at three really useful ways to keep a conversation going. Now Im sure you've had this just like

me. You are talking to someone, maybe that you don't know that well or like a colleague

and suddenly the conversation just stops! Because you've run out of things to say. Ok,

you've talked about the weather, you've talked about the food in your hand and there's nothing

else to talk about. Have you had that? I'm sure you have alright. I'm sure I'm not the

only one. So I don't know about you but I start to feel very embarrassed, very awkward.

I go red in my cheeks and my body language starts to change. Alright, so if I have it,

I'm sure you have it as well. So, what can we do in English to help us avoid this situation?

Alright, we're going to look at three really useful ways to continue the conversation.

Ok, my first main tip is to ask questions. Now if we ask questions we are doing two things.

Firstly, we are showing interest in the other person which is always great. Secondly, we

are taking the pressure off ourselves to speak. Because there's a lot of pressure when we

are speaking in another language, in this case English, it's really hard to think of

the words to say. So, if we are asking a question we are taking the pressure off ourselves to

do so. Now my wise Mum once said to me that conversation is like a game of tennis. Ok,

because you always have to hit the ball back to the other person and I guess questions

are our way of hitting the ball back to the other person. Alright, so let's have a look

at one or our first very special question to help us keep conversation going.

Our first phrase is 'How are things (with you)?' This is a great way to open a conversation

and to ask someone about their life in general. The with you part is optional ok so you don't

need to say that. Let's have a look at an example. 'Hey Jasmine, how are things?' And

she replies 'Good thanks' 'Not bad thanks'. Now these are both really common ways to respond

to this question.

Ok, let's look at the pronunciation of this sentence. Now we have two words, how and are.

When we say them we blend the sounds together. Ok, so let me show you. How are. One more

time. How are. Ok, they are kind of blended with the 'w' sound kind of comes to bring

them together. Let me show you one more time and then you practise ok? How are things?

How are things? Ok, let's put that into a sentence. 'Hey Isabel, how are things? 'Hey

Isabel, how are things?' Alright, good job, let's have a look at our second useful question.

Ok, here we go with our second useful phrase and the phrase is 'How's something going?'

This is a great way to ask someone about something they are doing now. Some examples might be

'How's work going?' or 'How's university going?' or even 'How's everything going with your

new flatmate?' Ok, the key point her for the pronunciation is to contract how and is to

make them one one sound. Ok, so 'how's' 'how's' so 'How's your job going?' 'How's your job

going?' Alright, let's check out our third useful question.

Ok, our third and final one is 'How is' or 'How was'. Now these are great ways to ask

someone opinion of the quality of something or to ask if they are enjoying something at

this time. So you can use the present tense or the past tense depending on the situation.

Let's have a look at some examples. 'How was the film?' 'Hows' your hotel?' 'How was your

flight?' Alright guys, that's it, that's all we've got time for today. We've had three

great ways to keep a conversation going. Alright so the next time you are speaking to someone

you won't feel like I've got to go, well at least hopefully you won't feel like that.

Now, if you would like a very special e-book with all this information that we've looked

at today, I've made one. The link is below this video. Ok, click that link, you can download

the free e-book. It's amazing. There's extra exercises and it looks all colourful and beautiful

and nice just for you. Also you can check out my website which is EatSleepDreamEnglish.com

alright and there you've got loads of videos, pronunciation videos, vocabulary loads of

good stuff alright for you to check out. Alright guys, thank you so much for hanging out with

me today, I really appreciate it. Hopefully I'll see you back here again really soon but

until then this is Tom from Eat Sleep Dream English saying goodbye.