Small Talk
First Name, Last Name or Title?
Discussion of the correct use of informal and formal forms when speaking about and to people including when to use last names, titles and first name only.
Introductions - Social Language
How to make introductions in English for ESL learners.
Greetings - Social Language
How to greet in English for ESL learners.
Special Days - Social Language
How to make special greetings in English on holidays, birthdays and on other special occasions for ESL learners.
Speaking to Strangers - Social Language
How to make special greetings in English on holidays, birthdays and on other special occasions for ESL learners.
Travel Greetings - Social Language
How to wish someone well before they leave to travel or return from travel in English for ESL learners.
Starting a Conversation - Top Ten Questions
Here are ten questions that will help beginning level learners of English when starting a conversation. Each question is followed by a number of questions to continue the conversation.
Offering Help
The most common language formulas used when offering help with examples and a construction table. Especially helpful for learners who work in a shop and need to help clients in English.
Making Small Talk for English Learners
Many English students are more interested in making effective small talk than knowing correct grammar strucutres - and rightly so! Here are some tips to improve small talk skills.
Demanding Explanations
Sometimes, things happen that we would like explained and we must demand explanations. For example, if you have just bought a new computer and there is a problem, but the shop assistant says that the guaranty does not cover the problem.
Being Vague or Imprecise
Sometimes it's impossible to be exact and when need to be imprecise when giving information. Here are the a number of the most common formulas in English for being imprecise.
Asking for Information
The most common language formulas used when asking for information with examples and a construction table.
Apologizing in English
Guide to common phrases used for apologizing in English for English learners and classes.
Asking for Things
Guide to common phrases used for asking and requesting things in English for English learners and classes.
Going to Bed / Getting Up
Guide to common phrases used to ask someone to repeat something in English for English learners and classes.
Making Invitations
Guide to common phrases used to make invitations in English for English learners and classes.
How to Offer Things
Guide to common phrases used to make offers in English for English learners and classes.
Introducing Yourself - Video Help
This video with Ellen Quish, an ESL specialist from the Adult Learning Center at LaGuardia Community College in New York City, will help you practice ways of introducing yourself. The video highlights the most common English introduction vocabulary and phrases.
Please and Thank You
How to use please and thank you is essential in any conversation. This guide to please and thank you will make sure you use these two common expressions correctly in any conversation.
Gonna and Wanna
Gonna and Wanna are reductions of going to and want to and are common in American English pronunciation. This guide to reductions will help you improve your understanding of informal American spoken English.
Making Conversation
Making conversation can be challenging. However, if you ask the right questions, you'll find it much easier. This guide to asking the right type of questions will help you extend your conversations.
It Depends
Use it depends to answer yes / no questions to provide a more truthful answer to questions about your opinions, abilities and so on. This guide shows common mistakes and correct grammar structures to use with this helpful phrase for conversation.
Asking Polite Questions
Part of making small talk is asking polite questions in the course of conversation. This guide to asking polite questions discusses each type of question form and provides suggestions on making your questions more polite.