Conversation Gambits - Eric Keller, Sylvia T Warner 1988
59. Showing Interest
3. Responding Gambits
When we listen to other people we often want to show them how interested we are in their conversation We do this in different ways
smiling with our eyes
nodding
saying something encouraging
Work in pairs One student describes an exciting or amusing event from the list of ideas below - or something real the other student responds in the three ways Use phrases from the list Use the phrases while the other person is speaking Don't wait for pauses or for the other person to finish speaking
Ideas
1 The day I won a million
2 My favourite holiday
3 My worst day ever
4 The best meal I ve ever had
5 How we share the work in my home
6 My first trip to Britain/America
7 My worst day at school
8 Something really good that has happened to you
9 Something really embarrassing
10 Your story
Right.
OK.
Yes?
And?
1Really?
And then?
Auxiliaries:
2Did you?
Have you?
Are you?
Were you?
Was it?
... ...
1 This single word is the easiest way to make another person continue with their story or to expand on what they have already said
2 You repeat the auxiliary that the previous speaker has used The effect is the same as using Really?