CAN_SPEAK MONDAY

📘 Vocabulary (B1–B2 – The Art of Conversation)

• Small talk – polite, casual conversation (e.g., about the weather)

• Body language – communication with gestures and facial expressions

• Eye contact – looking into someone’s eyes while speaking

• Interrupt – to stop someone while they are talking

• Polite – showing good manners

• Turn-taking – giving everyone a chance to speak

• Engaged – interested and active in a conversation

• Awkward silence – a quiet moment that feels uncomfortable

• Topic – the subject of the conversation

• Compliment – a positive remark about someone

• Conversation starter – a phrase or question to begin talking

• Respectful – showing respect in speech and behavior

💬 ESL Questions (B1–B2 – The Art of Conversation)

1. Do you enjoy small talk? Why or why not?

2. What topics are good for starting a conversation with a stranger?

3. What topics should you avoid in polite conversation?

4. How important is body language in conversation?

5. Have you ever experienced an awkward silence? What did you do?

6. Do you think people talk more face-to-face or online today? Why?

7. What makes someone a “good listener”?

8. Do you think making eye contact is important in your culture?

9. How do you politely interrupt someone if you want to add your opinion?

10. What are the differences between casual conversation and formal conversation?

11. What makes it easy to talk to someone?
    • What traits do you look for in a conversation partner?
12. Tell about your favorite types of conversations to have?
    • What do you talk about?
    • How do you know the other person?
13. Who is the best conversationalist that you have ever met?
    • Why are they such a great conversationalist?
14. Have you ever had a great conversation with a complete stranger?
    • What made it so great?
    • What did you talk about?
    • Where were you?
15. What is your role in a conversation?
    • Do you dominate?
    • Do you subordinate?
16. What percent of a conversation do you spend talking?
    • Have you ever tried to consciously change your conversational style?
    • What did you change?
17. What are some good habits you have in conversation?
18. What are some bad traits you have in conversations?
19. Who communicates better: men or women?
    • What makes their style better?
    • What makes it worse?
20. Do you like to flirt?
    • How do you flirt?
    • What do you say?