Starting a Conversation
Useful Expressions
- Do you mind if I sit here?
- Is anyone sitting here?
- What do you think of the conference?
- How did you like the presentation?
- Great conference, isn't it?
- So, what brought you here today?
- How did you hear about this event?
- I really must be going.
- It was great talking to you.
- It was nice meeting you.
- Enjoy the rest of the day.
Dialogue Practice
Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.
Alicia is sitting on a bench in front of the convention center where a conference has been held. Alex approaches her and asks if he could take a seat. | |
 Alex | Hi! Do you mind if I sit here? |
 Alicia | No, not at all. Go ahead. |
 Alex | Ah, you are also attending the conference, am I right? I think I saw you there. |
 Alicia | Yes, that’s right. |
 Alex | I’m Alex. It’s nice to meet you. |
 Alicia | Nice to meet you, too, Alex. I'm Alicia. |
 Alex | So, what do you think of the conference? How did you like the keynote speaker? |
 Alicia | Well... His presentation was quite interesting, but I think it was a bit long. |
 Alex | I agree. You can tell that he is really knowledgeable about the topic, but he talked too much. |
 Alicia | Absolutely. It's impossible to stay focused for that long. |
 Alex | That's true. |
 Alicia | But overall, I really like the conference, so far. There were a lot of innovative ideas presented today. And I think tomorrow will be even better. |
 Alex | Yes, from what I've seen in the conference program, there should be some interesting discussions tomorrow. Let's just hope they will not last as long as today. |
 Alicia | I sure hope so! Oh, I really must be going. It's already 6 pm! |
 Alex | Yes, I guess I should be going as well. Anyway, it was nice meeting you. |
 Alicia | Yeah, it was good talking to you! And see you tomorrow, then! |
 Alex | See you! Enjoy the rest of the day! |
 Alicia | You, too! |
Check your understanding:
1.
How did Alex start the conversation with Alicia?
2.
What did Alicia think of the keynote speaker?
3.
What do they expect the next day of the conference to be like?
Role Play
Role-play the following situation with your teacher.
Situation
You are at a presentation about a company’s latest product. You want to take a seat next to a stranger, so you ask for permission. You start introducing yourselves. Your teacher will act as the stranger.
Discussion
1.
Do you find it easy to start conversations with strangers? Why? Why not?
2.
When was the last time you had a conversation with a stranger?
3.
What do you think about business networking events? Have you ever been to one?
4.
Have you ever attended a business/academic conference? If so, what was it like? If not, would you like to?
