Mastering Conversation American English Student
Mastering Conversation American English Student
Mastering Conversation American English Student
MASTERING
CONVERSATION
Expemo code:
1CTU-T5JB-NA47
1 Warm up
Think about which subjects are appropriate to discuss in your country with friends, family, and work
colleagues. Complete the table with a Y if the subject is appropriate or an N if it is not.
Politics
Religion
Children
Food
Weather
Health
Which subjects do you mostly talk about with each of the above groups of people?
MASTERING CONVERSATION
2 Vocabulary development
Before you watch, match the following words from the talk to the definitions.
Group 1
Group 2
1. condescending a. behaving as though you are more important and more intelligent
than others
2. balanced b. occupy someone’s attention
4. pontificate d. to give your opinion in a way that shows you think only your
opinion is correct
5. divided e. when different elements are equal
Watch the first part of the video (00:00-03:30) and complete the following sentences with the words
you hear.
MASTERING CONVERSATION
1
• In this world that we live in, every conversation has the to devolve into an
argument.
2 3
• The most of issues have someone fighting for it and against
it.
4
• Pew Research did a study of American adults and found that we are more
5
polarized and than ever before in history.
6 7
• A conversation requires a balance between and . We have lost
that balance.
8
• According to Pew Research, about of American teenagers send more than
9
a day.
10
• A high school teacher named Paul Barnwell realized that conversational might
11
be the single most skill that we fail to teach children.
4 Checking understanding
Before you watch the rest of the video, in pairs, discuss these questions about the rules of conversations.
MASTERING CONVERSATION
Now watch the rest of the talk and number the rules in the order that the speaker presents them.
The first one has been done for you.
5 Talking Point
Extension task.
In pairs, choose a topic that you are both comfortable discussing. Imagine you are in a work setting
and work for different companies. Practice discussing the subject and use the rules from the talk as a
guide to help you.