Conversation Gambits - Eric Keller, Sylvia T Warner 1988
63. Mini-Conversations
3. Responding Gambits
Most of the activites in this book help you to practise the gambits for one or two "bits of a conversation But you might like to build longer "mini-conversations to remind you of some of the gambits you have practised earlier.
On these few pages you will find suggestions for some miniconversations which you can practise in pairs
Remember, the idea is to practise the gambits If you are short of ideas for the content of your conversations use one or more of the subjects on pages 89 to 93
Subjects
Remember, in all the activities in this book, it is more important to practise the Conversation Gambits — The language is more important, while you are practising, than the content of what you say!
Sometimes you may have trouble thinking of ideas for the content of some of the practices. To help you, here are 30 subjects with a few important ideas connected with each. You can use any of these subjects for the mini-conversations (pages 85 to 88), or for many of the other activities in the book.
Television
Too much violence Good value for money
Trivial programmes Terrific source of news
Kills conversation Very educational
Makes people passive Helps lonely people
Living in the country
Isolated and lonely Neighbours help each other more
Dull and boring Surrounded by nature
OK in summer, awful in winter No stress or pressure
Too many insects Fresh air
Healthy eating
I know what's best for me Think of the future
Enjoyment more important Good for you
Boring and tasteless Avoid cancer
Only for fanatics
Teenage drug abuse
Parents to blame Got to understand why
Heavy fines Care in special centres
Prison Long-term problem
Sign of the times
Aid to the Third World
Guns, armies, weapons Responsibility
Irresponsible leaders Famine, starvation
Charity begins at home Malnutrition
Corruption Caring and sharing
Cars
Pollution A necessity
Carbon monoxide Freedom
Accidents Mobile
Status symbol The modern world
Politics
Only for the power-crazy Involvement
Power corrupts Party politics
Career politicians Democracy
A necessary evil Alternative?
Nuclear power
Dangerous The nuclear age
Waste from nuclear reactor Cheap source of energy
Contamination Remote places
Threat to the world Best available
Living in the city
Noisy, dirty, unhealthy Always something happening
Traffic, danger Stimulating, exciting
Pace of life, stress Night life
Too many people Plenty of variety
Old buildings
Should be demolished Add character
The price of progress Conservation
Old-fashioned, cold Human design
Waste energy Concrete jungle
To strike or not to strike
Very low wages Boss is very nice
Can only take holidays in winter Good food in the canteen
Atmosphere is too dusty unhealthy Easy to take time off to go to dentist
Firm made huge profits last year Bonus at Christmas
Reporting an accident
Volvo driver was to blame Lorry overtook on the crossing
Volvo was going too slowly Speed limit
The old lady didn't look before crossing It was getting dark
Traffic lights weren't working Difficult to say
Describing the man who ran away
Tall Above average height
Darkish hair Black straight hair
Not from this part of the country Welsh accent
Dark suit Quite well-dressed
The ideal teacher
Strict Progressive
Lots of homework Up-to-date, modern approach
Properly dressed Jeans, no tie
Talks a lot but students must be silent Allows students to talk
Prisons
Too comfortable Basic human rights
Deterrent Dignity
Made to suffer Home comforts
The taxpayers money Understanding
Smoking
Stink Freedom of the individual
Lung cancer My right to decide
Selfish Nervous
The expense
God
Man created God God created Man
No need Belief
No life after death Meaning to life
Superstition Church
Sex education in schools
In the home Who else could teach it?
Not what schools are for Unwanted pregnancy
How far do you go? Responsible attitudes
Love more important than sex Mature
The green movement
Bunch of crackpots Peace-loving
Out of date Destruction of the environment
Unrealistic Forest, whales, clean air
Uneconomic Global village
Dogs
Fouling the streets Man's best friend
Penalty Companionship, guide dogs
Unhealthy for children The old and the lonely
Bite, rabies deaths Faithful, sheep dogs
Volcano
Mt Etna has erupted Last time was 1958
Hundreds dead Terrible
Thousands homeless Horrific
Air crash
Two |umbo jets Awful
650 people Unthinkable
Mid-air collision
Thunder storm
Funeral
Off work tomorrow What is wrong?
Uncle’s funeral Old?
95
Long illness
Trouble at home
Teenage son in trouble with police Stealing?
Stole a car Age?
16 Sorry? Sorry?
Crazy about cars
Complaints
1. Typewriter £200 Very reliable
3 letters don't work Have you dropped it?
Very careful Very good make
Only I week old
2. Car, £8,000 Beautiful model
Terrible noise Don’t understand
Worst in 4th gear Investigate
3. Dress, £45 Receipt?
Hole under arm Don’t understand carefully checked
Refund? No refund but will repair
Only prepared to accept a refund or replacement but not a repair
4. Holiday in Turkey, £550 Should have phoned from Turkey
Hotel was awful Should have complained to representative
Had to share a room! £50 off next years holiday
Return flight was 23 hours late
Refund?
Want £50 NOW
Teenage problems
Parents should be stricter Trust your children
Home by 10.30pm latest Home by midnight
Stop pocket-money if problems Talk problems through as a family
Remind what things were like when you were young Be a friend not a parent
Persuading
Come to the party Rather not
Fun Shy
Dancing Can't
Good food Can eat at home
Great music Got better at home
Sue will be there Think about it
Buying a new stereo
Best value for money Bit expensive
Good amplifier Doesn't look attractive
40 watt speakers Too big for my room
Special offer at moment Sounds better
£100 off OK
Planning a trip to the tropics
Innoculations. visas, sun cream, pills, light clothes, mosquito net, insect repellent, cotton underwear phrase book, guide books