometimes you don't know what to say in a conversation. Perhaps you don't have any words to express yourself, or you haven't understood the other person. Or perhaps there isn't anything left to say! In all these situations, it's important to avoid being silent, so here are some words and expressions to use.

__ When you don't understand __ "Sorry, I don't understand." "Sorry, could you repeat that?" "Sorry? I didn't get that."

__ Looking for words to express yourself __ You don't want to be completely silent, but you need time to find the words. "Well…" "OK…" "So…"

__You can even make some "noises"__ "Hmmm…" "Uh-huh" "Umm…"

__ To agree with the other person __ You want to show that you agree, but you don't have anything else to say. "Yeah." "Right."

__ To change the subject __ You've all given your opinion, and now you want to talk about something else. "Anyway,…" "Well, as I was saying…" "So, back to …" "So, we were saying …" = = = BEING FRIENDLY IN ENGLISH = = =



Having good social skills is important if you want to make a good impression on the people you meet. Here's some advice on what is considered polite or impolite in English-speaking cultures.   1. //Please//, //thank you//, //excuse me// and // I'm sorry //   These polite expressions are used a lot in spoken English, and not using them can make you appear rude. As politeness is considered perhaps the most important quality in relationships, make sure you use them! Don't worry if you think you use them too frequently: the worst that people will think of you is that you are sweet and charming.

//**Please** // = use whenever you want someone to do something for you, or if you want something from another person //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">Can you tell me where the post office is, please? Can you pass me that newspaper please? // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">__Never__ use imperative forms unless you are giving someone directions. So although you can say to someone "Take the 130 bus to Croydon and get off at Asda supermarket", you can't say to someone "Pass me that newspaper".

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">**Thank you** //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;"> = use whenever someone does something for you, or gives you something.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">**Excuse me** //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;"> = use when you want to introduce a request to someone, or if you want to get past someone //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">Excuse me, can you tell me where the post office is, please? Excuse me, is this the right platform for the London train? //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">**//I'm sorry//** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;"> = use any time that you inconvenience someone, tread on someone's toes in a crowded train, or if someone asks you something that you can't do. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">I'm sorry, but I don't understand. Is the post office on the left or the right? // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">Is Mr Jones in the office? I'm sorry, he's out this morning. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: #0000ff; font-size: 10pt; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-ansi-language; msofareastlanguage: ES-PE; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE; msobidifontweight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2. Ask permission before doing something that may inconvenience others <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">//Do you mind if I open the window?// //Can I take this chair?//

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: #0000ff; font-size: 10pt; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-ansi-language; msofareastlanguage: ES-PE; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE; msobidifontweight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3. Avoid controversial topics when you meet someone new <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;"> Some topics of conversation can lead to arguments, so unless you know someone well, it's best to avoid them. These topics are politics, religion and financial information such as how much money you earn. If you are in doubt about what to talk about, let the other person take the lead, and respond to them. This leads on to the next point:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: #0000ff; font-size: 10pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-ansi-language; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4. Keep the conversation going <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;"> If someone asks you a question, respond to it. Avoid one-word answers, and try to say at least a few words. Then you can return the question. For example, if someone says "Terrible weather, isn't it", avoid just saying "yes". Instead you can say "Yes, I wish it would stop raining" or "Yes, it wasn't like this last summer, was it?"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Some cultural tips <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msofareastfontfamily: Symbolmso-ansi-language; msofareastlanguage: ES-PE; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">In Britain, queuing is considered polite. If you "jump the queue" (go to the front, rather than stand behind the last person in the queue) or push the people in front of you, you will make yourself very unpopular! <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: ES-PE; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">Don't stand too close to people. Stand at least an arm's length away if you can. On crowded public transport this isn't possible, but people rarely talk to each other in these situations. <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: ES-PE; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES-PE;">Keep eye contact when you talk.

// Oh, this English pronunciation! //
Ration only sometimes rhymes with nation, Say prefer, but preferable, Comfortable and vegetable. B must not be heard in doubt, Debt and dumb both leave it out. In the words psychology, Psychic, and psychiatry, You must never sound the p. Psychiatrist you call the man Who cures the complex, if he can. In architect chi is k In arch it is the other way. Please remember to say iron So that it'll rhyme with lion. Advertisers advertise, Advertisements will put you wise. Time when work is done is leisure, Fill it up with useful pleasure. Accidental, accident, Sound the g in ignorant. Relative, but relation, Then say creature, but creation. Say the a in gas quite short, Bought remember rhymes with thwart, Drought must always rhyme with bout, In daughter leave the gh out. Wear a boot upon your foot. Root can never rhyme with soot. In muscle, sc is s, In muscular, it's sk, yes! Choir must always rhyme with wire, That again will rhyme with liar. Then remember it's address. With an accent like posses. G in sign must silent be, In signature, pronounce the g. Please remember, say towards Just as if it rhymed with boards. Weight's like wait, but not like height. Which should always rhyme with might.