BBC World Service | Learning English

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Conversations
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	-	Extending a conversation
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	-	Closing topics
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	-	Likes
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	-	Dislikes
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	-	No strong feelings
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	-	Responding to compliments
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	-	Funny incidents
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	-	Gossiping
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	-	Getting back on topic
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	-	Serious incidents
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	-	Chatting someone up
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	-	Being sarcastic
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	-	Agreeing in informal situations
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	-	Showing interest
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	-	Telling a story
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	-	Being vague

A man and woman talking in a British pub

Chatting someone up

If you chat someone up, you talk to someone you don't know and try to get them interested in you - in a romantic way! We can't promise to make you more successful with women or men, but we'll look at some of the linguistic issues involved.

You can also practise your comprehension with the activity further down this page.

Listen - realmedia Download - mp3 (1.8 MB) Script (pdf - 22k)

You can listen again to the conversation featured in this programme, below.

Listen - realmedia Download - mp3 (385 KB) Script (pdf - 15k)

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Offering to buy someone a drink
What are you drinking? Can I get you a drink?
Vocabulary
to break the ice to start a conversation with someone you don’t know e.g. I find talking about the weather is a good way to break the ice

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT?

Listening activity
For each of the six questions read the situation then click on the button to hear a short conversation. Decide if the person indicated might be interested in the other person. You'll need to listen to what they say and the way they say it.

Flash not working? You can download the clips at the bottom of the page, together with a pdf version of the quiz.

You can download the audio files here, as well as a printable version of the activity with a transcript.

Listen - realmedia Download - mp3 (581 k) Activity & transcript




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