Conversation strategies

Strategy names, descriptions, and examples:

1. ASKING 5-W’S-AND-AN-H QUESTIONS (Basic question starters for asking questions and especially follow-up questions.)

Who…? What…? Where…? When…? Why…? and How…?

2. AGREEING OR DISAGREEING (It’s okay to disagree when you do it in a fun, friendly atmosphere.)

<agree> I agree. I think so too. That’s right! That’s what I think. Definitely! Uh-huh.

<disagree> I don’t agree. I don’t think so. I’m not sure. That’s not right! No way! Un-un.

3. ASKING FOR AN OPINION (To help develop our own opinions, it is useful to hear other people’s opinions. But first we need to ask for them.)

What do you think? What do you feel… In your opinion… From your point of view… For you… In your experience…

4. ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION (What you do if you’re not sure whether you understood or not.)

Did you say, “something?” I thought you said, “something?” You did what? You went where? You said, “something?” That’s “something,” right? Did you mean…

5. ASKING FOR EXAMPLES (You can ask for examples to help understand what your partner is saying.)

Could you give me an example? For example? Like what?

6. ASKING FOR MEANING (You can ask for meaning when you want to understand a word or phrase.)

What does “something” mean? What does that mean? What do you mean? What’s that?

7. ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION (You can ask for more information when you want your partner to say more.)

Could you tell me more about that? Could you say more? And then…? And so…? And…? I’d like to know… I’d be interested to know…

8. ASKING FOR REPETITION (You can ask for repetition if you want to hear something again.)

Could you say that again? Could you repeat that? Could you say that one more time? What was that? What did you say? What? Huh? One more time, please. Once more, please.

9. ASKING YOUR PARTNER THE SAME QUESTION (You can ask the same question he or she just asked you.)

How about you? And you? What do you think? Do you have any idea? <gesture>

10. AVOIDING SOMETHING TOO DIFFICULT (After making an effort, you can avoid saying something too hard for you.)

Never mind. Forget about it. It’s not a big deal. Oh, well. Whatever. Anyway…

11. CHANGING THE TOPIC (After talking about a topic, you may want to talk about something else. This is fine.)

Can I change the topic? Can I change the subject? So, <change the topic>. Well, <change the topic>.

12. CORRECTING YOURSELF (You can correct yourself while you talk. Just say the correct word and continue talking.)

<make the correction and continue speaking> No. Wait. Oops. I mean…

13. EXPRESSING CERTAINTY (Show how certain you are of what you are saying by the words you use.)

I am sure…, I am positive…, Maybe…, Perhaps…, I think that…, I have no idea…

14. FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS (Asking another question after you partner answers the first. A very common strategy.)

15. GETTING TIME TO THINK (It’s okay to take time to think. But let your partner know that you are thinking!)

Just a moment. Hang on a second. Wait a sec. Let me think. Uh… Um… Well… Hmm…

16. GIVING AN OPINION (To speak well you need practice giving opinions. Don’t be afraid to say what you think.)

<give your opinion> I think… I believe… I feel… In my opinion… It seems to me… From my point of view… For me…

In my experience…

17. GIVING EXAMPLES OR EXPLANATION (Giving examples and explanation helps your partner understand.)

<give an example> For example… For instance… <give an explanation> Let me explain…

18. GIVING MEANING OR EXPLAINING MEANING (Telling the meaning of a word or phrase.)

<give the meaning of a word> “Something” means… I think it means… That means…

19. GIVING MORE INFORMATION (Telling your partner something besides what was asked; adding to your answer)

20. HAVING FUN (A very important strategy. Enjoy communicating your ideas in English!)

21. INTERJECTING (When you use words or short phrases while your partner is speaking.)

Uh-huh. I see. Yeah. Really? Oh? Wow. That’s great. Wonderful. Cool. Interesting. That’s too bad. Oh, no!

I can’t believe it. You’re kidding. Amazing. Brilliant.

22. INVOLVING YOUR PARTNER (Helping your partner to do his or her part in the conversation.)

<ask your partner lots of questions> What do you think? How about you? Don’t you agree? How do you feel?

What about you? Do you have any ideas? Do you know what I mean?

23. MAKING EYE CONTACT(Showing your partner you are listening and care about what they are saying by looking them in the eye.)

24. NOT GIVING UP (Making your best effort to say what you want to say; not giving up too easily.)

25. OFFERING CLARIFICATION OR CONFIRMATION (Saying more to help your partner understand what you mean.)

Yeah, that’s right. No, I said “something.” I mean… I meant to say… What I mean is…

26. OFFERING A CORRECTION (Noticing a partner’s error and saying what you think is a correct form.)

Did you say, <mistake>? You said <mistake>, but I think it’s <say the correction>. Is it<correction>?

Are you sure that’s right? I think you mean <correction>? Don’t you mean <correction>?

27. OFFERING NEW WORDS OR ALTERNATIVES (Helping a partner by giving them new words or different words.)

Is it <say word or words>? Do you mean <say word or words>? Maybe you mean <say word or words>.

Is the word you’re looking for…

28. REPEATING (Simply saying something again.)

29. SHADOWING (Repeating all or part of what your partner says aloud, softly, or in your mind.)

30. SHARING YOUR FEELINGS(Telling your partner how something or someone made you feel.)

I felt sad, happy, tired, scared, nervous, shy, excited, relieved, stressed.

31. SHOWING INTEREST (Showing your partner that you are interested in the conversation.)

Uh-huh. Yeah. I know what you mean. Great. That’s interesting. Unbelievable. You’re kidding!

32. SHOWING YOU UNDERSTAND (Showing your partner that you understand what he or she said.)

I understand. I see what you mean. I see. I got it. <look like you understand>

33. SUMMARIZING (Retelling some of what your partner said in a shorter form.) <say a shorter version of what your partner said>

In other words… You mean… It sounds like… So, you think…

34. TRANSLATING (Offering your partner words or in the other language.)

“Something” is “nani nani” in Japanese. “Nani nani” is “something” in English.

35. USING DIFFERENT WORDS, SYNONYMS (Helping your partner understand by saying what you mean in different words.)

“Something” is “Something something something.” So, “something” means “Something something.”

36. USING GESTURES (Helping your partner understand by using gesture.)

37. USING JAPANESE (Sometimes using Japanese can help us learn. Be careful not to rely on Japanese too much.)

38. USING NAMES (Using one another’s names can help us relax and learn more.)

So, <name>. What do you think, <name>? You’re <name>, right? Could you tell me your name again?

39. USING SIMPLER WORDS (Helping your partner understand by using simpler words to explain something.)

In other words <something> can also be explained like this…