When you’re teaching speaking skills to your ESL students, small conversations are one of the essential lessons, you’d like to consider in your ESL curriculum. It helps them talk comfortably in everyday English. They should be able to start and join basic small conversations in different situations.
Students often struggle to begin conversations or express themselves clearly, leading to awkward conversations or confusion.
How can ESL teachers help students improve their conversation skills and start chatting confidently?
This post offers sample conversations for learners to practice. By using these examples, students can gain confidence and learn common phrases. Teachers can use them as a role-play activity to address specific challenges and create helpful practice sessions.
Table of Contents
Formal Conversation at a Doctor’s Office
Level: Low intermediate
Context: John is at the doctor’s office.
John: Hello, Doctor.
Doctor: Hi, John. How are you feeling?
John: Okay, thank you.
Doctor: Any pain lately?
John: Yes, I’ve had a headache.
Doctor: Let’s check your blood pressure and temperature.
John: Sure.
Doctor: Your blood pressure is a bit high. Stressful lately?
Informal Conversation at a Grocery Store
Level: Low intermediate
Context: Emma meets her neighbor, David, in the store.
Emma: Hi, David! How are you?
David: Hey, Emma! I’m good, thanks. You?
Emma: I’m well, just grocery shopping.
David: Same here. Weekend plans?
Emma: Just relaxing at home.
David: Try the new bakery here?
Emma: No, not yet. Any good?
David: Yeah, pastries are great. Try them.
Formal Conversation at a Bank
Level: Low intermediate
Context: Mr. Smith wants to open a savings account.
Mr. Smith: Good afternoon, interested in a savings account.
Bank Teller: Good afternoon, we can help.
Mr. Smith: What do I need?
Bank Teller: ID and deposit.
Mr. Smith: Interest rates?
Bank Teller: 0.5% to 1.5%.
Mr. Smith: Online access?
Bank Teller: Yes, for all accounts.
Informal Conversation at a Coffee Shop
Level: Low intermediate
Context: Sophie meets her friend Lisa at a coffee shop.
Sophie: Hi, Lisa! Long time.
Lisa: Hey, Sophie! Missed you.
Sophie: How are you?
Lisa: Busy with work. You?
Sophie: Same. Let’s enjoy coffee.
Lisa: Agree! Try caramel latte?
Sophie: No, but sounds good. I’ll try.
Lisa: You’ll like it.
Formal Conversation at a Library
Level: Low intermediate
Context: Mr. Johnson asks the librarian for a gardening book.
Mr. Johnson: Hi, looking for a gardening book.
Librarian: Sure, specific title?
Mr. Johnson: No, just basics.
Librarian: Let me check.
Mr. Johnson: Thanks.
Librarian: Here, popular for beginners.
Informal Conversation on Ordering Coffee
Level: Intermediate
Context: Two colleagues, Sarah and David, are at a coffee shop before work.
Sarah: Hey David, what can I get you?
David: Hey Sarah, thanks for asking. Um, I think I’ll have a medium iced latte with oat milk, please.
Sarah: Sure, anything to eat? They have some delicious muffins this morning.
David: Hmm, tempting… Maybe a blueberry muffin would be good.
Sarah: Great choice! You going to the Johnson meeting this morning?
David: Yep, that’s right. Are you presenting?
Sarah: Nope, just there to take notes. See you there!
David: Sounds good. Thanks again, Sarah!
Formal Conversation on Asking for Directions
Level: Intermediate
Context: A tourist, Maria, stops a local, Mr. Anderson, on the street for directions.
Maria: Excuse me, sir. Could you possibly help me?
Mr. Anderson: Certainly, ma’am. What seems to be the trouble?
Maria: I’m looking for the Museum of Art. Do you know how I can get there from here?
Mr. Anderson: Of course. It’s not far at all. If you walk straight down this street for about ten minutes, you’ll see it on your left-hand side.
Maria: Thank you so much! Is it a large museum?
Mr. Anderson: It’s quite big, yes. They have a wonderful collection of paintings from all over the world.
Maria: Perfect! Thank you again for your help.
Mr. Anderson: No problem at all. Enjoy your visit!
Informal Conversation on Discussing a Movie
Level: Intermediate
Context: Two friends, Jessica and Michael, are having lunch together.
Jessica: Hey Michael, did you see that new comedy everyone’s been talking about?
Michael: The one with the talking dog? Yeah, I went last weekend.
Jessica: Oh my gosh, wasn’t it hilarious? I was laughing the whole time!
Michael: Me too! The dog’s voice was perfect. And that scene with the car chase had me in stitches.
Jessica: Right? I loved the part where he tried to order a pizza. So clever!
Michael: Yeah, the writers did a great job. It was definitely worth seeing. What are you up to this weekend?
Jessica: Nothing too exciting. Maybe just catching up on some movies at home. Any recommendations?
Formal Conversation on Renting a Bike
Level: Intermediate
Context: Emily is renting a bike from a bike shop employee, Alex.
Emily: Hello, I’d like to rent a bicycle for the afternoon, please.
Alex: Certainly, ma’am. Do you have a specific type in mind? We offer mountain bikes, hybrids, and road bikes.
Emily: Hmm, I’m not sure. I’d just like something comfortable for riding around the city.
Alex: In that case, a hybrid bike would probably be your best option. Would you like to see a few different models?
Emily: Yes, that would be great. And do you have any helmets available for rent as well?
Alex: Absolutely. Safety first! Would you like to try a specific size?
Emily: Medium should be fine. Thank you for your help!
Informal Conversation on Discussing Weekend Plans
Level: Intermediate
Context: Two roommates, Liam and Noah, are having breakfast together.
Liam: Hey Noah, what are you doing this weekend? Free for anything fun?
Noah: Hey Liam, not really any plans yet. Just hoping to relax a bit after a busy week.
Liam: Same here. Maybe we could catch a movie or grab dinner with some friends on Saturday night?
Noah: Sounds good to me! We could see that new superhero movie everyone’s been talking about.
Liam: Perfect! We could invite Sarah and Ben too. They were saying they wanted to see it as well.
Noah: Great idea! I’ll text them and see if they’re free.
Liam: Sounds
Formal Conversation at a Networking Event
Level: Advanced
Context: Two professionals, Sarah and David, meet at a networking event for their industry.
Sarah: David, lovely to meet you. I’m Sarah, with GreenTech Solutions.
David: Sarah, the pleasure’s all mine. David Lee, from Sunpower. I’ve been following your company’s work on sustainable energy solutions. It’s quite impressive.
Sarah: Thank you, David. We’re very passionate about it. I’m particularly interested in learning more about Sunpower’s advancements in solar panel technology.
David: Absolutely. We’ve made some significant strides in efficiency and affordability. Perhaps we can connect sometime to discuss potential collaborations?
Sarah: I’d love to. Would you be available for a coffee meeting next week?
David: Definitely. Let’s exchange cards and I’ll follow up with an email.
Sarah: Sounds great. Looking forward to it, David.
Informal Conversation at a Coffee Shop
Level: Advanced
Context: Two friends, Maria and Liam, catch up at a local coffee shop.
Maria: Hey Liam, didn’t expect to see you here!
Liam: Hey Maria! Small world. Just grabbing a quick latte before my meeting. What brings you out?
Maria: Same here, actually. Just finished a client call and needed a caffeine boost. How’s that new project coming along?
Liam: It’s going well, thanks for asking. A few more hurdles to jump through, but I’m confident we’ll meet the deadline.
Maria: That’s good to hear. Anything exciting happening on your end?
Liam: Actually, yeah! My wife and I are planning a trip to Italy in the fall. We’ve never been before.
Maria: Oh wow, that sounds amazing! You’ll have to tell me all about it when you get back.
Liam: For sure. Listen, I gotta head in. Good luck with your meeting!
Formal Conversation with a Landlord
Level: Advanced
Context: Emily is inquiring about renting an apartment from Mr. Thompson, the building manager.
Emily: Good morning, Mr. Thompson. I’m Emily Jones, and I called earlier about the studio apartment advertised online.
Mr. Thompson: Ah, Ms. Jones. Thank you for coming in. Please, have a seat. The studio is still available, yes.
Emily: That’s great to hear. I was very interested in the photos online, especially the balcony access.
Mr. Thompson: Yes, the balcony gets a lot of afternoon sun. It’s quite a popular feature with tenants.
Emily: Wonderful. Could you tell me a bit more about the building amenities, like laundry and parking?
Mr. Thompson: Certainly. We have a shared laundry facility on the ground floor, and there’s limited street parking available with a permit.
Emily: I see. Is there a waitlist for assigned parking?
Mr. Thompson: Not currently, but it can fill up quickly depending on resident turnover.
Emily: Thank you for clarifying. Overall, the apartment seems perfect. Would it be possible to schedule a viewing sometime today?
Informal Conversation at the Gym
Level: Advanced
Context: John and Jessica are taking a break between exercises at the gym.
John: Phew, that set was intense! Nice work keeping up.
Jessica: Thanks, you too! I’m trying to push myself a little harder this week.
John: Good for you. What are you focusing on today?
Jessica: Legs and core, mostly. Strength training is definitely not my favorite, but I know it’s important.
John: Absolutely. Strength training pays off in so many ways, even if it’s tough in the moment.
Jessica: True. Speaking of paying off, have you heard anything about the upcoming fitness competition?
John: Not much yet. I’m still on the fence about participating. It might be fun, though.
Jessica: You should totally do it! You train hard enough, and it
Informal Conversation on Sharing Personal Experiences
Level: Advanced
Context: Sarah and David, longtime friends, catching up over coffee and sharing stories from their recent travels.
Sarah: Hey David, it’s been ages since we last caught up! How have you been?
David: I’ve been good, Sarah! Just got back from a trip to Japan. It was incredible.
Sarah: Wow, Japan! Tell me all about it. Any favorite experiences?
David: So many! The food was amazing, and I got to experience a traditional tea ceremony.
Sarah: That sounds fascinating. I recently visited Italy and fell in love with the art and architecture in Florence.
David: Italy is on my bucket list! Did you get to see the Colosseum in Rome?
Sarah: Yes, it was breathtaking. We also explored the Amalfi Coast, which was stunning.
David: Sounds like an unforgettable trip. We should swap travel stories more often.
Sarah: Absolutely! Let’s plan our next adventure together soon.
David: Count me in, Sarah. Can’t wait to hear about your next destination.
Conclusion
In conclusion, practicing small conversations is essential for ESL students to feel confident and comfortable communicating in English.
By using the conversations provided in this post, ESL learners can overcome common challenges and improve their conversational skills effectively especially when initiating small conversations.
With consistent practice and guidance, learners can become more proficient in engaging in everyday conversations and navigating social interactions in English.
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