General Conversation/Active Listening

You must show a real interest in you partner's statements and ideas. Therefore listen carefully to what your partner says and react directly to his statements! Don't forget to look at your partner during the conversation. Also show some emotional reactions (smile, laughing ...)

Active Listening

Showing that you're listening

• "Oh yeah?"
• "Mmm. "
• "Wow!"
• "really?"
• "Oh, I see."

Offering a correction

Noticing a partner’s error and saying what you think is correct. However, you should use it only sparely.

• "Did you say, (challenging word)? "
• "You said (challenging word), but I think it’s (correct word). "
• "Are you sure that’s right? I think you mean (correct word)? Don’t you mean (correct word)?"

Offering new words

You can help your partner out, but you should do it in a very friendly way.

• "Is it <say word or words>? "
• "Do you mean (correct word)? "
• "Maybe you mean (correct word). "
• "Is the word you’re looking for… "

Interactive Exercises

Showing that you're listening

Put in the expressions to show that you are listening.

I went to the concert last week.
Really? How was it?
Great. There were about 500 people.
Wow. I didn't expect that many.
...

Agreeing with so, neither & nor

1. Agree using "so", "neither" or "nor"

I like this band		So do I .
I didn't know they were so great!		Neither did I .
I am surprised they play here		So am I .
We didn't go to the last concert.		Neither did we .
I can see perfectly from here.		So can we .
I am hungry.		So am I .

2. Agree using "so", "neither" or "nor".

I like this band. - So do I() .
But I don't like the new front singer. - Neither do I() .
I have bought all their albums. - So have I () .
I'm going to go to their next concert. - So am I() .

Weblinks

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